I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 131

11:20 Wed, Feb 11

Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Emery’s POV

Ten Years Later

“And now stepping onto the platform, Emery Collins, seven-tim Olympic gold medalist!”

ས 21%-

55 vouchers

The whole crowd went wild, my name was being chanted like history was once again being made. I walked out, shoulders squared, heart steady. I was ready. I climbed onto the starting block for the 100-meter race, the noise crashing around me.

I took a deep breath.

My fingers twirled around the star necklace resting against my chest, a habit I’d never broken.

The gun

I dove.

fired.

And like every other race I came out victorious.

“Once again Emery Collins takes the gold medal.”

This was my life what I had worked hard for now mine and it only got better because I had him…my Atlas…My Home.

Hello my love.”

“Atlas.” My smile widened as my feet moved and the next thing was engulfed in his embrace.

“I’m so proud of you, baby,” he said, pulling me closer.

“I love you.” I whispered before kissing him.

“I love you too,” he said softly. “And I can’t wait to start a family with you.”

We pulled away smiling…And then the worst happened. My foot slipped.

I fell.

The noise around me shifted. Gasps. Whispers and when I looked down My heart dropped.

No…No….where was it?

My prosthetic leg was gone.

“Where is it?” I screamed, scrambling. “Don’t look at me! Stop looking at me!”

But they didn’t stop instead they laughed and it grew louder with each passing second. I felt humiliated, shame, embarrassment and every other word that fell in such category his had to stop please make them stop laughing at me.

“She has only one leg, what a freak!”

“She’s not worthy of such medal.”

*

She’s disable.”

My cars rang.

175

11:20 Wed, Feb 11

Chapter 131

“No, please, stop,” I sobbed, turning desperately. “Atlas…”

He was already walking away.

“Atlas, don’t go,” I cried.

He paused and turned back and the words that came out shatter me.

“I hate you.”

“w…what.”

“You pushed me away. You broke my heart. I will never forgive you.”

No….Atlas…..Atlas please…don’t leave me again I can’t leave without you…

I 55 vouchers

I didn’t want to lose him. I tried to get up. I tried so hard but I couldn’t….And it wasn’t helping that everyone was pointing at me. Laughing.

My chest tightened hands clutching it to steady my breath but it wasn’t helping and just when I thought I might actually give up… My eyes shot open, and I was staring at my white ceiling

I was soaked in sweat, sheets twisted around me, my hands trembling. My chest….God, my chest ached like something heavy was sitting on it.

I pushed myself out of bed, moving fast, heart racing. My hands shook as I opened the drawer and grabbed my meds, swallowing them quickly. But it still hurt. Breathing felt like work, like my lungs refused to cooperate.

I rushed out onto the balcony, gripping the railing so hard my kuckles turned white.

My gaze lifted, and landed on him.

The billboard across the street.

Slowly, painfully, my breathing started to return.

I let out a deep breath.

“You obviously think I’m pathetic,” I whispered, my voice rough And honestly… I don’t blame you.”

I stared at the face I hadn’t been able to forget for ten years. The gray eyes that still made me feel love, guilt, and sadness

all at once.

Atlas.

He wasn’t here. We hadn’t actually seen each other in ten years. o matter how many family dinners there were, he either never showed up, or left early the moment I arrived.

And did I blame him? Absolutely not.

I broke his heart.

If anything, it was better this way. At least he got to live his drea

My eyes traced the bold lettering beneath his photo.

THE FACE OF HOCKEY’S NEW ERA.

I let out a dry laugh.

2/5

11:20 Wed, Feb 11

Chapter 131

55 vouchers

Wasn’t it ironic? Or maybe just the universe being cruel. Having he live in a city where I woke up every morning and had no choice but to see the man I once loved, who probably hated me, and who also happened to be my stepbrother.

Woohoo

I sighed, resting my forehead briefly against the cool glass.

“How is it possible,” I murmured, “that after all these years, just looking at your picture still calms me down?”

My phone ringing broke my thoughts.

I stared at it, debating whether to ignore it or face the incoming storm that was Tommy.

Yeah… I wasn’t ready. Tommy could be sweet, but his wrath? Ugly

“Hey,” I answered.

“Oh, good,” he said. “For a second there, I thought you were ignoring my calls.”

I stepped back inside, glancing one last time at Atlas’s billboard before shutting the balcony door.

“And why on earth would I ignore the best manager I’ve ever had?” I said lightly. “The man who turned a poor girl like me into one of the top models?”

“Well, it wasn’t really me,” he said. “You had the face card… the hard work and hold up…What did you do?”

“Nothing”

“Emery,” he warned, “when you start complimenting me, it means you’ve gotten yourself into trouble.”

I shrugged. “Okay, first of all, that hurts. I can be nice.”

“Yeah,” he said. “And also extremely blunt.”

I shrugged again.

He was about to say something when he paused. “Hold on, I’ve got another call. I’ll call you right back.”

The line went dead.

I started counting under my breath. “Five…. four… three… two…”

Rinnnnng.

“And one,” I muttered.

I answered, and Tommy yelled, “YOU CALLED HER AN ORANGUTAN?!”

I pulled the phone away from my ear. “Okay, ouch.”

“She is Madame Colette Vercier!” he continued. “One of the best lesigners in the industry! How could you say that?”

“It’s not my fault,” I shot back. “She was being incredibly rude, and racist, to Helen if anything I apologize to the orangutan for likening them to that bitch”

“Emery.” He sighed, and I could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose, whatever hair he had left probably thinning

because of me.

“Fine,” he said. “We’ll find a new stylist. In the next, what three hours? I can’t lose my job”

3/5

11:20 Wed, Feb

Chapter 131

࿐21%-

55 vouchers

“Relax, Tommy,” I said calmly. “I’ve got it handled.”

“Let me remind you how important tonight is,” he said. “There’ll be tons of guests. The Noir Par Étiene will be there. We cannot mess this up.”

“I know,” I said. “And we won’t. I’ll show up looking my best, and I’ll make sure The Noir Par Étiene has no choice but to pick me as his model. You focus on the others. I’ll be fine.”

He exhaled slowly. “Don’t let me down, Emery.”

“Never have, buddy,” I said. “Now go breathe.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify