Chapter 29: CH29: Punched out!
In the streets, Hunter was wearing a hat and sunglasses, walking by a store where he saw a familiar figure at the bus stop. He approached them and asked. "So, this is where you ended up!" The person looked up to see his partner in crime.
"You!!! Where the fuck were you?" Kevin was about to grab his collar, but his shoulders started aching as a result of Sterling's stunt. He grabbed his shoulder and glared at Hunter. "You betrayed me. You said I wouldn't have any trouble from your side."
"I was in the hospital. How could I contact you when I was unconscious because of that stunt my grandson pulled on me?"
"He beat you up, too?"
"No...I can't say the details. It's embarrassing for Dio del sesso!"
"Listen...I learned my lesson. There's no way I'll help you after what happened. I'm in deep trouble already. I don't even care if you put my stuff online."
"Are you giving up on my daughter?" Hunter tried to get him to his side by playing with his emotions. "You don't want to pounce on her and go deep inside her pussy!"
"I..." Kevin was lost in thoughts. The idea of having a chance with Ophelia or Aliza was intriguing. Then again, he didn't want to feel rage of Sterling. "Fuck you and your stupid plan! I'm not even sure if you would fulfil your side of the deal. We're done. Now, if you can excuse me, I'm leaving this town...for good! You should do the same!" Kevin's bus just arrived as he got inside leaving Hunter with more mess to clean up.
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Sterling was driving back home. He was getting a call from a new number. He pulled over to the side and picked up the call.
[Hello, am I talking to Sterling?]
"Yes, this is Sterling. Your voice sounds familiar, ma'am. Do I know you?"
[He remembered my voice. I told you he wouldn't forget me...sorry my dear, I was talking to your aunt.]
"Aunt? Grandma Nora? Is that you?"
[...let me talk...Sterling, why is Lucia telling you've got someone pregnant?]
"It's good to hear your voice too, Aunt Keira! Yes, it is true! My ex-girlfriend was pregnant with my child. She just contacted me recently. Which must have made my only cousin mad for some reason."
[Well, I can say that she regrets coming back home after getting to spend some time with you.]
"Is it?"
[She's trying so hard to hide it but I'm her mother. I can see why my daughter is acting differently than usual...mom!!!...It's been four years since I haven't talked to my grandson. You can talk to him later.]
It appeared to be that Sterling's paternal grandmother and Aunt were so eager to talk to him after so long that they kept getting on each other's throat. Sterling was glad to hear it but in the back of his head, he couldn't get the thought of what they did with Hunter and Drew. According to his father, David, they were both manipulated. Then a thought of thrill got to his head. He started talking with them catching up with everything he'd been through during his four years. He was very cautious not to spill anything about Hunter. If they were to know that Sterling was aware of everything, they could be unwilling of his potential advances.
[I'm glad you were able to talk with your dad.]
"I know. I still don't know what to make of all this. He did apologise for how he behaved towards."
[It's not your fault. So, when do I get to meet my great-grandkid?]
"Soon! I'll arrange everything when come to see her. I hope Lucia will be comfortable to return by then."
[You're her best friend, Sterling! She won't stay mad at you for long!]
"Thanks, Grandma! Love you!"
After hanging up, Sterling grabbed the steering of his car. 'I hope you will be back by then, Hunter! Because I'm taking back what you took from my dad. This is my family!'
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Meanwhile, Catherine was resting on her bed looking at the ceiling. Her windows moved with the breeze outside. She turned to the right to see the window. The brightness was too much, it blinded her.
[Catherine, forgive me for being imprudent!] Hunter entered her room in his angel disguise to trick Catherine again.
"Jesus? You're back?"
[I failed my quest last time.]
"What do you mean? Sterling came to my room just as you said."
[Sterling? STERLING!!! YOUR BROTHER STERLING???]
"I know, I know. I shouldn't have done it because he's my brother but I thought you were cool with it."
[I was insinuating that you should copulate with your grandfather]
Catherine got out of her bed and tried to understand the situation there. "Grandpops? Ew...why would I do that with him? It's disgusting and disturbing."
[How is that disgusting to you after you slept with your brother?]
Catherine started clenching her fist. "First of all, I love Sterling. Which is not the same with grandpops! I didn't even know he existed before he showed up."
[WHAT!!! AFTER EVERYTHING HE PROVIDED YOU, YOU DON'T FEEL ANYTHING FOR HIM!] Hunter lost his calmness. He was about to snap. [You think your brother is better than me that you'd rather listen to him over my words!] He pointed his finger at her and started yelling.
At that moment, Catherine's subconscious reacted. She remembered something she was taught by her sister in case anyone tried to do something she didn't want. She deemed this person in front of her as an imposter and grabbed his wrist with her left hand. Hunter was caught off guard. The next thing he saw was a fist coming straight to his left jawline. The contact was made as a tooth was tossed outside of his mouth. The impact made him drop to the edge of Catherine's bed face first as his right eye got ejected. Hunter crawled on the ground trying to find his eye. "My eye, my perfect teeth, how is it possible? You shouldn't be your complete self." Hunter cried without his voice modulation.
