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Novel Catalog
Chapter_76
Too Meticulously Planned
After some hesitation, I asked, “Why are you treating me so well?”
Atlas flashed me a smile, ruffling my hair in a playful gesture that made me feel oddly warm inside. For a moment, the world around us seemed to brighten. He was good at this—flirting, charming, making me feel like I was the only one in his orbit. It was like he had cast some sort of spell, and I couldn’t help but fall for it.
“Because I like you. Is that okay?” Atlas’s words were simple, yet they hit me harder than I expected.
My face flushed at the sudden confession. He likes me? I thought, feeling a mix of confusion and strange pleasure. I was married, my relationship on the verge of collapse, but here was this undeniably attractive, confident man in front of me, telling me he liked me. It was almost too surreal.
I knew the situation was ridiculous, yet the irony wasn’t lost on me. My daughter, who was almost old enough to understand love, would one day question me about my decisions. And yet, here I was, listening to a man who could so easily make my heart race.
Atlas noticed my silence, his gaze softening. He stepped closer and pulled me into his arms. “Why do you always torture yourself by overthinking everything? There can be countless reasons to like someone.”
I rolled my eyes, freeing myself from his grasp with a gentle shove. My instincts told me to step back, but the pull of his charm was undeniable. Instead, I reached for the meal in front of me, deciding it would be a waste not to savor it. The food was delicious, and for the moment, it allowed me to focus on something else besides my tangled emotions.
Atlas just smiled, watching me eat with an expression of quiet amusement. My mood, which had been clouded with doubt and confusion, lifted slightly. There was something oddly comforting in his presence, even if I couldn’t fully trust my feelings toward him.
When the meal was finished, Atlas called for the server to clear the table. Then, he began to explain the project documents in front of me. He spoke with the kind of authority that made me listen intently, even though I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was happening far too quickly.
“These are comprehensive plans for crucial projects,” Atlas explained. “However, ATL Empire has already outsourced one part to Ardora Construction.”
I froze. My eyes widened as I looked up at him. “Ardora?” I whispered, the name sending a ripple of unease through me.
He nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yes. Ardora Construction.”
Ardora was the company Matthew had registered under Melanie’s name. The connection was instant, and my gut clenched in response. Something felt off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Atlas had planned this entire situation too meticulously, almost like he was pushing me forward into a trap I had no way of escaping.
Was this all part of some grand scheme? Had Atlas orchestrated this from the start? The pieces were falling into place, but the picture it formed was far from clear.
“I… I don’t know if I can trust this,” I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. “It feels like you’ve been guiding me toward this, like there’s no room for retreat. It’s like I have no choice but to move forward, even if it’s risky.”
Atlas met my gaze, his eyes dark and intense. “You can’t afford to hesitate. If you don’t act now, you’ll lose everything.” His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the finality in it.
I clenched my fists, trying to steady my thoughts. There was so much at stake, and yet I felt like a pawn in a game that was being played by someone far more experienced. Still, something inside me urged me to keep going.
He continued, his words slicing through my doubts. “Your company can take this project. You can use it to repay Urban Builders for their favor. You don’t want to owe Fred too much, do you?”
I looked at him, confused. “Are you saying I can take this project with the company registered under my name?”
“Why else did you set up a company?” Atlas countered smoothly. “Just to intimidate others? You need to act now, Chloe. If you don’t take this project, how will you get everything back from the Murphys? Tanum Corporation is already an empty shell.”
My heart raced at the thought. It felt like everything was slipping into place—a carefully designed plan, a maze with no exit. I had to take this project, or I would be left with nothing. I could already picture Matthew descending into ruin, and yet I had no idea what my own fate would be.
I froze, the enormity of it all washing over me. Could I trust Atlas? Was this really the way forward, or was he just using me as a stepping stone to advance his own goals?
Atlas seemed to sense my confusion, and he stepped closer, pulling me into his arms once more. His touch was comforting, but it felt almost too calculated, like everything about this moment had been planned down to the smallest detail. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “Maybe you should get some rest before making any decisions,” he murmured. “You have a lot to think about.”
He placed the room key on the coffee table before stepping back. “I’ll leave you to it,” he said, his voice softer now. Then he left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The silence in the room was deafening. My mind was a storm of emotions—fear, excitement, uncertainty. Atlas’s perfect plan had worked. He had me cornered, and I had no way of retreating. The idea of taking revenge on Matthew was appealing, but the cost—what would it mean for me, for my family?
And then, there was Atlas. What were his true intentions? He said he liked me, but how much of that was genuine? How much of it was part of his calculated moves? I couldn’t find a reasonable explanation, and yet I couldn’t deny that something inside me was drawn to him.
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding in my chest. Was I about to lose everything? Or was this my chance to take back what had been stolen from me?
One thing was clear: the road ahead would be dangerous, and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to walk it alone.