Chapter 4

~Eliza~

I was floating, in and out.

Behind my eyelids, something bright above me seemed to be swinging back and forth. Or was it me?

Also, what is that loud sound? It was persistent, piercing through my ears, steady and unrelenting.

Groaning softly, I opened my eyes and blinked blearily. My surroundings were a familiar, eerie white.

After spending weeks there after the accident, I knew without asking that I was in a hospital. Of course, I was, thanks to my shitty luck so far.

I shifted and pain cut through my stomach. I groaned and touched it, pausing when my hands encountered something hard.

I lifted the thin, scratchy hospital top and gulped at the sight of the thick bandages covering my stomach.

Wow! Daniel really did a number on me, I thought ruefully, and tears gathered in my eyes.

A breath shuddered out of me as I dropped the top and leaned back in bed.

But I barely had a chance to settle before the door opened. A doctor walked in, holding a slim clipboard.

Instinctively, I looked behind him, expecting to see someone else walk in behind him. The doorway remained empty. I tried not to acknowledge the disappointment that dug into my chest.

He smiled when he caught my eye. “Miss Eliza, your body has been through a lot.”

I swallowed and nodded. I knew that.

“You were brought in yesterday evening and we have to keep you here for a while, just to monitor your progress.”

I nodded again. “Who brought me here?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. It was—”

“I did,” Atlas’ curt voice came from the doorway, interrupting the doctor. “Or rather, my driver did.”

“Mr West, you’re here,” the doctor said, beaming brightly at Atlas. “I had the nurse call you the moment Miss Eliza woke up.”

He continued speaking, but my attention was still snagged on the man who just walked in. His shirt was rumpled, as if he had slept in it, his tie dangling around his neck. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms, which were corded with muscle.

When I finally brought my gaze to his eyes, I barely stopped myself from flinching. They were twin burning pools of fury, completely directed at me.

I blinked and looked away, just in time to hear the doctor say, “The nurses will be in here shortly.”

Clearing my throat, I nodded, and he walked out of the room. The silence that descended was almost deafening.

Atlas said nothing, only remaining in the same spot, glaring at me like he wanted to bite my head off. Although I kept my eyes on the bedsheets, I could feel his attention searing my skin.

What the hell is his problem? Oh, well, since he had saved me again, I guess I should be less hostile.

Awkwardly, I coughed and looked in his general direction. “Uh, thank you for your help,” I croaked out.

My words were not exactly grateful, but I couldn’t bring myself to do anything more than that. It didn’t help that he continued to glower like some brooding prince.

I sighed and looked at him. “Is there something you want to say to me?” I asked, my voice sharp.

Atlas’ jaw worked for a moment before he glanced to the side. He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at me.

“What are you going to do about this?” he asked, his voice harsh and gritty.

“About what?” I edged.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Eliza,” he warned tersely.

I threw up my hands. “Well, what do you want me to say?”

“As you can see, I’m stuck here at the moment.” I forced a casual shrug. “The issue with my husband will have to wait until I’m recovered.”

“Your husband?” he echoed, his lip curved in a snarl. “After what he put you through?”

I sniffed and crossed my arms on my chest. “You don’t know—”

“Oh, I know perfectly well that you’re better off without that fucking idiot,” he snapped.

I blinked, caught off guard by the vehemence in his voice. His face had hardened even more and his scowl was darker than ever before.

By the way, why was he so invested in this? I mean, I get that Daniel was his nephew, but this was more than just casual interest.

“Look, Atlas,” I said, shaking my head slowly. “You were right.”

He arched a brow and cocked his head. “I should leave Daniel and I will. I just need him to hand over my company first. With my shares, I can—”

“You don’t have any shares, Eliza,” Atlas cut in, arching a brow at me.

“What?” I gasped. “What are you saying?”

“I only asked Daniel to step in temporarily. I still own a large part of the company’s shares and…”

My words trailed off at the look in Atlas’ eyes. Suddenly, cold washed over me, and goosebumps broke out on my arms.

“Wh-why are you silent?” I asked warily. “Atlas, what’s going on?”

