Chapter 75

He grabbed my wrist just as I turned.

I avoided his eyes, feeling awkward and powerless.

We stood there for what seemed like an eternity.

He gently pulled me back into his embrace, resting my head on his chest.

“You need to leave him as soon as possible,” Atlas urged, and it softened my resolve.

“But I need to expose his true colors. Only then can I justify the time I’ve wasted on him. I won’t allow them to continue humiliating me: I want them to pay for their actions and reclaim everything that belongs to me and my daughter.”

“I said I’d help you,” he reassured me. Suddenly, I embraced Atlas and felt an unfamiliar sense of safety. “I must cleanse this shame alone. Do you understand?” I looked at him with tears in my eyes.

“This is the only way I can do right by myself and my parents, who have supported me.”

“Come with me.” Atlas released me and took my hand. He led me through the breathtaking resort grounds to a small building. I barely paid attention to the stunning beauty around me.

Atlas took me up to the top floor and into a spacious suite. He settled me on the couch and handed me a stack of project documents with detailed descriptions. I glanced at him. He shrugged, motioning for me to look. With that, he turned to leave. Only then did I relax, reading the documents.

It hooked me after the first page, and I immediately fell into a trance. Unknowingly, the sky had darkened. Atlas walked in once again and turned on the light. He had a server beside him who was pushing a cart full of dinner.

“Just saying you want to take everything back won’t do anything. I told you I’d help you.” Atlas sat down and took the document from me. I was reluctant to relinquish the documents, but he gently suggested, “Eat something first, and I’ll explain these projects to you.”

“Why are you helping me?” I looked into his eyes, seeking sincerity.

“Because I want to,” he replied, a bit unconvincingly. I knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth.

“Have we met before?” I suddenly asked, feeling like Atlas was strangely familiar. He was a completely different person in front of me. I could be wrong, but there was something special about him. A true mystery of a man!

However, I couldn’t let myself indulge too much. Although my marriage had failed, I still had a family. If I grew too close to him, what would that make me? How would I be any different from Matthew?

“I–I’ll repay you my way!” I stammered.

“What way is that? By offering yourself to me?” He looked right at me, and his smile had a hint of mischief in it. Suddenly, it felt like he was mocking me. My expression turned stern.

“I’ve said I’ll repay you, and I will. I’m not an ungrateful person, and I hope you’ll respect my sincerity. I’m not one to joke around. Keep in mind that we’re still strangers, and I hope you won’t overstep.”

He just stared at me. I avoided his gaze, but he grabbed my chin and pulled me closer, almost touching our faces. I tried to push him away, but he stood firm, his lips capturing mine. “Mmm…”

I resisted for a moment before succumbing to his kiss. He only released me when I stopped struggling.

He looked into my eyes, asking, “Are we still strangers? Did I sound like I was joking?”

Panicking, I said, “Why’d you kiss me like that? I don’t have the right to romance right now. I have a husband and a child…”

“I can help you leave him,” Atlas said firmly, leaving no room for doubt. I was taken aback. I wanted to continue arguing with him, but I was lost in his starlit eyes. “I’m not joking,” he stated plainly.

Atlas suddenly lifted my chin again as his face grew nearer. I pushed him back and turned, escaping the temptation.

He smiled but didn’t answer my question directly. Instead, he asked, “Have you made up your mind? Are you determined to get revenge?”

“Yes,” I replied firmly. “I decided before going to Solaris.” As I sipped my wine, I continued. “That day by the river… Although I was out of it, one thing was clear. I must get back everything that belongs to me.”

I suddenly realized that I might have offended him by saying that. I guessed I was being too harsh. Then, I added, “What’s the point of such a marriage?

There needs to be trust, even among business partners. With Matthew, there’s neither trust nor any remaining familial bond. Maybe we’re pursuing maximum benefit, but I’m not just in it for the money.

I want to prove a point. He came from nothing. But now he wants to send his wife, the woman who helped him out of a crisis, straight to hell. Where’s the justice in that?”

“In that case, let’s toast to it!” Atlas clinked his glass against mine. “I’ll help you regain your paradise.” His eyes were so clear and bright as I observed them.

“But won’t this affect you?” I didn’t want to drag him into this. After all, it must not have been easy for him to climb up to his position as an assistant in ATL Empire. I couldn’t let a small matter jeopardize his position.

“I’m already a part of this. What can we do about it?” Atlas’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.