I Found Him Cheating, I Cut Off Our Engagement

Chapter 2 Expired Promises

Natalie stepped out of the closet, clutching a tube of ointment well past its prime. It had been a year since the scorching oil incident, and in a bid to soothe her pain, Hunter had splurged on this so-called miracle cure, rushing it across the globe overnight.

Yet now, like the promises he once made, its effectiveness had faded into oblivion. She discarded it unceremoniously.

Luckily, the hot coffee hadn't been excessively harsh, leaving just a red, puffy patch on her hand. Thankfully, no blisters would hinder her upcoming modeling audition that evening.

After tending to the affected area, Natalie pulled out her phone and documented her reddened hand alongside the shards of a shattered coffee cup strewn across the floor. With deliberate speed, she accessed the home surveillance system, an installation she had insisted upon six months prior, despite Hunter's teasing about her cautious nature.

The surveillance footage clearly captured the entire incident. Layla's provocation, the deliberate spill of coffee, her exaggerated reaction as the scalding liquid hit, and the ensuing dramatic scene in Hunter's embrace.

Securing the footage with encryption, Natalie backed it up to the cloud and a portable hard drive. Just as she completed this task, the sound of the front door opening reverberated through the hallway.

Hunter strode in flanked by two bodyguards, his expression icy. "Layla's considering calling the police, accusing you of deliberate harm."

Pausing as she put on her coat, Natalie released a soft, knowing laugh.

"Really? What proof does she have?"

"I'm the witness," Hunter retorted from the doorway, his form cloaked in shadow and ominously silhouetted by the light from outside. "Deny it, and I'll back her up in court."

With calm determination, Natalie fastened the last button on her coat, picked up her keys, and replied, "Then let her. I'd love to see how her baseless claims stand against my surveillance footage."

Hunter's face tightened with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"There's a camera in the kitchen. I set it up six months ago," Natalie asserted, approaching him with unwavering eyes. "Would you like to inspect it yourself? See how your precious 'assistant' masterminded all this?"

Hunter's face flickered with emotion, only to revert to icy detachment. "Even if there's surveillance footage, you still struck her."

"She provoked me first. It was self-defense," Natalie retorted, casting a quick glance at the clock. "Is this the only reason you're here? If so, please leave. I have work to do."

"Seriously?" Hunter echoed, disbelief lacing his tone. "Natalie, when did you become so unfeeling? Layla's laid up in the hospital, possibly facing a scarred arm, and all you care about is your work?"

As she met his gaze, Natalie realized how alien he suddenly seemed. This was the man who once shielded her from every bit of hostility the world threw her way.

She recalled an incident at a gala where she was verbally harassed by a business associate. After standing her ground, she was wrongly reproached. But Hunter had been her staunch defender, stepping forward resolutely and instructing John, his assistant, to retrieve the surveillance footage.

"My fiancée needs no validation of her innocence from anyone, but her detractors will face the consequences."

Back then, Hunter's fierce loyalty and protectiveness had been deeply reassuring. Perhaps it was witnessing him at his best that now made his bias so much more painful. Natalie clutched her car keys tightly, the bite of her nails into her palm grounding her.

"Hunter, before you seek answers, look at my hand." She lifted her bandaged right hand toward him. "Where were you when Layla scorched me with boiling coffee? And when did you stand up against her false accusations?"

His eyes drifted to her injured hand, an unsteady bob of his Adam's apple hinting at his discomfort. All he could muster was, "That was merely an accident."

Natalie chuckled, though her eyes glistened with tears. "Sure, if that's the story you want to stick with, an accident."

She moved closer, fixing her gaze firmly on him, her tone unwavering. "I'm laying it out for you right here, right now. It's decision time, her or me. Let her go, or I'll leave you."