Kylie
I sat by the pool, lost in thought, mulling over the things I had overheard earlier. I didn’t know how I would tell Dad about it; he never listens to me anyway, especially when it comes to matters I deem important.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding.” Atlas’s voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up at him and sighed deeply. I didn’t understand why he kept coming around, especially when he knew I couldn’t reciprocate the feelings he had for me. But he continued to approach me, undeterred.
He took a seat beside me, but I didn’t acknowledge him, too preoccupied with my own thoughts. “Are you really not going to talk to me?” he asked gently.
“Why are you here, Atlas? Haven’t I been clear enough about my feelings toward you? Why do you still want to marry me?” I asked, my voice tinged with frustration. “I know you’re genuine, but we don’t feel the same way about each other,” I added. I didn’t want to avoid him anymore; there was no point. I needed to be honest about how I felt.
“So, that’s why they told me the other day that you didn’t want to go out with me?” he asked, his tone inquisitive. I swallowed hard and averted my gaze.
“You know, Vaness told me the other day that she saw you with another man. She even dragged me to the room where she claimed you had gone, but you weren’t there.” His words made me freeze. I couldn’t believe Vaness would actually say that.
But then again, why was I surprised? She wanted me out of the picture, so of course, she’d do anything to make me look bad in front of everyone.
“Is it true? Were you really with another man that day?” Atlas asked, his voice soft but probing. I hesitated, guilt washing over me as I thought about the secrets I was keeping from him.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “How can you say that when I wasn’t even there?” I replied, my voice calm but my heart racing.
He smiled faintly and looked at me. “But I saw you,” he said, making my heart skip a beat. “When Vaness left, I went to the CCTV room. I know the people who work there. You were in that building, but you just entered the wrong room. When I reviewed the footage, I saw a man enter that room before you did.” His revelation left me speechless.
I didn’t know what to say or how to explain myself. This was exactly what Vaness would use against me.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” I pleaded. The last thing I wanted was for Dad to find out; I’d be in serious trouble.
“Why? Is Uncle going to be mad at you if he finds out?” Atlas asked, his concern evident.
“I just want his love back. Aunt Celeste has been clouding his mind, and even the slightest mistake I make becomes a big deal to him. I don’t even understand why he wants me to marry you when we both know it won’t work,” I confessed.
Atlas nodded, understanding dawning on his face. Rejecting him wasn’t easy for me, knowing I was hurting someone who cared deeply for me. But I knew it was better this way; we’d only end up hurting each other more if we went through with this.
“Don’t worry, I have already deleted the footage. If Vaness tries to find it, she won’t find anything,” Atlas said. I looked at him, stunned by what he had done. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, but at the same time, a pang of sadness hit me.
“Why did you do that? You could have used it to force me into marrying you,” I said, genuinely curious.
He smiled and shook his head. “How could I do that? I love you; why would I want to hurt you?” he replied. His words sent a shiver down my spine, not from fear but from the sincerity in his voice. I couldn’t believe Atlas would do something like that just because he loved me.
He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. “I know you’ll never love me back, and I’m not going to force you to. But please, just let me love you in the only way I know how.” His words made my heart ache.
If only I could teach my heart to love Atlas, I would, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t force myself to feel something that wasn’t there. To me, Atlas was a friend—nothing more, nothing less.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s fine. Your secret's safe with me,” he assured me.
He was right. All the secrets I had, he kept them, even back when we were teenagers. Not once had he ever betrayed my trust. And now, even as an adult, he was still protecting me, still keeping my foolish mistakes hidden.
I felt a pang of guilt. I didn’t know how to repay him for everything he had done for me. Atlas was genuine, almost too genuine, to the point where it sometimes annoyed me. There were times when he would push himself into my life, trying to get me to notice him, and I’d get irritated. But other times, I found myself craving his attention because he was such a caring person. The problem was, I couldn’t give him back the same kind of care he showed me. I cared for him as a friend, but that was as far as it went. I couldn’t match the affection he had for me.
Days and months passed, and Atlas and I spent more time together. He was persistent in courting me, but I kept reminding him that my feelings hadn’t changed since the day he first asked if I felt anything for him.
But as we continued to go out, sometimes on friendly dates, I found myself getting closer to him. Perhaps this was a good thing, getting to know him better. We became even closer, maybe because of the help he gave me after what happened with Rage.
As we grew closer, I noticed Vaness’s anger toward me intensifying. I’d lost count of how many times she had tried to set me up to get me in trouble with Dad, but Atlas had always defended me.
“Are you alright? I can’t believe that girl. Is she seriously going to keep doing this?” Atlas asked, frustration lacing his voice. I sighed deeply and shook my head.
