**Hunter's picture **

*** Stella's POV ***

I woke up to a hand going through my hair. I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to see Hunter, but gasped at the person in front of me.

"Mom". I said quickly sitting up.

"Stella". She said with a blank face.

I looked around nervously. It was already dark outside.
"How did you get in here?".

"Is that how you greet me? You haven't seen me in months".

I looked at her not saying anything. "Hunter told me everything". I said looking at her expecting a reaction from her.

"I told you not to trust him, Stella. What did he tell you?".

"All the things you did". I said narrowing my eyes at her. "What would you do that? What did I do to you. You are my mother".

"Yes I am your mother. Which is why you shouldn't believe the man who hurt you the most over me". She replied sharply.
"You are my daughter. Why would I do anything to hurt you?".

I shook my head lightly. "You're trying to play with my mind, aren't you? Sorry. It's not working". I snapped.
"You did it".

"He is lying for God's sake. You want me to have problems with things I didn't do?". She said loudly, her eyes started watering.

I looked away. "Mom, please don't cry".

"Then believe me". She cried.
"They want to hurt me. Why would you believe Hunter over me?".

I sighed, still not looking at her. "Mom-".

"Hunter is dangerous, believe me. You have no idea what this man is capable of".

"Oh I know what he is capable of. I married him". I said looking at her.

"So you should know that he is going to hurt me for things I didn't do". She said wiping her tears.

"He just wants to take Kevin to jail". I shrugged.

"If you know Hunter as much as you say you do, you would know that bringing Kevin to jail won't satisfy him".
I almost laughed at the panic in her voice.
"You should have seen Kevin after-". She stopped and I raised my eyebrows at her.

"After what? So you saw Kevin?". I nodded. "So you do have something to do with all this". I confirmed trying not to cry.

She sighed wiping more tears from her face. "Sweetheart. I am doing this for us and Jason. I want to protect you. Trust me on this".

"You knew about the accident that killed my child. You stole my father's money and destroyed all the things he worked for. Don't you dare talk about my son". I said through gritted teeth.

"Honey". She said softly taking my hand. "I am your mother. Believe that I will never do anything to hurt you. I want to protect you".

"From what?".

"From Hunter. He is dangerous". She said quietly.

"I know he is. Which is the reason why you shouldn't be here". I said as a single tear escaped and I quickly wiped it away.
"I still love you mom. That's why I don't want Hunter to find you here".

"I love you so much". She kissed my hands and I slowly pulled it away. "Please. Come with me. I have enough money and-".

I cut her off. "I don't want to. You betrayed me-".

"Don't say that". She snapped. "I didn't b-". I stopped her.

"You are still my mother, but you stopped being a part of my life years ago, when you kicked me out and called me a wh*re". I said still fighting my tears.
"Now I have Hunter, Jason, Hannah, Matt and everyone else. So you can back to that secret life you been in for years with Kevin. That secret life I wasn't part of".

"Stop saying that I have something to do with him?". She asked with wide eyes.

"Yes you do". I nodded. "You didn't help me in anything. You lied. How can I trust you".

"Hunter is a liar".

I shrugged. "Well then I'm doomed because I believe his every word".

"What is wrong with you?". She asked standing up. "Are you forgetting who I am to you?". She asked. "I am your mother".

I looked up at her. "If you really believed that, you wouldn't want to hurt me". I snapped.
"You should leave. Because I will tell Hunter that you were here. If you're not far enough, he will find you".

She looked at me for a moment. "You're going to regret it. When you come to know that you are being unfair to me". She said turning around putting a scarf around her head. "I love you Stella". She said putting sunglasses and leaving the door.

As soon as the door closed, I let my tears fall freely.

I burried my face in my hands and cried letting all the frustration out.
Her teary eyes came to mine again. I never thought I would make my mother cry. What did I do? Making my mother cry?
How could I let her go like that? Am I making a mistake? What if-

No! Don't believe her. Stop being so naive. It will get you killed some day.

"Ella". I heard Hunter say making me jump.

I quickly wiped my tears before looking up at him with a smile.

"What's wrong?". He asked in a worried voice quickly walking up to me.
He sat beside me pulling me on his laps. "What's wrong?". He asked again grabbing my chin to make me look at him. "
Tell me". He demanded.

"My mom was here". I said and he tensed.

"When?". He asked pulling away , but I grabbed his shirt tighter pulling him back to me.

"Not long ago". I sniffed. "Don't go, please". I said pleadingly.

He was still tensed and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He waited before speaking. "Donna was at the hospital. Call Stephen". He said then waited before hanging up.

I didn't say anything as he wrapped his arms tighter around me.

"You should have called me". He said.

"I was sleeping when she walked in". I said quietly wiping my tears. "Where were you? Did you find Kevin?".

"My dad and Lucas are taking care of it. They will take care of everything. I told you you are my priority. I will take care of his case when you go home". He said dryly.
"What did your mom want?".

"She said she didn't do anything". I said looking at him. "She said she doesn't even doesn't have anything to do with Kevin". I sighed running my fingers along his jaw.
"That we were being unfair to her. And she wanted me to go with her". I finished and his grip tightened on me.

"Maybe she wants me to kill her afterall". He said clenching his jaw. "You are leaving the hospital in two weeks, then you're coming home with me". He added.

"Did you put Jason in bed?". I asked.

He nodded. "How are you feeling?". He asked pecking my collarbone.

"Good". I sighed. "Well I was before seeing her".

"I know. She can be a bitch". He sighed and I pinched his nose.

"She is my mother".

"That doesn't change who she is". He shrugged smiling a little. "She always hated my guts anyways".

I chuckled. "No she didn't. She loved you".

"Lies. She hated me".

I looked at him running my hands through his hair.
"Maybe if you were smiling more. If you looked less grumpy in front of others, she would have been more friendly to you. But she was always smiling at you".

"That was fake".

I shook my head smiling. "Stop it".

I looked at him for a moment. "You look tired". I said noticing now how tired he looked.
I ran my thumb over his eyebrow.

"I'm not tired". He said pulling me even closer. "I Just need something to gain my energy back". He said huskily looking at my lips.

"Seriously?". I laughed.

"Yep". He said planting his lips on mine and I instantly kissed back.
He gripped my waist tighter. He pushed my lips open pushing his tongue in my mouth. I moaned tangling my hand in his hair. He grabbed a fist full of heir as the kiss became more demanding. I could feel the tingly all over. I pulled him even closer needing the warmth of his body.
Feeling lightheaded I pulled on his hair but he didn't stop. I pulled harder and he slowly pulled away giving me a lingering kiss.
I pressed my forehead against his breathing heavily, closing my eyes.

"I love you". I tensed as the words left my mouth before I knew it.