He walked over and stared down at me. “Eliza, Daniel has signed your shares over to himself,” he said quietly.

The room spun as my vision turned blurry for a second. “What?”

With an impatient sound, Atlas stalked off to a table at the far end of the room that I hadn’t noticed earlier. He picked up a folder and returned to me.

“Check this,” he ordered harshly, tossing it onto my lap.

Slowly, I picked up the folder, dread creeping through me as I flipped it open. “What’s th—”

My heart stopped, then restarted as I scanned through the strange, impossible words.

Willingly? Signed over? What the hell was going on?

The folder dropped onto my lap, and I covered my mouth in horror when I saw my signature on the last page.

But I certainly didn’t sign it. That could only mean one thing.

Damien had forged my signature. My husband of four years had truly taken the one thing I had left of my mother.

I let out a shaky breath. Now I knew why he had been so confident when he said he wouldn’t return my company.

He didn’t have to. He already stole it… and I had let him.

Oh, God! A choked gasp slipped past my lips. I’m finished.

I thought I still had something to fall back on. But in truth, I had nothing: no child, no house, no husband, and now, no company.

Tears blurred my vision as I dropped my hand and closed my eyes.

“If you are ready to do something about this, I can help you,” Atlas said suddenly.

My eyes snapped open. I swiped a hand over my eyes. “What do you mean?”

Atlas stared at me, his expression unreadable. “You can’t fight Daniel alone, not in this state.”

“I—”

He narrowed his gaze on me and said, “But I can…. If you marry me.”

My jaw dropped and my mouth popped open as I stared at him.

“And in return, I will help you get back your company and wreak your revenge on Daniel.”

A stunned gasp dropped from my mouth. “What are you saying?”

He nodded. “I know that this is—”

“Atlas, have you lost your mind?” I blurted.

I could think of ten reasons why his idea was terrible, but only one was enough. Not only was Atlas my husband’s uncle, but we also dated six years ago, before I met Daniel.

“I didn't realize you would find the idea of marrying me so distasteful, Eliza,” Atlas bit out, his gaze sharpening on me.

“Well, for one, you are Daniel’s uncle,” I started incredulously. “What—”

“Step uncle,” he cut in tersely.

“will everyone think?” I finished determinedly.

“Why do you care about that?” he asked, tilting his head. “I thought you were perfectly okay with doing whatever you want without caring about anyone else.”

I fell silent and glared at him. His last jab had nothing to do with what we were talking about. He knew that, and I did too.

Atlas let out a quiet breath and put up his hands. “Look, I don’t want us to fight. I am just offering to help you.”

He shrugged. “You can either decide to let go of your pride or drown in it. Your choice.”

“That’s not the issue and you know it, Atlas,” I countered quietly.

He met my gaze with his hard, unyielding one. The painful memories I had fought to keep buried rose, unbidden, into my mind.

Six years ago, we were lovers, happy and secure… until it all came crashing down around my ears.

The gut-wrenching sight that broke me was still burned into my mind’s eye. The man I loved with all my heart, asleep in bed… with another woman.

God! It still hurts, even now, six years and a broken marriage later.

I broke our staredown and looked at my hands, tangled in the sheets.

“Thank you, but I will handle this myself,” I said hoarsely.

“How?” he snapped.

I fell silent, unable to come up with any answer. But also because I couldn’t bear to look at him.

I felt Atlas’ gaze roll over me, hot and piercing, but I didn’t look up. I couldn’t.

Luckily, the nurse finally knocked and came in. “Hello, Miss Eliza. I’m here to—”

“Oh, Mr West. I didn’t know you were in here,” she said in a new, breathy voice that oddly grated on my nerves.

I raised my head and found that he barely paid her any attention. His eyes were still on me. The gleam in them made my insides twist.

Holding my gaze, he said in a cold, emotionless tone. “Think about what I said, Eliza.”

Then, without another word, he strode out of the room, still barely acknowledging the nurse.

She sighed, the sound filled with longing before turning to me with a dreamy look in her eyes. “Ugh! Isn’t he so perfect?”

She continued gushing over Atlas, but her chattering could not drown out my loud thoughts.

Marry Atlas West? No! Never!