I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Emery’s POV

Did she say anything else before I came in?

I should’ve said yes.

I should’ve taken that moment and laid out everything…the video, the spa setup, Lucy, all of it…and just let the truth land where it was always going to land eventually. Part of me was screaming to do exactly that.

But then I remembered the look on Daisy’s face…how she had completely fallen apart, every bit of that careful put-together exterior just….gone. And underneath all the venom she’d just spat at me I could still see it. The one thing about her that had never changed and probably never would. She loved Atlas. In this ugly, suffocating, do-terrible-things-in-the-name-of-it kind of way. But she loved him.

And I wasn’t ready to blow that up. Not tonight. Not like this.

I wanted to give her one more chance to fix her own mess.

So I shook my head slow and gave Atlas a small smile. No. Nothing else.

He didn’t look away. Just held my eyes like he was trying to read the fine print, looking for what I wasn’t saying out loud because Atlas had always been able to see straight through me. His jaw was tight. He looked tired and hurt and I hated that I was the reason for that look.

“I’m okay.” I whispered.

He pulled me in without saying a word. Both arms came around me slow and careful, holding on like he wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon. His chin rested on top of my head and I closed my eyes and just let myself stay there.

We didn’t say anything. We didn’t have to. We just stood there and let the whole awful day breathe itself

out.

****

The next morning, I woke up in his arms feeling a little better. Not completely fine, but better. After yesterday’s insanity, waking up tangled with Atlas made the world feel softer around the edges. His arm was heavy around my waist, holding me close even in his sleep. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing against my neck, and it made everything inside me settle.

“Morning, my love,” I whispered against his ear, my lips brushing his skin.

His eyes stayed closed, but a slow, lazy smile curved those perfect lips. The kind of smile that always made my heart flip. His arm tightened around me, pulling me even closer until there wasn’t an inch of space between us. I felt the hard lines of his body mold against mine, warm and solid.

“Atlas, we have to get out of bed,” I murmured, even though I didn’t really want to move.

“Mmmh,” he hummed, voice deep and raspy with sleep. His smile grew a little wider, eyes still shut like he was savoring the moment. “Would it be so bad if we stayed like this forever?”

10:48 Wed, Apr 29

Chapter 204

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I let out a soft laugh, my fingers tracing lazy circles on his forearm. “I mean, I’d love that, but I’m starving”

His eyes finally fluttered open, and there it was, that mischievous spark lighting up those dark arises. He looked at me like I was the best thing he’d ever seen. He shifted, propping himself up slightly so he could lean in closer. His breath tickled my ear as he whispered, “Well, I could feed you… make you feel real good.”

He gently nipped my earlobe with his teeth, sending a shiver straight down my spine. I felt him harden against my thigh, pressing insistently, and damn if my body didn’t react instantly. As much as I loved the

stomach was way Atlas fucked me…and I did, a lot actually… dangerously, embarrassingly much, but my growling louder than my hormones right now.

“Tempting,” I said, biting my lip as I turned my head to meet his gaze. His eyebrows lifted playfully, that smirk still firmly in place. “But trust me, if we start that, I might actually collapse.”

Atlas chuckled, the low, warm sound vibrating through his chest and into mine. He pulled back just enough to look at me properly, his eyes soft with affection even as that naughty glint lingered. One hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face, his thumb lingering on my cheek.

“Can’t have that happening,” he said, voice still husky. “Let’s get you some real food first, and later we can handle the other kind.”

I smiled, leaning up to kiss his forehead, my lips lingering there for a second. “Deal.”

We made it to the kitchen still bumping into each other, Atlas finding my sides every few steps just to hear me squeak.

“Stop.” I said through a laugh, twisting away.

“I literally cannot stop myself.” He caught me from behind, chin on my shoulder, grinning. “I just love hearing you laugh, man.”

“Okay, tickling is on pause until after food or I will…”

We both froze.

The dining room looked like something out of a hotel brunch spread. The whole table was covered eggs, fruit, pastries, fresh juice, the works. Set up neat and full end to end.

And standing right in the middle of it all, wearing a floral apron and the biggest smile in the room, was Daisy.

“Morning, you two!” She waved a hand over the whole table like a game show host. “I gave Sophie the day off, that woman deserves a break, she works way too hard. And before either of you say anything…” She held up one finger, smile not dropping an inch. “I can cook. Like actually cook. So, dig in. Bon appétit.”

Three seconds of silence.

I felt Atlas go still right next to me. Not the kind of still where you’re deciding between the eggs or the fruit. The other kind. I looked up and watched his jaw set, his hands close into slow fists at his sides.

I opened my mouth.

He beat me to it.

WCD

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KIKA

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“Let’s go Quiet. Flat. Eyes on his mother and not moving

“Atlas…” I said low.

“I don’t trust her.” he said, louder this time. Cold enough that the room seemed to drop a few degrees “How am I supposed to know she didn’t do something to the food, considering she wished death on you yesterday?”

Daisy’s smile fell apart.

“Atlas..” Her voice shook immediately. “I would never do that.”

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