Chapter 6

• "Atlas!" Lovie cried, "Why did you tear it up? This was your chance to —"
• "No one orders me around, Julia," Atlas growled, his icy blue eyes boring into my skin. "I will divorce you when I feel like it."
• I tightened my fists. He was a jerk. "Why? Don't tell me that you've become attached, Atlas." I spat, my eyes shifting to Lovie. "Your little lover will be humiliated if you even insinuate that."
• I gasped as he closed the distance between us. My back hit the wall and I could feel his breath on my skin as he spoke.
• "Listen to me carefully, Julia. You won't escape until you pay for my brother's death and Lovie's humiliation." He sneered, grabbing my cheek. "What do you think? You'll throw divorce papers in my face and that's it?"
• "If you refuse to divorce me, you will regret it, Atlas Volkan." I promised, "I will make you beg for that divorce."
• "Tch! Can you hear her? She will make you beg? As if!" Lovie scoffed. "I think she needs a reminder that she is beneath you, Atlas. She created such a scene at my event and —"
• "Oh, would you just shut up!" I snapped, glaring at her. "He's talking about his brother's death and somehow, you've made it all about you?"
• "Julia—"
• "And you," My eyes rested on Atlas. My heart broke all over again as I realized he was staring at Lovie.
• "I am not the reason Ryle killed himself. I neither chose to marry you nor did I leave him. I will prove this and while I am at it," I continued, "I will make this marriage suffocate you, Atlas Volkan."
• "Are you threatening me?" He mused, "You are threatening me?" He repeated as if I said the stupidest thing.
• My heart clenched as he mocked me. Atlas saw me as his brother's murderer and the woman who wiggled her way into his life.
• A social climber, a freeloader...
• "You have been in the shadows for years, Julia." Atlas' jaw tightened. "That is where you belong. In the dark, atoning for your mistakes!"
• He tore his gaze from me, "You are so despicable. Outside, you pretend to be a victim, but you are—"
• "Sir Volkan,"
• Everyone turned to see Atlas' right-hand man, Felix walk in. "They are here."
• I watched as Atlas' face fell. "Is he..."
• "Yes, Sir Ian has accompanied Madame."
• Atlas' knuckles almost turned white as he stormed out of the room, leaving Lovie and me alone. Felix trailed after him and I tried to leave but Lovie grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
• "Where do you think you are going? You created such a scene and —"
• "Let go of me, Lovie," I warned.
• She stepped forward. "Or what?"
• I kept my gaze on her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to myself with full force. Lovie's eyes widened and she released me, falling to the ground.
• "There, that is your place." I spat, looking down at her. "If everyone is pointing fingers at me, you should hide yours, Lovie. We don't want Atlas to know the truth about what happened years ago, right?" I crouched in front of her and her eyes widened. "If he finds out the real reason you married him—" I faked a gasp, tsking.
• "Julia!" she snapped. "You will not say anything, do you hear me?" she glanced around, walking toward the door and closing it.
• I watched as she turned to face me. "Besides, Atlas would never believe you."
• She was right. Atlas would never believe me. Despite being a smart businessman, Atlas was blind when he came to love. He loved fully and wholly without looking back. But the seed of distrust grows no matter how well one trusts.
• I knew the depth of his love for Lovie and how much he suffered because of his connection to me. He hated every moment of his marriage so I couldn't understand why he refused to divorce.
• Atlas must have other reasons, what reasons?
• "Stay away from me, Lovie. Or else," I brushed past her and exited the room.
• I had other things to take care of. I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer. They could fight me all they wanted, but I was going to get all my rights back.
• I was so engrossed in my phone that I tripped, falling into someone. My eyes widened as I recognized the familiar scent.
• I pulled away and our eyes locked. It didn't take long for me to realize I walked into their little family reunion. Atlas, his mother and, who was that?
• "You?" My mother-in-law, Freya Volkan sneered. "What are you doing here? After that scandal, you should be on the streets!" The glass in her hand slipped, the sound of its crash traveling through the grand living room.
