Bianca’s angry voice caught everyone’s attention. “Ace, were you cheating on Sam? How could you?” Eyes filled with accusations, she looked like she’s going to punch him in the face. “Who did you sleep with, Ace? Tell me, did you do it with Hera?” She pushed him hard on his chest and made him stumble backward. Her actions surprised him. When she tried to push him again, Hunter lost his temper too. 

“Enough, Sunshine, stop fighting with me because of her,” he said, pointing his hand towards Samantha. “She’s not my fucking girlfriend that she’ll feel cheated,” he shot back, bitingly. Bianca took a step back in shock. She never expected him to shout at her. He did it unknowingly in anger. Samantha too, took a few steps back in fear as Hunter focused his attention on her.

“And you, stop acting like a jealous lover for fuck’s sake, Samantha because we both know, nothing’s going on between you and me,” Hunter stated. Seeing him, grinding his teeth in anger, Samantha couldn’t stop the flow of tears.. His words hurt her deeply. Hunter rewarded her with a sarcastic smile after seeing her reaction. “Truth is always a cruel bitch, isn’t she?” He asked, voice filled with mock sympathy.

“Stop it, Ace. You don’t have to be rude. We may not be in a committed relationship, but the whole school knows me as your girlfriend. So, yes, Ace, I feel offended, and cheated, because they’re going to laugh at me. And it’s all because of Hera,” said Samantha before she collapsed on his bed, crying hysterically. Meanwhile, Evelyn, along with the boys, watched the drama silently.

Samantha looked miserable. Bianca couldn’t take it anymore and lash out at Hunter. “You’re the one acting like a cruel bitch, Ace. Why are you doing this to her? Can’t you see, you’re hurting my friend? I won’t let you do this anymore. Apologise and make it right,” she demanded.

Hunter cocked his head to one side and looked at her, face showing disbelief written all over. “I’m hurting your friend, really, Sunshine? Oh! That’s rich coming from you,” he said before letting out a humourless chuckle after seeing Bianca’s clueless reaction. “Then what did you do with Hera at the party? Who gave you the right to insult my girl?” Hunter spat out the words furiously.

Bianca’s eyes immediately searched for Samantha’s only to find expressions identical to her own. They both knew they were in trouble. “What are you talking about, Ace and don’t try to change the topic,” Bianca said, pretending to be ignorant, though she knew he’s not buying it.

“Right, don’t you dare change the topic because you’re not escaping it this time, Sunshine. So, let us talk about the main attraction of that happening party, shall we? Tell me, which one of you decided that it’s okay to introduce Hera as a slut? Who dared to call her a slut in the first place?” His voice was not blooming with anger, but instead, Hunter used a very calm tone which surprised everyone. But they knew it’s the calm before the storm.

Samantha was burning with jealousy because all she heard was that Hunter addressed Hera as ‘my girl’. She wiped her tears and pulled Bianca behind her before coming face to face with Hunter.

“It’s me. I was the one who called your girl a slut,” she used her fingers to quote the words, your girl. “There, I admitted it. Now what? What are you going to do, Ace?” Her challenging tone only made him clench his fists, but he would never hit a girl. Samantha ignored the warning his eyes held and went on with her hatred for Hera. “Besides, what wrong did I do by calling her a slut? Isn’t she one?” She asked, smirking in satisfaction.

Bianca was shocked to see her friend daring to provoke him. They’re supposed to object and disagree with his every accusation by pretending to be ignorant of the matter. But her friend was being stupid and foolishly digging her own grave. She tried to stop her by pulling her hand only to get shoved back.

“It’s hardly a week after she came back, and it only took two days for her to influence your mind. How did that happen, Ace? It happened because that slut spread her legs for you. God knows, who else had been there before you!” She shook her head, scrunching her face in disgust. She had not finished venting out her venom yet but got interrupted when she heard Eric call her name. His voice held a definite warning, but she chose to ignore him at the moment.