“You shouldn’t be surprised. She likes you; that’s why she’s so angry with me. I told her I’d step aside,” I said. Atlas shot me a disapproving look. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, confused.
“You’d really push me toward someone like her? If it’s not you, I’d rather stay single for the rest of my life.” His words made me frown, but I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. I have to admit, Atlas was growing on me more and more each day. Every time he visited, I got to know him better. I felt like I was eating my words because I never expected to like him. I had been so quick to judge him without seeing his true worth.
“What are you talking about? If Uncle hears you, he’ll be mad. Besides, don’t you like Vaness?” I asked, trying not to let my feelings show. I didn’t want him to jump to any conclusions; I needed to be sure of my feelings before I acted on them.
“You’re the one who introduced us. I never liked her, but since you said she was your cousin, I thought I’d be friendly.” I shook my head at his words.
“That’s what she told me. She said that when she saw you, she wanted to get to know you, but she didn’t want to approach you because you weren’t paying attention to her. So she asked for my help.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have helped her. Now it’s hard to get rid of her.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his response.
“I didn’t know she’d turn out like this. If I had known, I wouldn’t have helped,” I said, laughing.
“Anyway, let’s not think about her. Let’s focus on the food I brought. Weren’t you craving this?” he asked, pulling out a container of beef steak. I didn’t know why, but I had been craving his beef steak for days.
He handed me the food he had prepared, and I took it close to my nose, wanting to savor the aroma of Atlas’s cooking. But as soon as the smell hit me, my stomach churned, and I had to rush to the sink to throw up.
I didn’t understand why I reacted that way, but the smell of his beef steak had turned my stomach.
“Are you alright? Why did you throw up? Is something wrong?” Atlas asked, his voice full of concern. I took a deep breath and shook my head.
“No, it’s just that the smell of your beef steak was off. What did you put in it?” I asked.
“The usual. I didn’t add anything new,” he replied, sounding worried.
A wave of anxiety washed over me. I was feeling a bit dizzy and slightly nauseous.
“Hey, I think we should go to the hospital. It’s better to find out why you’re feeling this way,” Atlas suggested, his voice laced with concern. The thought of going to the hospital made me nervous. I wasn’t seriously ill, so why was I feeling like this?
Kylie We went to the hospital just as Atlas suggested. I was starting to feel better, so I told him we didn't need to go, but his concern was overwhelming, so we continued. While waiting for the results in one of the rooms, I was startled when the door suddenly opened and my father walked in, accompanied by my aunt.My heart skipped a beat. What were they doing here? We hadn't informed them that Atlas and I were at the hospital, so how did they find out?“Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the office?” I asked, trying to mask the anxiety in my voice.“We came home early, and the maids told us you and Atlas came here. What happened?” His voice was laced with worry. I didn’t expect him to be this concerned about me.“Nothing yet, uncle. We’re still waiting for Kylie’s results,” Atlas responded, and my father nodded, though the concern in his eyes didn’t waver.“You didn’t need to come here. We can handle this on our own. It’s better if you wait for us outside. It’s emb
KylieWe were standing before them—Dad, Aunt Celeste, and now Vaness—facing the inevitable. My heart raced as I saw the expression on their faces. They could sense that something was off, and I could feel the weight of what was about to happen.I wanted to stop Atlas. This wasn’t his responsibility. He didn’t need to carry this burden, yet the determination in his eyes was undeniable. He wanted this—to stand by my side, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness and freedom. The sadness that washed over me was suffocating. He was willing to give up so much to form a family, just to help me."What do you have to say?" Dad’s voice was sharp, demanding. His gaze, more intense than I had ever felt, made the air between us heavy.The tension in the room thickened further when Vaness arrived. She looked at us, her face hard with confusion and suspicion.“What’s going on here, Aunt?” I heard her ask Aunt Celeste.“Well, they’ve been standing there for a while, but still, nothing’s come o
Kylie Once we reached my room, Atlas shut the door behind us, and the silence between us grew louder. I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling as I rested them on my lap. He knelt down in front of me, his hands resting on my knees, his warm touch grounding me."Kylie," he began, his voice low and steady. "We need to talk about what just happened."I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "Atlas, I’m sorry," I whispered. "I never meant for any of this to happen. You shouldn’t have to deal with this."He sighed, his thumb gently tracing circles on my knee. "I told you, I’ll help you through this. But we need to be careful. Vaness won’t let this go. She’s determined to find out the truth."I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "You don’t have to keep pretending, Atlas," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t want you to suffer because of me. I never should’ve dragged you into this."He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes were f