• As you can already imagine, Freya Volkan loathed me. She blamed me for hurting one son and killing the other.
• "Ask your son, he has all the answers." I retorted and Atlas scoffed.
• "Wait, no one will introduce me?"
• My gaze shifted to the owner of the voice. Standing at least six feet tall, he looked like he walked straight out of the gym. His blue orbs sparkled as he stared at me with intrigue.
• "Who is this beautiful lady, Auntie? I was away for a few years and now, this? I know I missed Atlas' wedding but she could not have settled for him— right?"
• Something about him rubbed off on me the right way.
• "I didn't," I said and Atlas perked up, glaring at me. "He forced me to marry him. He is like the Grinch. Nobody likes him, especially not me."
• "Well, that is one thing we have in common, cupcake—"
• "Don't you have any manners, Ian?" Atlas growled and I frowned. "You just met a woman, who could be my wife and you're nicknaming her?"
• I narrowed my eyes at him because I had to be dreaming. The flicker in his eyes, his nose fuming, his clenched fists...
• Atlas Volkan was riled up? Because of me?
• "I think that's enough coffee, get out"
• "Julia," I said and Ian grinned. "Just Julia."
• Atlas huffed, moving to stand between us. "Go upstairs."
• "Why? What right do you have? I want to stay and discuss." My gaze drifted to the said man. "I like designing, Ian, you?"
• "Videography is life!" He cheered, adjusting his jean jacket. He was unaware of the tension in the room. "I'll show you a footage, I want to see your designs."
• The room fell silent at the mention of my designs. "Why not? I am a designer so even if some designs are gone, I can always create new ones," I informed him as we walked toward a sofa.
• For the next few minutes, Ian talked about his latest project and how he was returning to Mumbai tomorrow to finalize it. "You should keep this," he handed me a Pico camera. "It can take both videos and project it. Use it to video your designs and when you're done send it to me." He explained with an easy smile.
• "I can't keep this, I..." I glanced around but my eyes landed on Atlas.
• The dark-haired man was pacing back and forth, his gaze buried on us.
• Every two seconds, his jaw would clench, his fists would tighten and he would roll his eyes. Beside him, Lovie was rambling about something but Atlas' attention was elsewhere.
• Why was he acting this way? Why was he so focused on me? Was this his big plan to hurt me? To exert revenge?
• First, he refused the divorce. Now, he's acting like a jealous lover. Was this an act to distract me from the challenge?
• "Come closer, I want to show—"
• "The driver is waiting for you outside, Ian."
• I raised my head to see Atlas gesturing at the door. "What? So soon?" Ian said, raising an eyebrow:
• "Move." Atlas mouthed and Ian shrugged, dropping the camera.
• "He's a jerk." Ian moved and Atlas plopped on the couch beside me.
• "Lovie looks like she is about to cry," I commented as I stared at my sister. She looked like she was hatching a new plan to murder me.
• "Since when did you care about her?"
• "Since you stopped," I confessed and froze as my phone beeped. It was a text from a company, they were offering their support for my design exhibit.
• This was amazing news. With their support, I would be able to prove my innocence and —
• Soft music broke through my thoughts. Lovie marched over to us and pulled Atlas up. "Let's dance, okay?"
• He nodded and they moved to the beats. I rolled my eyes at the scene but frowned when someone extended their hand.
• I traced the hand to see Ian. "Would you like to dance? At least until I finally meet my sister-in-law. I assume it is her?" He gestured at Lovie and I rolled my eyes.
• "You are right." I accepted his hand and we started dancing. I could feel a pair of eyes on me the entire time.
• I leaned against Ian and his hands dared to wrap around my waist, two things happened as his hand grazed my skin.
• Atlas broke away from Lovie and shoved Ian.
• "How dare you touch her?" He growled. "Julia is mine. She is my wife and if anyone so much as looks at her, I won't spare them."