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 embarrassing to have so many people crowding the room when the doctors are trying to work,” I said, trying to keep my tone steady.
My aunt placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go. I told you they don’t need us here,” she said, her voice sharp and dismissive. It was clear she didn’t even try to hide her disdain for me.
I shook my head in disbelief. Was she serious? Did she really need to make it so obvious that she didn’t want me around? The way she spoke, it was as if she couldn’t wait to get rid of me.
They left, and the room fell silent again. Atlas and I were alone when the doctor who had conducted my tests walked in.
“How are you, Doc?” Atlas asked as the doctor sat down and opened the results.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with the results,” the doctor said, glancing between the two of us.
“Then why did I feel so unwell earlier?” I asked, confusion evident in my voice. The doctor took off his glasses and looked directly at us.
“Well, it’s a normal symptom for a pregnant woman.” I froze at his words, unsure if he was joking or if he was serious. “You’re six weeks pregnant.”
I looked at Atlas, his face mirroring the shock I felt. This couldn’t be happening.
“This isn’t possible,” I whispered, my mind struggling to process the reality of the situation.
We sat in silence as we drove back in Atlas's car. The atmosphere was heavy, each of us lost in our thoughts. I knew Atlas was trying to give me space, but I could feel the weight of his concern.
“The man you’re carrying… it’s his, isn’t it?” Atlas’s voice was gentle, but the seriousness of his question cut through the silence. I turned to him, meeting his intense gaze.
Memories of that night with Rage flooded back. There was no doubt in my mind that the child was his. He was the last man I’d been with. But the thought of telling my father… the thought of his anger and disappointment made my heart race with fear.
“What are you going to do about the baby?” Atlas asked softly. “You know uncle won’t be happy when he finds out.”
I swallowed hard, the reality of my situation crashing down on me. This was my worst nightmare. That night, I hadn’t thought about the consequences. All I cared about was the fleeting happiness, the intense pleasure of our bodies recognizing each other in the dark.
I never imagined that the joy we felt that night would lead to this.
“I don’t know, Atlas. I don’t know.” Tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, and I felt the guilt and sadness overwhelm me. How could I fix this? How could I ever tell my dad about this?
I was startled when Atlas gently placed his hand on my back, offering a soft, comforting pat. I looked at him, surprised to see a small, reassuring smile on his face.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you through this,” he said, his voice steady. I stared at him, confused by his offer. How could he help me?
“We’ll tell them it’s my child,” he said, and my eyes widened in shock. I hadn’t expected to hear that from him. He was willing to claim a child that wasn’t his? How much did he care for me that he was willing to take responsibility for something he didn’t do?
I didn’t deserve the love he was offering me. I knew why he was doing this, but to let him suffer for something that wasn’t his fault? How could I do that to him?
“Atlas, you can’t—” I began, but he cut me off by taking my hand in his.
“Shh, don’t say anything. I’ll do it, okay? We’ll raise this child together. I’ll be the father,” he said, his voice filled with determination.
I shook my head, disbelief washing over me. “Atlas, no. You can’t do that. What about you? I’m the one who caused this. I’m the one at fault here. Why should you take the blame for something you didn’t do?”
“Because I love you, Kylie. I’d do anything for you,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. I swallowed hard, his words cutting through me. I didn’t deserve his love. It was too pure, too selfless. I couldn’t use it to save myself from my father’s anger. I couldn’t drag Atlas into a mess that wasn’t his to clean up.
“But love isn’t enough to take on this responsibility,” I whispered.
“But what about you? You know how angry your father will be when he finds out. He could disown you. Do you really want that to happen? So please, let me do this for you. This isn’t about marriage or business. I want to help you because I love you.”
I couldn’t put into words how his offer made me feel. I was already hurting, but I couldn’t even begin to imagine what Atlas was going through. The woman he loved was pregnant with another man’s child, and yet here he was, ready to stand by me, to claim a responsibility that wasn’t his.
