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Chapter 012
“Wha-” Her jaw dropped and she glanced around, “Atlas! Look at what she’s doing!”
I rolled my eyes and strolled till I was standing in the stadium. The guests erupted into whispers and murmurs while camera flashes broke through the tension.
“Could the rumors be true?” One of the guests said eyes widened
“Wait. Are you trying to say that the silver designer is a simple housewife?”
“Why not?” I spat, turning to face everyone. “Why? Why is it that whenever a woman decides to sacrifice something to please her family or support them, you her box into that sacrifice? You expect her to continue sacrificing, it unpaid labor, and then, there’s interest too because we pay with our self–respect.” I tightened my fists at my sides, feeling someone’s eyes on me
It was him, who else?
“A woman decides to embrace her family, you call her a housewife and brand it as her duty,” Years of humiliation and servitude flashed before my eyes as they locked on Atlas” “But, when a man does it, he’s smart, commendable? He’s not a househusband?” I paused and a dry chuckle escaped my lips. “It doesn’t even sound right.”
“A husband can have a career? But a wife should be branded within the four walls of her home and just because she is there she has nothing else to offer?”
The silence in the room is as deafening as my words hung in the air. “Well, you are all wrong. Especially you two. Sadly, women are the ones always bringing women down. So, listen to me “I turned to the camera and Lovie shook her head.
“No! You can’t do this to me! No one should believe her-
“Hello, Los Angeles. It’s Julia…” My gaze dropped on Atlas before I continued. “Julia Knight I chose my last name instead.” Or should I say, the silver designer?”
The crowd erupted into an uproar as I spoke through my projects in detail, recounting things and details only I could have known about.
*Lies! All of it is lies!”
“Yes, Miss Lovie has been the face for so many years. How can it all be fake?”
“You have a point, bu
“My client can be lying. But,” everyone turned as Greta stepped up, her blue eyes tracing the crowd. “Does the evidence lie too?” she pushed a box toward the press. “Inside that box, we have recordings in real time of my client working on her designs, contracts, and all the details she had with Volkan Industries, and funny enough,” She turned to Lovie. “Your name isn’t anywhere there.”
Lovie scrambled and collected the box, her body shaking. “No… no this cannot be I am the silver designer! It’s me! If it cannot
be me, then
My eyes widened as she charged at me with a vase, but before I could move, it shattered into pieces. My breath hitched as we came face to face. The world stopped as Atlas breathed, daring to reach for my cheek as blood rolled down his face.
He took the hit. Did he take the hit for me?
“You
“Are you okay?”
I couldn’t find words but somehow, it was enough for him. He wrapped his arms around with so much familiarity Like he had done this for years – like he wanted to do this, for the longest time.
“Have you gone mad, Lovie?” Atlas boomed. “It’s one thing to fight over this and another thing entirely to attach Julia‘ She is
your sister!”
Lovie stumbled at the scene, unsure whether to revert to her victimized state or show her true colors.
“Atlas…” Her bottom lip wobbled and I realized she had made her choice “She can’t you see what she’s doing? She is provoking me, I–1 would never-” Her words died in her mouth as she collided with the ground
I scoffed, she had faked unconsciousness to not face the press? How far would Lovie go? Well, she could sleep all she wanted Whenever she woke up, the truth would remain the same,
I got my rights back. I won. Everyone knows my true identity now and they look at me with respect and adoration. I finally got what I wanted. My rights and shares at the company
Now, all I had to do was-
“Wait, Greta “I snapped out of my thoughts as the maids helped Lovie up. I turned to see that Atlas was standing fighting the urge to follow her.
beside me,
“You can leave. I don’t want you here,” I said, walking away when he grabbed my wrist. A lump grew in my throat as he spoke.
“I know. I… It is I who needs you, Julia.”
–
My gaze dropped to his muddy shoes. “I am tired, Atlas. If you care about me, even a little just sign the divorce papers and go to your beloved. I can see the unease in your eyes.”
Before he could speak, I was following Greta to my bedroom.
“Who was that sponsor?”
“I don’t know his face, all I know is that he’s Mr. AJ‘
“Well,” I plopped down on–my bed, taking off some jewelry. “We have to thank him
m at some point, right?”
“I think he’s not done with us,” Greta added with a sparkle in her eyes and I raised an eyebrow.
“He wants to host a banquet with your designs. The best thing is that he’s willing to have it close for your comfort.” Greta twirled, bouncing on her feet. “This sponsor sounds like a man smitten with lover
My stomach twisted at her words. Who could this person be? Such dedication? What could they want?
No, I couldn’t keep accepting favors from-
“We get to choose the location for the banquet and maybe we can meet him in person and-”
“No, just tell them-“My words were cut off by our phones beeping at the same time.
Our eyes met and I shrugged as I picked up, my phone, Greta doing the same.
My grip on the sheets tightened and my heart rate picked up as I read the message. Of course, Atlas wouldn’t give up so easily. He had cooked something else.
This s man is shameless! How far will he go?” Greta fumed. “He has challenged you to participate in the annual designer challenge! Where will you get fifteen designer clothes in one night? And he dragged the press into it too!”
“No, no, this is bad,” Greta continued as I ran my hands through my hair. “We’ll need a location, designs, fabrics, people, 1-”
“What? Don’t tell me you’re chickening out, Julia?”
Our heads snapped to the door and I stood, breathing heavily as Atlas walked into the room.
“What do you want? What is this drama?”
“You know what I want Julia So, I will settle this once and for all. If you can present those designs by tomorrow, I will
personally sign the divorce.”
My heart skipped a beat. He knew it was impossible to do that. What sort of joke was this?
“But if you cannot? You will continue working for Volkan Industries and I will no longer be obligated to divorce you.”
“I will involve the press. I will tell-” He shushed me by placing his finger on my lips and 1 froze as my eyes traveled to his Atlas closed the distance between us.
“No need, buttercup. I already did.”
“Don’t call me that.” I gritted
“What? Buttercup? Why are you getting angry, Butter-
“What do you take me for? Do I look like a joke?”
“Not at all. 1.have never taken you for a joke or a clown. I have always been serious when it comes to you. Back then, and
ΠΟΥ
“Now, I understand what you want I get it.” my heart broke at my realization. “You are determined to punish me for killing your brother, right? You still think I drugged you and pushed him to his death, right?”
“Julia “Atlas‘ resolve evaporated and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Fine, I will end this drama once and for all.” his jaw tightened at my words. I will participate in tomorrow’s challenge but on another condition, not the divorce.”
Atlas frowned, raising an eyebrow,
“If I win tomorrow, you will have to confess to everyone that for the past three years, you helped Lovie steal my rights and make me sign a contract to work under your company a contract that can only be called slavery
His shoulders sagged at my words but I continued.
“After I win, Atlas.” I continued, reassuring myself. I will expose the truth about what happened years ago and who betrayed whom Then, you must promise me,”
“Promise you what?” our eyes were lost in each other’s now.
My voice finally cracked. “That you’ll set me free. Once the truth is out. You will sign those papers no matter what”
Atlas stumbled as I bit back a sob, speaking. “You will pack my things and throw them out: No more challenges, no more games. No dragging this out. Nothing. I want everything to be over. Do you promise me?”
“Atlas you have never done anything nice for me, this is your chance.”
For the first time in three years, Atlas Volkan stuttered. “I–I promise.”
He exited the room and Greta shut the door, glaring at me. “You talked a big game! How are
are we going to make this work?”
“The only thing better than a blind man is a smitten one,” I commented, shrugging. “Call our sponsor, I would love a banquet. Tomorrow and at the challenge center.”
