Hunter watched as his Goddess smiled, but nothing was amusing about it. It was a sarcastic smile. She was mocking him. “So what? You can’t resist me, so you’re allowed to screw other girls? And why I won’t understand? Because I’m still a child? Is that what you want to say? You should’ve thought about our age difference before falling in love with me,” she said, mimicking his accusing tone. “Don’t put words into my mouth, Goddess. I didn’t mean it that way,” he replied, his voice and tone both filled with annoyance. 

‘I knew it’s a waste of time. You won’t understand, Goddess.’ 

He groaned in frustration. The defeat was an awful feeling. 

“I may be a child still, but I’m mature enough to know what you did was wrong. You cheated on me, Hunter.. You were supposed to wait for our wedding night. You’ve promised me, remember?” She questioned. Her voice was furious. 

Hera brought up her pointer finger and poked his chest where his heart resided. “It was mine, Hunter. Your heart, body and soul were all mine. That’s what we promised each other. Your virginity was mine, but you lost it to someone else. I may not know what exactly husband and wife do in private. But I know for sure that my husband is not allowed to touch other females,” she said and scoffed. 

Hera’s every word was so right, and it left Hunter speechless. He had nothing to justify his actions. He felt ashamed of himself. So he admitted his fault. 

“I’m sorry, Love. I truly am sorry. Please forgive me. I promise you it won’t happen again. I swear this will be the last time,” he begged for forgiveness. She looked at him suspiciously. He could see the wheels turning in her head. She was in deep thought. Her brain worked, something clicked. 

Her large doe-like eyes widened. 

She said he lost his virginity. She didn’t mean to say it as it just slipped out of her mouth in the spur of the moment. She was angry and wasn’t thinking. But he didn’t correct her or deny it. 

“Oh, my God! You aren’t a virgin anymore. You really lost it to someone else. If you weren’t made aware of my presence, you were going to fuck that girl. And it wouldn’t be the first time, would it?” She asked, but it was a rhetorical question. She knew the answer without him answering. 

Hunter rubbed his face with his palm, certainly a sign of tiredness. His other hand was resting on his waist. He was still in his school uniform, minus the blazer, and his tie. Hera glanced down to find herself dressed in his shorts and sweatshirt. The thought of him changing her clothes made her feel sick to her stomach again. 

‘His hands! Same hands, which were touching that girl’s body a while ago.’ 

And she puked again, all over his room. She fell on her knees, and he rushed to her side, only to get pushed away. 

“You were screwing every other thing that wears a skirt. And here I’m, a stupid brainless dumb child, dreaming about becoming your wife, about our wedding night, of having a happily ever after with you,” she said, laughing at herself, which turned into a painful sob. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands. It makes me sick,” she said and crawled back trying to get away from him. 

“I’m done with you, Hunter. It’s over,” she announced before dropping to the floor, unconscious. 

An hour later, though her temperature was still high, Hera was sleeping soundly in his bed because of the strong medication. Hunter watched while Hera succumbed to oblivion. He was sweating as he’d turned the air-conditioning off so that Hera won’t get cold. He needed some fresh air and wanted to go out to clear his mind, but he would never leave Hera alone in her current state. 

He wanted to forget everything that happened, but he couldn’t. Hera’s accusing eyes never left hunting him. Conflicting emotions overwhelmed his heart. 

‘I’m done with you, Hunter. It’s over.’ 

His brain hopelessly reminded him of how Hera had uttered those words with so much finality. 

Suffocation clawed at his throat. 

Hunter sucked in a sharp breath. 

He was angry at Hera but more enraged at himself for messing it up. He knew what he did was wrong. She’d every right to hate him and to punish him. But if she thought that she could walk away from him, then she’s delusional. 

“I won’t ever let you go, Hera Hunter. Because you’re mine,” he said, cupping her cheeks in his palms and watched her sleeping form. Her brows twitched downward and her forehead furrowed while she cried in her sleep as if she’s in pain. It tugged at his heartstrings and his eyes watered. He soothingly caressed the top of her head and stroked her hair before covering his face with his palms. 

He didn’t know how to stop the ache in his heart and finally broke down in tears. 

She hated him, and he was afraid she would never forgive him. 

She would wake up every now and then crying in her sleep because of the nightmare and each time would refuse to stay at his place. But her protest got ignored, and he didn’t let her go, nor he let anyone else look after her. He took care of her until the doctor declared Hera was fine. 

Although she desperately wanted to get out of his sight, she had no choice but to wait until she recovered as he didn’t let her move out of the bed. But Hunter knew in his heart that she would leave him as soon as her temperature returned to normal. He was dreading the moment when she would lash out at him, but the moment came too soon. 

“Just because you’re taking care of me, don’t think I’ll forgive you, Hunter. I remember what I said, and I meant it. Whatever we had, it’s finished, Hunter. It’s over,” Hera said determinedly. 

“Not going to happen, Sweetheart. You’re mine, and it stays that way,” he said softly, trying not to lose his temper. She was still fragile, and he didn’t want her to leave yet. 

“No, Hunter. It won’t stay that way. You lost me the minute I saw you touching that girl. Do you know what I went through or how I felt at that moment? My heart broke. It felt like you were piercing a dagger into my chest. My dreams shattered into millions of pieces. I couldn’t breathe, Hunter. I felt like you were choking me to death. I died, and you’re the one who killed me,” she stated, not missing his gaze for a second. 

Though her every word weighed with unbearable agony, Hera wasn’t crying for once. Her snow-white skin complexion grew into a mixture of reddish-pink as she shouted at him furiously. 

Hunter pulled her into his chest, locking her in his arms. She hit him with her fists, screaming and cursing, revolting against his tight embrace to free herself. But he wouldn’t let go. 

Tired and helpless, in the end, she cried. 

“Please don’t cry, Goddess. You know I can’t see your tears. It’s killing me too. I know I did the wrong thing. Trust me, Love, it’s hurting me just the same. Whatever you felt, I felt it too. Because I love you so much, you’re my world. And I hate myself for hurting you. Please give me one last chance. Please forgive me,” he begged without hesitation. But it didn’t change her mind. 

She refused. 

“I will never forgive you, Hunter. You cheated. Once a cheater, always a cheater. I don’t trust you anymore,” she said, eyes empty without any emotion. She was determined to end their relationship. 

He was mad. 

With a swift, sudden intake of breath, Hera asked, “Oh, my God! Were you sleeping with Bianca too?” Her abrupt question shocked him to the core. His feet faltered, and he released her from his arms. His eyes narrowed into slits in anger. Judging by the look on Hera’s face, he knew she was considering it to be true. 

‘How can she even think about Bianca so lowly!’ 

“What the fuck? Are you out of your mind, Hera Hunter? How could you even think that?” His voice boomed throughout the room like thunder. He was furious. Hera scoffed in return, not at all convinced by his outrage. “Why not, Hunter? Isn’t it obvious that it wasn’t the first time you cheated on me? And now that I think about your equation with Bianca, I’m not sure anymore. Maybe that’s the reason why you always took her side every time we fought,” she said defiantly, not heeding to the warning in his eyes. 

“Shut up, Hera. That’s bullshit. What fight are you talking about? We were kids, and we all fought with one another for some or the other reason. That was childish, then we all grew up and moved on. You’re obviously still stuck in that childish jealous game. Grow up, Hera, will you?” He asked.