Chapter 5

~Atlas~

After six long years, she was finally back in my life.

Eliza.

I was close enough to hear her, to touch and smell her. But now, she was unconscious on a hospital bed… and my nephew put her there.

She had seemed to be improving two days ago. But then the hospital called me last night to say that she had gotten a mild infection.

My hands curled into fists at my sides as my lips tightened. I hated the helplessness curling through me. A part of me even blamed myself for bringing up my proposition while she was still recovering.

I blew out a frustrated breath, dragging a hand through my hair.

This was not at all how I thought our reunion would go. It had been bad enough to see her lying on the street. She had looked so pale that I thought I had lost her forever.

I never wanted to feel that way again. It reminded me too much of the day she walked out of my life without any explanation.

All I knew then was that she just decided to end things with me for no reason. Afterwards, she disappeared before I could explain. I spent months going out of my mind with questions and looking for her to no avail.

I had been hurt and angry at her betrayal…until I found out the truth. But no matter how hard I tried, she never wanted to hear my side of the story.

Only for her to show up at my nephew’s side…as his fiancée. Then, she married him.

I should have hated her for doing this to me, to us. And I did.

Which was why it didn’t make any sense for me to be here now, watching her sleep, her body still marked by the bruises that Daniel had put on her.

Neither did I understand why there was a throbbing ache in my chest each time I remembered the blood I had seen running down her thighs and onto the pavement.

I gritted my teeth and swung around to face the hospital window.

I shouldn’t be thinking about this. Eliza didn’t deserve my pity. Besides, I dare not leave myself open for her to cut through, not after the last time.

My lips curved with a satisfied smirk as my thoughts shifted.

She didn’t know it yet, but I had her right where I wanted. I was her only hope of getting her company back, so she had no choice but to do my bidding.

And then—

A shuffling sound came from behind me and Eliza let out a croak.

Instantly, I was at her side. “Hey,” I said softly.

I found myself placing my palm on her forehead. A relieved sigh swept through me when I realised that her fever had broken. She had been burning hot only a few hours ago, but it seemed that had passed now.

“Water,” she said hoarsely.

I got up to grab a cup for her from the dispenser in the corner of the room.

“Here,” I said gruffly.

I cradled her head and held the cup up to her mouth as she slurped.

She sighed and dropped back on the bed when she was done. I took out my handkerchief to lightly dab the water that had trickled down the side of her mouth.

Seeing her wince when I brushed against a bruise on her lips brought me back to earth.

What the hell am I even doing?

I snatched my hand away, retreated to a safe distance, and threw the cup in a trash can. Then I glared down at her.

“Confronting Daniel was a foolish idea,” I ground out while tucking my handkerchief back into my pocket.

But there was no response. I frowned and paused to look at her. What I saw made me blink.

Eliza had always been a spitfire, with an arsenal of sharp responses. Her spirit was one of the things that first drew me to her. Even after her loss, I had still seen a glimpse of it when she was at my place and then two days ago.

But there was no spark or life in her green eyes now. They looked flat and tired, like she was simply done. Her face was pale and pinched, her lips, bloodless. Even her shoulders were curved inwards.

Something rallied inside me at the sight of her looking so broken and defeated.

No, I could never accept that. I needed her to return to normal because I planned to be the one to snuff that spirit out of her. Not Daniel, or anyone else.

Me, only me.

So I forced a mocking smirk and took a few steps closer to her. “Don’t tell me you have given up so quickly,” I sneered.

Eliza’s head shot up, and she glared balefully at me. Even though she remained stubbornly silent, satisfaction coiled in my chest.

Yes, I thought as her green depths smouldered with resentment.

“The Eliza I know would never let anyone walk all over her like this,” I pushed, and the smoulder burst into fire.

“The Eliza you know is dead and gone,” she fired back and crossed her arms over her chest.

My smirk deepened as I snorted. “If that’s what you tell yourself, fine.”

“My offer still stands, though. Marry me and I will get you justice.”

Despite my outward nonchalance, my heart slammed against my ribcage as I waited for her response. Eliza’s face shifted between a mix of emotions- fear, distrust, and anger- before finally settling on resolve.

I thrust my hands into my pockets to hide the involuntary fists I had just formed. There was no convincing her.

“I see,” I said shortly, drawing up to my full height. “I’ll respect your choice then.”

“Just don’t come crawling back to me when Daniel decides he is not done with you,” I couldn’t resist adding the last parting shot as I turned and walked away to the door.

I was reaching for the handle when Eliza’s voice rang out. “Wait!”

A smile formed on my face even as I kept my back to her. “What?” I asked mildly, trying to keep my excitement out of my voice.

“A-are you really going to do this for me, with no strings attached?” she asked quietly, but I could still hear a slight, underlying tremble.

I shifted to face her, my face carefully wiped of all emotions. “Of course.”

The lie dropped smoothly from my lips and I couldn’t muster the slightest ounce of regret.

There was no way I would do this without my own aim. And if she really believed that, she only had herself to blame.

“Why?”

I shrugged. “I hate him for what he did.”

That wasn’t a lie. The only reason I hadn’t gone after him yet was for my sister’s sake.

Eliza stared at me, chewing her bottom lip. Then a moment later, a small smile lifted the corner of her mouth as her chest moved with a sigh.

“Okay.”

I tilted my head. “Okay, what?” I prodded, barely able to hold in my delight.

Eliza rolled her eyes. “Fine, I accept your help. I will marry you.”

I let out a quiet breath of relief. Then I walked back to her side and stretched out my hand. She stared at it for a second before cautiously reaching out.

I grasped her slender hand in a firm handshake. “We have a deal.”

This was perfect! I thought with a dark smile.

The first step in my plan to ruin you, Eliza, is to make you Mrs West.