"Argh... Sterling was right. You're an imposter. I was right about trusting instinct." Catherine prepared her foot to stomp his head. "Whoever you are, you're going to feel my rage for tricking me!" Hunter sensed the incoming danger. He grabbed his eyeball and crawled faster to escape the room.
Hunter got outside through the window and ran away with a little bit of energy he had. "THIEF! THIEF!" Catherine alerted the household by screaming through her door. The construction workers heard the sound and hurried there looking for the thief.
"Where is the thief, Ms Johnson?" One of the workers asked.
"He escaped through the window." They went chasing the so-called thief one after another. Hunter turned around to see who was chasing him while running and bleeding. The terrifying view of three trained men running to take his life away got him more vigorous. With the fearing his life slipping moments away, he ran faster. Back at the house, an enraged Catherine punched the wall. She then looked at the cross symbol on the wall. 'I'm already a sinner so giving up won't do any more damage than it already did to my belief.' Catherine checked her drawer and pulled out a purple top. 'Forgive me, God! My brother is my only lover!'
The fact that someone could trick her using her belief, made enlightenment to Catherine. She had to keep her desires hidden but the moment she let herself enjoy them, that moment became the best thing in her life. And now, she didn't have any regrets. She only had hope. This will work, thanks to her brother.
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The next morning at the breakfast, everyone was shaken up by what had transpired the previous day. "Cathy, are you sure about this? We can go the cops." Ophelia asked.
"No, if we go to the cops, they would just make fun of how gullible I was to believe such play."
"Am I the only one who is worried about why the thief mentioned Hunter? And where is he anyway?" Brenna asked a good question. Sterling nodded at her agreeing with what she was doing but she looked away avoiding his gaze.
"Why would Hunter sneak in here to steal his stuff? He's paying for this house." Ophelia answered her daughter.
"Isn't Sterling paying for most of the stuff here? Technically, he's the one making improvements here." Catherine said.
"Yes, he does. But I don't think my father would do or say such things." Ophelia still defended her father without realising how much of a menace he was.
"Don't worry guys! I'll find a way to solve this. And Cathy, I think it's better if you could spend some time with your friends. Why don't you arrange a sleepover?" Sterling asked his little sister. She thought for a moment.
"I'll text Amber and Rebecca if they're free tonight." Brenna and Catherine finished their plate and went to their room leaving Sterling and Ophelia.
They finished their breakfast in silence. Sterling didn't like that atmosphere. He broke their silence asking his mom, "Mom, are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be mad at you? You didn't do anything, right?"
"No, it's just...lately, I feel like you're avoiding."
"Brenna is avoiding you, not me! You should talk to her by the way. I believe she needs some...discipline."
"I will Mom but is it okay if I come to see you tonight?" Sterling asked fiddling his thumbs at the same time like he was asking out a high-school crush for the first time. Ophelia smiled at him reassuring her son's confidence.
"Sweetie, do you miss your bedtime with Mommy?" It was an innocent question but there was the hidden frustration of a longing housewife. Sterling wanted to play along because his mother's change of behaviour was his advantage to enter her bedside.
"Bedtime with mommy is the best time of the day!" He chuckled.
"Tell you what, I miss having our time too. I despise Kevin for ruining it. Come to my room tomorrow night!" Ophelia got up taking her dishes.
"Why not tonight?"
"Because tonight, you're going with your sister to her sleepover."
"I thought they were doing it here."
"Honey, this place is a mess right now with all the work happening. I don't want any guest to see my house in this state." She went to the kitchen sink.
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Later that day, the front door was slightly opened as Eva entered. Once she went inside she got many eyes laid on her. "Aaaam...hello?" Eva was confused by the strangers in the house. Without making a big deal, they continued to work.
"Good day, Lady! I'm Stanley. My guys are working on this house."
"Oh, hi! I'm Eva. Did Ophelia have enough money to hire all of you?"
"Technically, her son hired us. But we also owe him much."
"Is he around?"
"He was talking with guys by the pool. You must be his friend. Just wait here, I'll go tell him that...you are?"
"Eva, tell him Eva's here! And thanks!"
"My pleasure!" Stanley went to call Sterling as Eva went upstairs to Sterling's room. When she was passing by a room, a pair of hands pulled her inside. And inside that room, Eva was thrown on the bed as a pair of eyes filled with hunger admired every inch of her body.
Author's note: This one is a short chapter. I'm sorry about that. I've been busy with extra work. From now on, I'll release weekly chapters because I'm working on the other volumes simultaneously. After the completion of the first volume, the second volume will be released with all the chapters. It will be easier for those who want to skip Netorare but don't mind Netorase. In that way, they don't have to wait for long. Which means chapters of the first volume will be longer. Have a good day everyone.
-Jinton