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Chapter_55
My heart raced as I tried to steady myself, the warm, intoxicating buzz of the wine swirling through my veins. I had been alone for so long, wrapped in the bitter silence of my thoughts, but now Atlas was here, right beside me—so close that I could feel his presence like an electric current. His eyes, intense and unwavering, felt like they were reading me in a way no one ever had.
I was surprised by how quickly my thoughts shifted. The man I thought was my soulmate had left me broken, but here was Atlas, with his own brand of intensity, a stark contrast to Matthew’s casual disregard. I felt an unfamiliar stir inside me, a mix of confusion and desire.
When he pulled me into his embrace, my breath caught. It wasn’t gentle—it was firm, purposeful, like he was grounding me, holding me steady when I had been spinning out of control. His warmth surrounded me, and for a moment, I could almost forget the mess of my life. Almost.
But I pulled back, my mind racing with the weight of it all. I couldn’t let myself be distracted. I had to stay focused on the path ahead, even if it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers. My emotions were raw, too exposed, and Atlas was so much of a contradiction. He wasn’t like Matthew—he wasn’t a man I could easily read. He didn’t play games, but that made him harder to understand.
“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I thought I had everything figured out, but it all just slipped away.”
Atlas remained silent, but I could feel his gaze on me, steady and calm. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like I was standing on the edge of something I couldn’t turn away from.
“You don’t need to figure it all out right now,” he said quietly. “Sometimes the answer isn’t found in trying to control everything. Sometimes, it’s in letting go.”
I looked up at him, confused. Letting go? Of Matthew? Of everything I had worked for? The very idea was absurd, yet, in that moment, the weight of the world seemed so much lighter in his arms.
But no. I had too much to lose. Too much at stake. I couldn’t afford to let go, not yet.
“I can’t just let everything go,” I said, my voice stronger now. “I’ve already lost too much. I’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done.”
Atlas pulled away just slightly, his hands still resting on my shoulders, his gaze unwavering. “You can’t fight a war with just anger, Chloe. If you’re going to tear things down, make sure you have something to build in its place.”
I stared at him, his words hitting me harder than I expected. He was right. I had been so consumed by rage, by the betrayal, that I hadn’t considered what would come after the storm. What was left when the dust settled?
For the first time in a long time, I considered the possibility that maybe there was more to life than revenge. Maybe, just maybe, I needed to find a way to rebuild, for my own sake.
But I wasn’t ready to let go of everything, not yet.
“So, what do you suggest I do?” I asked, feeling almost vulnerable in the way he looked at me.
Atlas didn’t answer right away. He just stared at me, his eyes searching, as though he was trying to understand me in a way that no one had before. Then, with a slight shift in his demeanor, he spoke again.
“Maybe it’s not about destroying them,” he said softly. “Maybe it’s about building something better, something for yourself.”
I wanted to argue. I wanted to dismiss him, to cling to the idea of revenge because it was all I had left. But the truth was, I felt exhausted. I felt… empty. I wasn’t sure what I was fighting for anymore.
“Do you think it’s possible for me to move on?” I asked, almost to myself.
Atlas didn’t hesitate this time. “I think it’s possible for anyone who’s willing to stop living in the past.”
I was quiet for a long moment, the river’s soft ripples filling the space between us. I could feel his presence like a weight against my shoulders, like a reminder that I wasn’t alone, even in my lowest moments.
“I don’t know if I can,” I said quietly.
He didn’t answer, but the way he was holding me—firm yet gentle—spoke volumes. Maybe it wasn’t about moving on right now. Maybe it was just about getting through the night.
And for that, I didn’t need to be alone.