“Enough, Sam, you’re crossing your limit,” Danny uttered through his gritted teeth, his voice a threat. Samantha smiled at him, mockingly. “Aw! Look at you, aren’t you the protective brother!” She cooed. She couldn’t be any more sarcastic. Danny never showed his concern openly for Hera. But what she didn’t know was, he would never let anyone call his baby sister a slut. He advanced towards her, and everyone could see how angry he was. Before he could reach her, Hunter beat him to it.

Samantha recoiled after seeing the look in his eyes. She’s definitely scared now.

“Call her slut one more time, Sam, I swear I’ll rip your tongue out,” Hunter said, voice filled with unmistakable menace, his sharp jaw clenched and a nerve ticked with each word he uttered. “Anyway, I’m sure you know better than Hera, what it’s like to be a slut, don’t you?” He asked. Samantha gasped audibly, her face pale as a ghost.

“Ace!” Bianca and Michael both uttered his name simultaneously. Bianca sounded angrier while Michael sounded offended. “What?” he barked, looking at them both, mirroring their angry looks. “Do you want to say something, Mike?” Hunter asked casually, his voice sounded smooth, but the boys detected the hidden meaning behind it.

Michael held his hands up in surrender after reading Hunter’s accusing eyes. He backed off and silently settled into his chair. Eric quirked his brow at Michael, fixing him with a ‘you asked for it’ look.

“I wonder why she isn’t defending her honour! Don’t you want to know why she’s not offended?” Hunter asked Bianca. His eyes ridiculed when he glanced at Samantha. “Because she’s just that, a slut,” he spoke through his gritted teeth.

“Sorry, Ace. But its the heights of hypocrisy, don’t you think?” Bianca asked. “You’re calling her a slut, then what are you? You have a girlfriend, yet you slept with Hera. Stop accusing Samantha. You’re the one wrong here,” her finger jabbed his chest, emphasising her anger. It seemed as though words were not enough to express her disappointment.

“If you call her slut one more time, Ace, I’ll slap you. You can’t insult our friend like this. And how dare you, deny her of your relationship with her? For two years, the whole school perceived her as your girlfriend. You’ve been sleeping with her for almost two years. Yet, you’re telling her not to act like a jealous lover? Do you even know how much you’re hurting her? All you see and think about is Hera. You don’t see anyone else’s feelings when it comes to that bitch,” accused Bianca. She was so angry that her eyes watered.

Wiping her tears, she glanced at Samantha before addressing Hunter again. “After all that you put her through, she still comes running to you at your beck and call. She sneaks out of her room to meet you as soon as you message her, not even caring if it’s midnight. And you called her a slut! For what, for that little bitch Hera? I don’t know what lies she fed you, Ace. But Samantha and I didn’t do anything that hurt your precious Hera,” she said defensively.

Hunter’s eyes briefly met Michael’s, who in turn twisted in his seat awkwardly. Bianca breathed hard in anger as she saw a sarcastic smile gracing Hunter’s lips.

“I never thought, Sunshine, that you’ll lie to me. Evie had already told me everything in detail about what you and your friend did to Hera,” stated, Hunter, dark purple eyes fixed on her without blinking.

Both Samantha and she glared at Evelyn directing their anger towards her. Evelyn shrugged her shoulders, not at all affected by their reactions. “What? Stop glaring at me with those accusing stares. I didn’t make the first move. Ace approached me first and asked. I told him the truth because it’s our rule,” she air quoted and said, “No secrets, and we don’t lie to each other.”

Hunter walked up to his bed, where Samantha sat and took a seat next to her. “You know, if I want to meet my girl at midnight, I’m man enough to go to her, instead of asking her to come to me at the odd hour,” he whispered so that only she could hear. Samantha didn’t dare to look at him. He scoffed, then shifted his gaze back to Bianca, who monitored his every move like a hawk.