Eyes on Iris

4. Shameless Betrayal

Hunter left the building as soon as he could, thinking about how to surprise Cathy. She worked as a model and enjoyed shopping, especially during the holidays. So, instead of heading back to their apartment, he dropped by the supermarket after deciding to have a romantic candlelight dinner for Christmas Eve.

With a menu in his mind, he drove out of the parking lot in a good mood. The traffic may be thick, but he was lucky to be able to return home before five in the afternoon after fetching a good bottle of red wine from the city’s best winery.

Jumping out of his humble Ford Fusion, Hunter rushed to the elevator while he recounted the ingredients for the chicken scallopine and spicy bean and beef pie. He whistled a funny tune while he tapped his fingers on his keycard, smiling happily. He was excited to make sure that their Christmas would be special – like it had always been these past two years.

But it never occurred to Hunter to be on the receiving end of the surprise the moment he stepped out of the lift.

From afar, he could see the figure of a woman so familiar he could even recognize her shadow. She was latched onto another man’s embrace, hugging, and kissing him ardently.

Hunter felt his blood shooting straight to his head as the grip on the plastic bag he was carrying tightened. Standing rooted on the spot, he watched Cathy wrap her arms around the stranger’s neck while the latter held her waist. He never expected he would find himself in a very familiar yet bizarre situation. It was as if they were in a movie scene – and he was the supporting character, the third party, and the second male lead.

Yet, he was the one supposedly standing there, claiming his woman.

He was betrayed and the proof was right before his eyes.

For the first time in his life, Hunter hesitated to confront the problem right before him.

What a load of bullsh*t, mocked the tiny voice in his mind.

For a good minute, he continued watching the illicit scene, allowing himself to absorb reality. He tried to calm his raging anger and attempted to think of the best way to handle the issue but to no avail.

However, when he saw Cathy tugging the man’s coat with a seductive stare, he was jolted from his daze, reawakening his rationality.

Taking a step from his spot, Hunter sneered. What a wh*re.

“Had I known I would be coming home to this er*tica scene, I would have stayed a little longer at the supermarket,” he growled ominously, his voice booming across the hallway.

As if struck by lightning, Cathy turned around and gasped when their gazes met.

“H-Hunter!” she shrieked with wide eyes, her voice trembling as she bit her lip in panic.

Squinting, Hunter observed the changes on his girlfriend’s blanched face. Cathy guiltily jerked away from the man she had herself glued to just a couple of seconds ago as her expression shifted from surprise to frustration and finally settled to anger, contorting her face into an ugly grimace.

With clenched jaws, he advanced toward the apartment door with a smirk tugging the corner of his mouth. He found it funny how the woman had the cheek to have such a reaction when he should be the one simmering in fury.

“You’re back! Wasn’t expecting you’d be this early!” Cathy spoke as if everything was normal, holding the door frame with one hand and she ran the other through her strawberry blonde locks.

“Of course, you didn’t. I wouldn’t have been able to witness the insuppressible thirst you have for this guy if you knew,” he replied sarcastically, not bothering to conceal his disgust.

Hunter glanced at the stranger ever so slightly before entering the place.

He was enraged and disappointed.

Insulted.

Hurt.

But most of all, he felt pathetic.

Not a moment in his life had he imagined that he would be cheated on.

It was a wound to his ego.

Leisurely, he sauntered across the space where he had made love with Cathy several times. It was supposedly their nest. Yet, the image of her shamelessly inviting someone over to f*ck her there was like a hammer smashing a fragile glass, breaking all the good memories into thousand pieces.

Quietly, Hunter went straight for the fridge, took a bottle of water, and chugged it down as he waited for his mind to calm down. All this while, he could feel Cathy’s stare boring a hole in his back as if he was the wicked one.

He scoffed, then grinned mockingly as he leaned against the counter. Folding his arms over his chest, he said, “Oh, come on now. Don’t look at me like that, Catherine.”

“I…I-I… Hunter –“

“Why don’t you invite your guest to come in? It’s rude to keep him waiting when it’s cold outside,” he suggested, stealing a glance at the man by the door.

The guy was tall and was probably a few years younger than him. He looked okay. Still, Hunter thought he was a few leagues better.

“I’m sorry man. I don’t want to cause any misunderstanding here,” said the stranger. He nodded at Hunter and shot Cathy one last disdainful look before scampering away.

Hunter chuckled, raising a brow, and stared straight into her blue wells. The moment he stepped out of that elevator, their relationship was already over.