Kylie The air was different in New York. Colder, sharper. The moment I stepped off the plane, the city’s unfamiliar sounds washed over me like a wave—horns blaring, people talking in hurried voices, and the constant hum of life moving at a relentless pace. It was nothing like home.But that was the point.I clutched my suitcase tightly, my heart pounding in my chest. This was my new life now, far away from the drama and tension that had defined everything back home. Far away from the cold judgment of my father and the scheming eyes of Celeste and Vaness. Here, I was just Kylie. Not the daughter of a wealthy businessman, not the woman caught in a web of lies. Just me.My grandmother was waiting for me at the airport, her face lighting up as soon as she saw me. Her gray hair was pulled into a neat bun, and she wore the same kind of warm, practical clothes I remembered from
Kylie Five years in New York had given me something I never thought I’d find again—peace. Liam and I had built a life here, surrounded by the energy of the city, and I had found a passion in my work as a designer. The boutique I worked for had become my second home, and my boss, Charlotte, had become more like family than just an employer.But all good things come with challenges. One afternoon, while I was working on a new collection, Charlotte walked into the studio, her usual graceful air tinged with excitement."Kylie, I have something to discuss with you," she said, her eyes lighting up as she took a seat across from me. "It’s an opportunity, and I think it’s time for you to hear about it."I paused, the dress I was pinning momentarily forgotten. "Opportunity?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Charlotte smiled, her fingers tracing the e
KylieMy heart pounded so hard in my chest, I was sure Rage could hear it from across the room. There he stood, behind the polished mahogany desk, tall and composed, his dark eyes focused on me with a quiet intensity. The years had been kind to him. Too kind, I thought bitterly. He was even more handsome than I remembered, his broad shoulders filling out his tailored suit, his face sharp with the same confidence that had both attracted and terrified me five years ago.But as his gaze settled on mine, there was no recognition in his eyes. Not a flicker of memory from that night we had shared—the night that had changed everything for me.“Miss Roberts,” he said, his voice low and professional. “I hope your flight was comfortable.”I nodded, my throat suddenly too dry to respond. The shock of seeing him again had rendered me momentarily speechless. I hadn&r
Kylie"Mommy," Liam’s small voice broke the early morning quiet, tugging me out of the haze of thoughts that had plagued me through the night. I had barely slept, my mind looping endlessly around the problem that had come crashing back into my life—Rage Montez.I glanced down at Liam, sitting cross-legged on the floor of our apartment, his wide brown eyes—so much like his father's—looking up at me with a curious expression. He had been unusually quiet since overhearing my conversation with Tessa the night before, and I knew what was coming before he even said the words."Mommy, who’s my daddy?"The question hit me like a punch to the gut, my breath catching in my throat. I had known this day would come eventually, but I hadn’t expected it to come so soon, and certainly not like this. For five years, I had been able to protect Liam from the truth. B
KylieI stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time. The soft, navy-blue material clung to my body in a way that was both elegant and comfortable, but no matter how I adjusted it, I couldn’t shake the nervous energy building inside me.Dinner with Rage Montez. The idea still felt surreal, like some strange twist of fate I hadn’t seen coming. I had spent five years trying to forget about him, trying to keep my distance from the painful memories of that night. And yet, here I was, about to share an intimate dinner with the very man I had been running from.“Mommy, you look pretty,” Liam said from behind me, his big brown eyes watching me with a curious expression. He was perched on the edge of my bed, swinging his legs as he observed my every move.I turned to him with a soft smile, trying to push the nerves away. “Thank you
KylieThe grand estate loomed ahead, a reminder of a world I’d stepped away from years ago. As the car pulled up the sweeping drive, I took in the scene before me. The Montez estate was more than just impressive; it was intimidating in its grandeur, with its high columns, sweeping balconies, and vast gardens that stretched out in every direction. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my surroundings, as though I were walking into a space where secrets had been kept for generations.Tonight, I was here for a business dinner with Rage and several influential associates tied to the upcoming collection. I was nervous, yes, but something else lingered beneath the surface—memories that had begun to resurface since my return. I felt them now, stronger than ever, lingering in the darkened windows and familiar hallways of this grand estate.As we entered the foyer, Rage’s hand brushed my elbow to guide me forward, a c
KylieThe morning air in the office felt thick with anticipation as I made my way to my desk, feeling more than a little unsteady. After last night’s conversation, where Rage had nearly admitted his haunting memories of our night together, the tension was undeniable. I’d spent half the night replaying his words, wondering how he could remember something so vividly and yet not connect that woman to me.When I arrived, the office was eerily quiet, only the hum of distant conversations and the soft whir of the air conditioning breaking the silence. My fingers traced the edges of my sketchbook, feeling the weight of the day settle over me as I prepared for yet another session with Rage. Just as I was about to immerse myself in a sketch, a shadow passed over my desk, and I looked up to find Rage standing there, watching me with that same unreadable expression he’d worn the night before.“Kylie,” he
