Chapter 2

~Eliza~

Tingles spread from my head to my toes.

I kept my eyes closed for a moment longer, trying to keep reality from rushing back in, but it was useless. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The ceiling above me was high and cream-coloured, with a pale light fixture at its centre. I turned my head and noticed someone else sitting in a chair closer to the bed. The moment I moved, she was on her feet and at my side.

“You’re awake,” she said, beaming at me. “How are you feeling?”

My mouth was dry, I felt like shit, and I had lost everything I worked for, I wanted to say.

I tried to push myself upright and she rushed forward to help me, adjusting the pillows behind me. I blinked and suddenly, there was a woman dressed in a white coat beside me.

“Hello. My name is Sandy and I am your doctor,” she said briskly and shone a small light briefly into each of my eyes.

“Follow my movement, please,” she continued as she moved a finger back and forth before my eyes.

I did as she asked and she nodded before straightening, muttering to herself. I swallowed hard as I tried to summon the courage to ask the question I dreaded.

Licking my lips, I forced myself to speak. “What about my baby?”

A look of regret crossed her face briefly as she shook her head. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t save it.”

At first, I could only stare at her uncomprehendingly for several seconds. Then what she said hit me at the same time the pain did.

I gasped, suddenly unable to draw enough air into my lungs. Again, I had failed.

Just when I thought life was willing to give me another chance, it was so cruelly snatched from me.

It took a moment to realise that the keening cry that echoed in the room was coming from me.

A few moments later, I felt strong arms wrap around my shoulders as I sobbed for the life I could have had and cared for.

Maybe there was something wrong with me.

I shook my head firmly the moment that thought flashed in my head.

No way was I putting the blame for this on my head. Not when I already had enough guilt to go round.

My chest was still heaving as I pushed away from the hold, which felt strangely familiar and comforting.

I might have imagined it, but it seemed as though, for a split second, the person tightened their hold as if unwilling to let go of me.

Then they stepped back and I nearly swallowed my tongue. My tears dried up and my eyes nearly boggled out of their sockets as I gaped at the face of the person I least expected to see.

Instinctively, I shifted backwards. “What are you doing here?” I asked, not bothering to keep the curtness out of my voice.

Atlas West stared back at me blankly, his handsome face revealing nothing of what he was thinking. His black hair was cropped close to his head, a difference from the thickness he used to have.

But it was his eyes that stole my breath like always. They bored into mine as if ready to dig out my darkest thoughts and lay them bare.

Never again! I swore silently, tearing my gaze away from his.

“This is my house,” Atlas finally replied easily, sliding his hands into the pockets of his grey slacks.

I blinked and glanced at the nurse, who nodded.

“Then what am I doing here?” I asked instead, my hands curling into the soft bedsheets.

I became hyper aware that under the sheets covering me, I only had on a loose gown. To hide my awkwardness, I raised my chin and glared at him.

But as I stared at his face, my heart slammed against my ribcage as if it wanted to leap out. And that absolutely pissed me off.

It was starting to seem like I was a sucker for punishment. I obviously hadn't learned my lesson if I still reacted this way to him.

Of all people, him? After what his nephew did to me?

Snap out of it, Eliza! I chastised myself silently.

Atlas opened his mouth to respond, but I put my hand up, cutting him off.

“Don't even bother,” I said brusquely. “I just need to get dressed and I'll be out of your hair in a minute.”

I turned to the nurse. “Where are my clothes please?”

She hesitated and exchanged a look with the doctor. “It's—”

“Please step outside for a moment,” Atlas interrupted calmly.

I quickly sat up, but it was too late. The two women scampered out of the room, leaving me with Daniel's uncle.

Realising there was no way I was getting out of bed under his watchful gaze, dressed like this, I crossed my arms on my chest and scowled at him.

“Are you keeping me hostage?” I asked, arching a brow at him.

Atlas sighed and shook his head. Under his breath, he muttered something that sounded like “Just like always”.

My scowl deepened when he didn't answer, but walked to a side table and picked up a glass pitcher. He poured water into a cup and returned to my side.

“Drink,” he said, stretching out the cup to me.

I stared at it dubiously for a second before snatching it from him. I cautiously sniffed the water and he huffed.

“I'm not going to poison you, Eliza. If I wanted, you'd be dead already,” he said quietly and I fought back the urge to shudder.

If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that whenever Atlas threatened someone, he always followed through on his threat.

With a shrug, I downed the water in three gulps. The sooner I got this over with, the quicker I could go home to lick my wounds and figure out a way to fix the mess that was my life.

Silently, he took the cup back when I finished and his fingers lightly grazed mine. I felt sparks zing through my hand, from where he had touched me.

I yanked my hand away like I had been burned, but he remained cool and unbothered.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Look, I don't want to be a bother. I'm grateful to you for saving me, but I just need my clothes and I'll be on my way, okay?”

Still silent, Atlas returned the cup to the table and stood there, backing me. I warily watched his shoulders tighten and then relax under his shirt.

“Dont you feel even the slightest bit of anger towards him?” He suddenly asked, making me jump a little.

“My life is none of your business, Mr West,” I replied shortly.

He turned to face me. This time, there was a stark look on his face that made me gulp. “None of your business?” He spat, and I shrank back from his fury.

“Mr West?” he said with a disgusted twist to his lips. “Is that who I am to you now?”

“Do you want to know how you ended up here?”

I inhaled sharply as my breath shuddered out of me. The memory of everything that happened was too fresh to handle right now.

“Don't,” I whispered.

But Atlas rolled on. “You were on the floor outside your company, broken, with blood running down your legs!” He snarled, and I closed my eyes as hot tears threatened to fall.

“That is what my fucking nephew did to you. Yet, you are willing to forgive and continue living your life just like that?!”

My eyes flew open as his rage lit mine. I met his gaze head-on and cried, “What do you want me to do?”

The tears flowed then, ripping out of me in loud, raw sobs. But somehow, what was rushing through me wasn't just sadness. No, it was pure unadulterated rage.

I was pissed at myself, at Atlas, but mainly at Daniel and Isabella.

It burned through me, so hot and fast that it felt like it would consume me. The tears stopped, making way for a vengeful, chilling calm.

When I looked up, Atlas' expression had smoothed over and he completely wiped all emotions off his face, holding himself rigidly.

“If you are ready to do something about your situation, I can help you,” he stated, making no attempt to come near me.

I swiped away the tears on my cheeks and frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

He narrowed his gaze on me and said, “Marry me, Eliza, and in return, I will help you get back your company from Daniel and utterly destroy his life.”

My mouth fell open and a stunned gasp dropped from me. “What?!”

He nodded. “I know that this is—”

“Absolutely the fuck not, Atlas?” I blurted.

There were a million reasons why his idea was terrible, but only one was enough.

Atlas West was not only Daniel's uncle. He was also my ex-boyfriend.