I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Emery’s POV

After a very long, very needed shower, and not snitting Atlas’s shift like some drug lord, I definitely did not do that. Okay. maybe I did. But don’t judge me. The man smells unfairly good.

The rest of my day was a blur of fittings, meetings, emails, and people asking me to “give face” while I was internally fighting for my life. Being a model looks glamorous until you’ve been in heels for seven hours and someone with a clipboard says, “One more take,” like they’re not actively ruining your spine,

And somehow, every time I had a second, I found myself pulling out my phone and staring at Atlas’s contact like it was going to start a conversation on its own.

No big deal. Completely normal. Absolutely healthy.

By the time I got home, my body was begging for mercy, I needed another shower, and honestly? An orgasm. Not because of Atlas, my nerves just needed a reset. Great orgasms equal great sleep. That’s science. Probably.

I walked into my bathroom, flicked on the lights, and the soft glo hit the marble and glass like I lived in a skincare commercial. I kicked off my shoes, rolled my shoulders, and started running the water, already picturing hot steam and bubbles and peace.

I reached for my bubble bath…

And I froze.

My brows slowly pulled together as my eyes locked onto the counter. My scented candle was on the left. I just stared at it, lips parting a little. Because I never put it there.

Never.

I always kept it on the right side, tucked where it belonged, like a little ritual. Right side. Always. Same place, Same order. My stomach tightened.

“No.” I whispered, half laughing like that would make it less creepy, “No, I didn’t move you.”

I took a step closer, barefoot on the cool tile. My face was calm, but only because my brain hadn’t decided whether to panic or pretend this wasn’t happening.

I touched the candle with two fingers.

Cold. Unused.

Not warm like I’d lit it and mindlessly shifted it.

My pulse started thudding harder, louder than the water running I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

“Okay…” I murmured, eyes flicking around the bathroom. Mirror Shower curtain. Door, Window. Everything looked normal… Too normal.

I forced a breath in through my nose, trying to talk myself down like I was my own PR team.

“Emery,” I said softly, “you’re tired. You’re overthinking. You probably moved it earlier and forgot.”

I stepped out of the bathroom and headed to my room to grab my phone, just in case I needed to call Tommy and laugh about how paranoid I was being. I turned the corner… And froze

Because why the hell was there a stranger standing in my bedroom? Black shirt. Cap pulled low. A mask covering his face.

For a second, my brain refused to translate what my eyes were seeing. Like it was a glitch. Like my mind was buffering. Then my heartbeat slammed into my ribs so hard I felt it in my throat. I spun fast, instincts screaming, back hitting the wall.

“W-who are you?” My voice came out sharp and thin, like it didn’t belong to me.

The man lifted his hands slowly, palms out..

“I’m…I’m so sorry,” he said quickly, words tumbling over each other. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just…wow… I can’t believe I’m actually seeing you here.”

He took a step forward. Every nerve in my body lit on fire.

“Stop.” I held my hand out, shaking. “Don’t come any closer.”

He paused, like he was surprised I wasn’t flattered.

“Please don’t be scared of me,” he said, voice pleading. “I’m a big fan. You’re…you’re so much prettier in person.”

My stomach dropped.

Fan.

No. This can’t be happening.

My eyes flicked around the room, door, window, hallway, anything that could be an exit. My legs felt like they belonged to someone else.

“You can’t just… trespass into my home,” I said, forcing the words out through my teeth. “That’s not…this is wrong.”

His shoulders sagged for half a second. Then he smiled again. A smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I just really love you,” he said softly, like that explained everything. “I wanted to see you.”

I swallowed hard, body turning sideways, small movements, careful, like I was trying not to spook an animal. My hand slid behind my back, fingers searching along the shelf by the doorway.

Pepper spray.

Please.

Please be there.

His voice kept going, rambling.

“I can prove it,” he said suddenly, a little too eager. “I can…I can show you.”

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