KylieThe silence in the room lingered, thick and heavy, as we continued working on the final touches for the new collection. Rage sat across from me at the long table, his gaze focused on the sketches laid out in front of him, but I could sense his distraction. His earlier comment about Isabelle had shifted something between us, a crack in the perfect façade he had carefully maintained.As much as I tried to focus on the work, the weight of everything—the past, the present, his engagement—pressed down on me. The longer we stayed in this room together, the more the tension grew, coiling tight like a spring ready to snap.I glanced at Rage, watching him from the corner of my eye as he examined one of the designs. His sharp profile, the set of his jaw, the way his fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the table—everything about him radiated control. But there was something beneath that calm exterior, som
KylieThe city was quiet that night, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could finally breathe. After hours spent sketching in my apartment, with the weight of Gabriel’s words still heavy on my mind, I had taken a break and stepped outside onto the balcony for some fresh air. The cool breeze kissed my skin, and I welcomed the silence that stretched out before me, a welcome reprieve from the whirlwind of emotions I had been grappling with since arriving back home.I leaned against the railing, closing my eyes for a moment and letting the calmness of the night wash over me. But as I opened my eyes and glanced toward the building next door, I froze.There, on the balcony of the penthouse opposite mine, stood Rage.He was facing the city, his broad shoulders outlined by the soft glow of the streetlights below. His posture was tense, as though he was lost in thought, and t
Kylie The next few days passed in a blur, and I threw myself into my work as a distraction from the turmoil bubbling inside me. The discovery that Rage was engaged to Isabelle had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. He had seemed so genuine during our dinner, so attentive when we talked. Yet the whole time, he had kept something this important hidden from me.I could still feel the shock from that conversation with his parents, how casually they had mentioned Isabelle as if she were already part of the family. And Rage’s reaction when I brought her up—it was as if he had deliberately avoided the topic. I couldn’t help but wonder why. Was Isabelle’s role in his life more complicated than his parents had let on? Or was Rage simply a man who compartmentalized, keeping his personal and professional lives as separate as possible?Either way, I had to focus. I had a job to do, and i
KylieI let out a sigh of relief the moment I stepped through the door of the apartment, the comforting warmth of home settling over me. The evening with Rage had been… more than I’d expected. Between the dinner, his immaculate closet, and the unexpected appearance of his cousin, Gabriel, my mind was spinning.As I kicked off my heels, I found Tessa sitting on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, a mischievous smile already spreading across her face. She’d been waiting for me."So?" she said, raising an eyebrow as I made my way over to her. "How did it go?"I flopped down beside her, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the tension that had settled in my head. "It was… intense."Tessa handed me a glass of wine, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Come on, Kylie. Don’t leave me hanging. What happened? Did he remember anything?"
KylieAs the car smoothly glided through the city streets, I couldn’t help but glance over at Rage, who sat beside me with an air of casual elegance that made him look completely at ease. He was different tonight—more relaxed than he had been at the office, as if the dinner had loosened some of the tension I had felt between us. But the more comfortable he seemed, the more aware I became of my own nervous energy."Do you mind if we make a quick stop?" Rage asked suddenly, breaking the silence.I blinked, my mind still processing our conversation from dinner. "A stop? Where?""My place," he replied, his tone casual as though he was suggesting something completely ordinary. "There’s something I want to show you. I think you’ll find it interesting, considering we’re working on the new line together."I hesitated for a brief moment. Goin
KylieI stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the fabric of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time. The soft, navy-blue material clung to my body in a way that was both elegant and comfortable, but no matter how I adjusted it, I couldn’t shake the nervous energy building inside me.Dinner with Rage Montez. The idea still felt surreal, like some strange twist of fate I hadn’t seen coming. I had spent five years trying to forget about him, trying to keep my distance from the painful memories of that night. And yet, here I was, about to share an intimate dinner with the very man I had been running from.“Mommy, you look pretty,” Liam said from behind me, his big brown eyes watching me with a curious expression. He was perched on the edge of my bed, swinging his legs as he observed my every move.I turned to him with a soft smile, trying to push the nerves away. “Thank you
Kylie"Mommy," Liam’s small voice broke the early morning quiet, tugging me out of the haze of thoughts that had plagued me through the night. I had barely slept, my mind looping endlessly around the problem that had come crashing back into my life—Rage Montez.I glanced down at Liam, sitting cross-legged on the floor of our apartment, his wide brown eyes—so much like his father's—looking up at me with a curious expression. He had been unusually quiet since overhearing my conversation with Tessa the night before, and I knew what was coming before he even said the words."Mommy, who’s my daddy?"The question hit me like a punch to the gut, my breath catching in my throat. I had known this day would come eventually, but I hadn’t expected it to come so soon, and certainly not like this. For five years, I had been able to protect Liam from the truth. B