I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Emery’s POV

Tick. Tock.

Tick… tock.

It had been exactly six days.

R

Six days since I moved to the city of love, not because I was celebrating love, but because I was running from it.

A love that was never supposed to happen.

A love people would judge, call foolish… wrong.

Forbidden. Even disgusting.

A love that was better left broken.

I stared out the window.

A guy stood outside, wearing a headset, sipping coffee like he didn’t have a care in the world.

And just like that…..

I thought of him.

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Every second, he was there. In my head. In my chest. In everything. I’d see something small, stupid, harmless, and sudden my heart would ache all over again.

I missed him.

No. That word didn’t even come close,

I smiled in the mornings, something I was getting pretty good at faking. And at night, I cried until my chest hurt and my eyes burned.

But this was for the best.

You let go of what you love because you love them.

At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

Honestly, I was exhausted. Fanotionally drained. Too tired to keep arguing with my own heart.

“Emery”

I blinked and lifted my head, realizing where I was, and what I was supposed to be doing

Across from me sal Tom Older guy Constant smile. Soon-to-be manager assuming I signed the contract sitting in front of

Golden Reel Entertainment

I stared at the name printed across the top

A quiet scoff slipped on

The same company that had been chasing me for months.

10:18 Mon, Feb 9

Chapter 129

DR

61

E 55 vouchers

A few months ago, if someone had told me I’d be in a foreign country, about to sign a contract for a career I didn’t even give a fuck about, I would’ve laughed in their face.

Yet… here I was.

“You can take your time…” Tom started.

I picked up the pen.

Signed.

“Done.”

Tom blinked, then smiled wider. “Oh. I see you’re excited.”

Yeah. Let’s call it that.

“I’ll send a digital copy to your email,” he said. “You can go through it carefully, and if there’s anything you’d like adjusted. we’re always open to discussion.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

He leaned back slightly. “Well, that’s everything for now. Any questions?”

I leaned back slightly. “Yeah. The elephant in the room.”

“The elephant?” he repeated, glancing around the office like he genuinely expected to find one standing behind him.

I shifted in my seat, my fingers brushing my thigh. “My prosthetic,” I said. I hated how personal it sounded, like it was part of my identity instead of something I wore.

Maybe it was.

Tom smiled immediately. “It’s actually very beautiful.”

I didn’t smile back.

“Oh, that won’t be an issue at all, Miss Emery,” he continued quickly. “How do I put this…” He tilted his head, thinking. “You have a very strong, expressive face. It photographs incredibly well.”

He could’ve just said beautiful.

“And honesty,” he added, leaning forward a little, “this could open even more doors for you. Brands that design prosthetics, adaptive fashion companies, they’re always looking for real representation. You’d be a great fit.”

I nodded slowly, absorbing his words, my jaw tightening just a bit

There was a brief silence.

Then he smiled again so how are you enjoying Paris?”

I looked down at my hands, then shrugged lightly. The croissants are nice.

He chuckled. “Yeah, they make incredible croissants?

A small smile slipped out before I could stop it

Then the silence returned not until Tom cleared his throat.

10:18 Mon, Feb 9 4

Chapter 129

60

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“I know moving to a new place isn’t easy,” he said gently. “But you’ll be fine, Emery. You’ll adjust.”

I hoped so.

My gaze returned back to the big window, the beautiful street of Paris and the boy who sat across eyes fixed on his phone

I really do hope so.

****

Tom was a nice guy. A really nice guy. And also a big yapper.

Old Emery probably would’ve loved him, would’ve nodded along, asked questions, maybe even laughed at his terrible jokes.

This Emery?

This Emery just wanted to survive the day without crying in public.

He talked the entire drive back to the entertainment house, hands moving as much as his mouth while I stared straight ahead at the window, watching Paris blur past like I wasn’t even in it.

“So that building right there…” he started.

“Mmhmm,” I murmured, not looking away.

“And over there is this café I swear makes the best…”

“Tom,” I said gently, finally turning toward him. “I’m really not in the mood to talk right now.”

He glanced at me, then nodded immediately. No offense. No awkward pause.

“Got it,” he said easily. “All good.”

But the second the words left my mouth, guilt followed.

Great.

I’d officially become that person.

Not even fifteen minutes passed before he tried again, carefully this time, like he was testing thin ice. And instead of shutting him down, I sighed and turned toward him, forcing myself to engage.

“So, he said, dearing his throat, “what’s been the biggest culture shock for you so far?”

1 let out a breath through my nose. Honestly? How aggressively everyone smokes.”

He laughed. “Oh yeah. That never goes away. For me, it was how long people sit at cafes. First week I was here, I thought everyone was unemployed”

That got a small smile out of me small, but real

“Also,” he added, “no one respects personal space in the metro Like, at all

“Good to know I muttered. “I’ll mentally prepare.”

Then silence settled in again, heavier this time.

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