Why did it have to be Atlas who ended up in this situation? It wasn’t his responsibility, yet he was the one stepping up.
He held my hand, looking into my eyes. “We’ll tell them you’re pregnant, and I’m the father. Then I’ll marry you, and we’ll raise the child together. I’ll be the father.”
I took a deep breath, his words weighing heavily on me. Was this really what I should do? Should I worry more about what my dad would say just because I got pregnant by a man I hardly knew?
But if I agreed, wouldn’t that be unfair to Atlas? He would be the one to suffer because of this. I had started to develop feelings for him, but this was wrong. It was wrong to use him like this. Yet at the same time, I didn’t know what to do about this child. This was a life, and I had chosen that night. I had the chance to walk away, but I didn’t. I didn’t because I wanted it too.
But could I really raise this child alone?
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
KylieI could taste every drop of alcohol as it flowed down my throat while everyone around me cheered in delight. I didn't know why I was doing this, but one thing was certain—I wanted to escape. I wanted to break free from the pain weighing down my heart. I was tired of sulking in a corner, but I also didn't know how to face all of this. It hurt me to see myself suffering, but it seemed like I had no other choice but to flee from reality."Drink more, Kylie!" shouted Vaness, my cousin, with a teasing and mocking tone. She wasn't my real cousin, but she was the closest relative I had in our new family setup. I grabbed another glass and downed it, hoping that every drop of alcohol would wash away the wounds in my soul.As the night deepened and the drinks piled up, I felt the pain in my heart slowly fading. But despite my efforts to forget everything, the weight of my emotions seemed to grow heavier. I carried every heartache and problem with me as I forced myself to smile. I couldn’t
KylieAfter everything that happened, I stumbled into the bathroom, my body still trembling from the intensity of our encounter. The lingering heat between my thighs and the sheen of sweat covering my skin reminded me of how wild and passionate it had been. I needed to clean myself, to wash away the evidence of our shared hunger. The cool water would help soothe the fever still burning inside me, a fever stoked by alcohol and the relentless desire that seemed impossible to quench.I turned on the shower, letting the cold water rain down on me, hoping it would cool the fire within. The shock of the cold made me shiver, but it was a welcome relief from the heat that had consumed me. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back as the water cascaded over my face, washing away the sweat and the haze of alcohol. For a moment, I let myself drift, trying to reclaim a sense of normalcy after the whirlwind of emotions and sensations that had overtaken me.But just as I began to find some peace, I fe
KylieI woke up to a splitting headache, my body aching from the aftermath of last night. The throbbing pain reminded me of how intense things had gotten. We didn’t just do it once; we went at it multiple times. I turned my head to the side, curious to see who I had spent the night with. That’s when I truly appreciated Rage’s face. Even in sleep, he looked striking—his strong, chiseled features, the sharp bridge of his nose, and his mestizo complexion.It’s ironic how peaceful he looks while sleeping, yet so wild and untamed in bed. I never imagined my first time would be so memorable, and he made sure it was, exceeding all my expectations.I hadn’t anticipated anything happening between us. After all, we don’t love each other. But the way he pleasured me was something I hadn’t expected. He was incredibly skilled, leaving no doubt in my mind that women probably chased after him for more. It’s easy to see why they would—he’s the kind of man you’d crave again and again.I swallowed hard
KylieI don’t know why I’m still here. They won’t ask for my opinion on business matters since Dad knows he won’t get anything useful from me. But I’m here because they want Atlas to marry me for their own selfish reasons.I glance at Vaness, noticing the irritation and frustration etched on her face. I know exactly how much she wants Atlas. I’ve always known this day would come; it’s clear that she’s not genuine in her actions and that envy has always simmered beneath the surface.“Kylie,” Atlas calls my name, pulling me out of my thoughts. I take a deep breath, turning to face him with an expression devoid of any emotion. To me, Atlas is just a friend—nothing more. But that changed when he confessed his feelings for me. Since then, I’ve grown even more distant from him, especially after learning about the arranged marriage.
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 frustra