Yet, he wanted to listen to whatever reason she had. At least, he needed to know why she dared to cheat on him when he had given her all that he could.

“What a loser. Is that the kind of man you are planning to replace me with?”

With reddened eyes, Cathy let out a hysterical laugh, and yelled accusingly, “Well, at least he’s not a log! He has emotions and he makes me feel loved!”

“Is that so? Well, my apologies for being unable to meet your emotional needs. Was he able to make you feel better then? From all the kissing and the illicit s*x?” His words were rough, no longer holding it in.

But when he caught sight of the tears brimming in Cathy’s eyes, Hunter nearly softened. He almost coaxed her from crying.

The next moment, Cathy glowered and then smiled sinisterly. “Do you want to know why it turned out like this? Because you’re a dead tree, Hunter. I can’t even take a guess what’s going on in that big head of yours. You keep claiming you love me, but I never felt it. Are you even capable of having such kinds of emotions?”

It was the first time he had seen her acting like a mad b*tch. Gone was the gentle woman he thought she was.

Stumped, Hunter remained still and watched Cathy ranting while copious tears streamed down her face. Her pained expression was killing him. He didn’t understand why he was getting blamed when she was the one cheating. Had he really put her into so much misery? Hadn’t he done everything he could do to show her what she meant to him?

“I gave you everything you wanted,” he uttered solemnly after a long moment of silence.

“Yes, you did. Thank you for that.”

Then, as if he didn’t matter, Cathy turned around, stormed out of the house, and left him in confusion. Hunter could only laugh to himself, realizing that she had walked out of their argument to chase after another man.

The woman he had gambled everything on had betrayed his love and trust.

Rotten luck.

Running his fingers through his hair, Hunter went to their room to loosen up. He took a few deep breaths to calm the storm in his heart. But when his eyes landed on the closet and the empty duffle bag resting in a corner, he immediately made his decision.

There was no more reason for him to stay there.

He and Cathy were over.

His mind was in a mess and his heart was broken. But he wouldn’t cry over spilled milk. What was done was done. Cathy was not even the least bit sorry for her unfaithfulness.

There was no fixing it.

Yeah, so much for Christmas.

Hunter sighed.

After an unknown amount of time, his phone started ringing in his pockets and he nearly jumped in fright. He knitted his brows when he saw an unregistered number on the screen, but he answered it anyway.

“May I talk to Mr Hunter Kingston?” said a woman the moment it connected.

“Speaking.”

“Mr Kingston… I am Lora from Walford Medical Center.”

Hunter felt his stomach twisting. Why would they call him?

“I am so sorry to inform you through this call that Mr Alexander Kingston II passed away this morning.”

Fuck.

The nurse said something more but nothing else sank into his mind except for the information that his father had died. When the call ended, Hunter immediately took the bag and started packing without a moment of hesitation. He changed into a comfortable shirt and jeans, slipped into a long coat, and grabbed the stash of cash he had hidden under the cabinet. He was ready to leave when the door swung open.

“Where are you going?” Cathy questioned, looking at him, then at the carrier in his hand.

“Home.”

Cathy chuckled. “You can’t just leave me here, Hunter. What about the rent? The bills?”

Hunter gnashed his teeth. It finally made sense now. The only reason Cathy continued to stay with him was his money. She saw him as an ATM – not as a lover or a partner.

“I have always thought that moving here was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my whole life, Cathy. I was wrong. You are my biggest mistake. I gave up everything I had just to be with you. Yet, you’re still saying that my love isn’t enough.”

She jeered, a glint of ridicule flashing in her eyes. “I did not ask you to come with me, Hunter. It was your decision.”

“Yes, it was. Now, I’m done.”

Cathy shook her head, looked at him with begging eyes, and said, “What about me?”

“We’re over. That’s your life. Good luck.”

Cathy paused, her blue eyes dilating, and her pretty almond-shaped face convoluted into a ghastly scowl. A heartbeat later, her mouth curled into a confident smirk as she spoke, “You’re just saying that. You can’t live without me. You can’t leave me.”

Hunter chuckled grimly, disgusted by her existence.

“Oh, yeah? I must say your head has grown so big. I said I’m leaving – and I will. You know me, Catherine. I always do what I say. Thank God, I realized that you are nothing but a filthy b*tch and a blood-sucking gold digger.”

Storming out, Hunter left the building without turning back, thinking of nothing but going away from this… from Cathy… and the betrayal she had done. He should not have left Walford and stayed with his father. But it’s too late. He could not even properly apologize for his bold decisions because the old man was already gone.

He’s dead.