I looked at Atlas with concern and said, “Matthew’s petty, so be careful of his retaliation.”"You're overthinking it," Atlas replied, gesturing for me to return to the emergency room.When we arrived, my mom asked, “Where’s that scumbag?”"Gone!" I replied.The emergency room lights had been on for two hours before they finally went out. A doctor emerged and informed us, "Your dad’s life isn’t in danger anymore, thanks to the timely arrival. However, you must ensure he doesn't get too agitated."The doctor’s words put us at ease.After exchanging a few words with the doctor, Atlas instructed me, “Hide this from all outsiders, and just say he hasn’t woken up yet.”Then, he got my dad a VIP ward and asked my mom to stay with him. That would make others think my dad hadn’t awakened yet, effectively stopping the Murphys from visiting.My dad wore an oxygen mask when the nurses moved him to his room. He was pale and in a pretty poor condition. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked
It got harder for me to breathe, and my eyes widened. My will to survive made me claw at his hands, gripping my throat. Our love for each other had vanished, and the man before wanted to kill me.My vision blurred as I suffocated. Matthew threw me aside like a ragdoll as I was about to lose consciousness. Soon, I crashed into the corridor wall and almost blacked out.I clutched my throat and coughed as I struggled to breathe. Meanwhile, Melanie and Grace stared at me indifferently.Melanie smirked and said, “Do you know what karma is, Chloe? Hahaha! Matt, you should’ve done that long ago. She’s asking for a beating.”Matthew basked in her praise, seemingly forgetting his pitiful appearance at the hospital the night before.“Will you give it to us now?!” he roared, “I thought you’d be useful and secure the project through Atlas, but you’re a worthless schemer. Do you think Atlas would have feelings for you?”"You're finally speaking your mind, you bastard!" I glared at him.“Did
Ivanna nodded and called her assistant to bring the reporters over. I told her, “Put me down and take pictures of everything.”She followed my instructions and gently let go before taking pictures of the assault from various angles. Soon after, she called the authorities and my lawyer, Adrian.Seeing Ivanna’s actions, Matthew grew agitated. He yelled, “You caused this, Chloe! Even if you call the cops, nothing will change. You’re in my house, and we’re still married. So what if we fought?”“I’ve had enough of your excuses!” Ivanna retorted and threw the knife at him.Startled, Matthew bolted to the master bedroom while narrowly avoiding the knife.Ivanna noticed my distress and cried. However, I smiled and reassured her, “Don’t cry. I’m not dead yet. It’s too late for him to stop now.”When the authorities arrived, I showed them my house ownership certificate and ID before telling the media about the assault.The scandal of Matthew’s previous affair had yet to subside, and this
For some reason, I felt warm when he scolded me.When he started the car, I asked him where we were going, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he pinched my chin and examined my face. I blushed and pushed his hand away before glaring at him and the driver. "What are you doing?"Atlas raised the car’s partition to give us some privacy. I thought ATL Empire provided excellent employee benefits. It didn’t surprise me since Atlas was an assistant to someone important. He said, “Show the bruises.”“Uh, that’s okay. You’ve seen everything already!” I avoided his gaze and tried to hide my discomfort.However, his tone turned harsh again, “So, are those pictures fake? Will you show me your injuries, or should I force you?”My breath quickened as the situation became too intimate. After all, I had bruises in private areas that I dared not show him."I—" Before I could finish, Atlas held me and pressed his hand against my back. I couldn’t help but moan softly.He lifted my shirt without warn
When I woke up, I felt like someone had pulled me from a faraway place. Atlas’s handsome face looked back at me. Startled, I tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain in my wounds. "Why the rush?" His voice sounded hoarse.We were still in the car, but the golden sun was setting on the horizon.Urgently, I exclaimed, "What time is it? Damn it, I need to pick up my daughter!""I used your phone to text your friend, asking her to pick her up for you," he stated. "Get up, will you? My legs are getting numb."Blushing, I realized I had been sleeping on his lap the whole time. He hadn't stirred or woken me up."Um... How long did I sleep?" I asked shyly, quickly putting some distance between us."Over two hours. Let’s go!" I quickly got out of the car. We had arrived at the same resort he had taken me to before, but it seemed less crowded this time. There were no other guests in sight. Taking a few quick steps to catch up with him, I asked, "What kind of place is this?""What's the
I wanted to leave this place. Caution was key, and I wondered if I'd been too vulnerable around him.Atlas paused and looked at me. "What's the matter? Am I that scary to you?"My face was flushed as I asked, "Who said I'm scared?"Although I put on a tough face, I was in shambles."If you were more cautious around that scumbag, you wouldn't be in this state!" He said, "Don't worry. I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. Unless you want me to..."Atlas remained indifferent to my pleading eyes."Lie down! You'll feel better soon." His tone softened. "Do you want me to make you?"There was no escaping this ordeal. Good intentions had led me into an awkward spot, and I felt helpless.As if under a spell, I reclined and allowed him to unbutton my shirt. He was precise and gentle when applying the ointment, but my muscles were tense.He murmured, "Relax. Next time, if you can't win, run. It's not shameful. Take a deep breath and strike hard to ensure your safety. A strong c
I reveled in the sensations of being needed and caressed. These feelings had been repressed for too long, and I kissed him passionately.His words echoed in my mind. “I’ll have you right here. That way, you won’t have any more excuses.”It made me want to let go of my inhibitions and follow my heart.Images of Matthew and Melanie together fueled my desire for revenge and competition. I wanted it all and was determined to make it even better than anything they’d ever had.Atlas hugged me and cradled my back, afraid to hurt me. Why should I refuse him? He made me forget my troubles.I discovered that caresses could ease the pain. The wounds on my body no longer hurt. Instead, there was an unprecedented longing, a yearning for love.He must have sensed my desire. His hazy eyes looked at my face, and he murmured in my ear, “Chlo, is this okay? Will...”I covered his lips, blocking the words he wanted to say. I knew what he was worried about.My response ignited him.It was like fl
I suddenly realized what I wanted to say might dampen the mood. We had just been swept up in a whirlwind of passion, and it would be a real buzzkill.I changed the subject. "The benefits at your company seem amazing. I'd consider working for you guys if I didn't have my own business."He looked at me calmly and asked, "Why is that?""Seeing how carefree your assistants are, it's clear your company values its employees." My reason sounded forced.He listened to my words with a faint smile on his lips. Atlas ate elegantly as I rushed through my food. It might be because I hadn't had a decent meal in days. I didn't need to act all prim and proper in front of him.After we finished, I insisted on heading back. He reluctantly got up. "I'll walk you out!"In the car, he seemed lost in thought. I gazed out the open window, the cool breeze waking me up. What had just happened felt like a dream. There were no regrets, but a hint of awkwardness lingered.I started to understand Matthe