I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Atlas POV

“Close your eyes,” Mom said, voice light with excitement.

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I sighed but smiled, obeying. I could hear the soft click of her heels against the floor, the whisper of her gown as she moved closer. Her perfume floated in the air, something floral and warm, something that’s always reminded me of her….

“Now… open.”

I blinked.

There she was. Mom. Dressed up like royalty and somehow still managing to look like my mom. Her brunette hair was styled in soft waves, pulled to one side, flowing over her shoulder, and the dress…damn it was beautiful. Silver glowing under the light, hugging her figure in that classy, elegant way. It had long sleeves, a soft twist at the waist held by two tiny pearl pins, and a slit down the front that showed a hint of her strappy heels.

“Is it… too much?” she asked, suddenly unsure, her fingers fidgeting with her clutch.

“What? No, Mom…” I stepped forward, smiling. “You look beautiful.”

Her whole face softened.

“Thank God,” she laughed, hand to her chest. “I was starting to think it was a little over the top. I even told Rory, This is too expensive!’ but of course, he insisted…”

“Mom.” I cut in gently, reaching out to take her hands.

She blinked at me.

“You look perfect. And tonight is about you and Rory. And I’m not just saying this because I’m your son, but he’s a damn lucky man to have you.”

Her smile widened, and she laughed softly, eyes glowing with so much love and pride. “My sweet boy… if anyone’s lucky, it’s me. I got blessed with a son like you.”

My chest tightened. Her words landed like a punch, the guilt curing inside me like barbed wire wrapped around my heart, but I pushed it away, even a crack of pain in my eyes would be seen by my mother, and I couldn’t afford to ruin her day…sol

smiled.

She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you more, baby, she whispered, and a tear slid down her heek.

She laughed, wiping it quickly. “Okay, okay no more tears. I anot ruining this makeup.”

“Yeah,” I smirked, “that would be a tragedy.”

She chuckled, shaking her head.

“Now, please help me put this on,” she said, holding out the pear necklace Rory had gotten her.

I took it from her carefully, the cool weight of the pearls resting gainst my palm. She turned around, lifting her hair off her neck with practiced ease, exposing the soft skin at the nape.

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18:00 Wed, Dec 31 GD.

Chapter 86

I stepped closer. And then I saw it.

A red mark.

My fingers stilled midair. My heart slammed hard against my rib, so hard it hurt.

“Mom.”

She half-turned, brows lifting. “Hm?”

My voice came out flat. “What happened to your

neck?”

She blinked, surprised by the shift in my tone. “What’s wrong, Adas?”

I didn’t blink. Didn’t look away. “That mark. Right there.”

Please don’t let it be what I think it is…don’t let it be him.

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Her hand flew to the spot, covering it instinctively. Then she smiled, too fast, too bright. “Oh, honey, it’s nothing. I was out in Rory’s garden yesterday messing with the rose bushes. Got stung by a bee.” She rubbed the spot lightly, like it would help convince me. “It’s already fading. I’m fine, really.”

I studied her eyes. They were clear, warm, the same eyes that had never once hid something from me.

I let out a slow breath through my nose. “Okay.”

She squeezed my hand again, soft and reassuring. “You worry too much, you know that?”

“Yeah.” I muttered. “Guess I do.”

I finished fastening the necklace, the tiny clasp clicking into place like a period at the end of a sentence. She turned to face me fully, beaming, radiant, completely oblivious to the ice crawling down my spine.

“Let’s go,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “Before Rory thinks we stood him up.”

I nodded, forced my smile back into place, and let her lead me toward the door. But as we stepped into the hallway, that uneasy feeling stayed lodged in my chest. Mom wouldn’t lie to me. I knew that.

And yet…

Something about that mark didn’t sit right. So tonight, I’d be watching. Closely. And if he showed his face here, if he even stepped one foot into this place… I wouldn’t hold back.

ㄧㄢ

Mom had her arm hooked around mine as we stepped out, and here he was… Rory. Dude froze the second he saw her, like he just uncovered some rare artifact in a museum. His eyes locked on her like she was the only thing that existed in the damn universe.

“Wow,” he whispered.

Mom let out this soft laugh, a little flustered as she glanced down at her dress. “Well? What do you think?”

He walked right up, took her hand real gentle, like she might flo away if he held her too tight. “I think you look so beautiful, my love.”

Then he leaned in and kissed her, and yeah… that was my cue.

I gave them a smile, turned away, and headed into the hall, already scanning the crowd like a bloodhound. I wasn’t looking

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18:00 Wed, Dec 31 GD

Chapter 86

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for champagne. Or some business dude in a tux trying to shake my hand…..I was looking for her…Emery…My Emery.

But before I could take two full steps in, someone popped up in front of me. Short blonde hair, nervous brown eyes. Looked like she practiced her lines in the mirror and still forgot her cue

“Hi… hi,” she stammered.

I gave her a quick smile. “Hey.”

“I’m Lisa. I just wanted to say congratulations on your parents’ engagement.”

“Thanks,” I nodded, still being polite even though my brain was out the door.

“I was wondering if I could maybe get your…”

And just like that, her voice cut out. Because over her shoulder, I saw her.

Emery.

And oh my fucks.

She was standing a few feet away, looking like a damn daydream in emerald green. That dress hugged her waist like it was stitched just for her, then flowed down in all the right ways. And that slit? Jesus. Her legs went on forever. Golden hair loose and glowing under the lights. Freckles on her cheeks. Those eyes..

Everything else vanished.

“I’m sorry….I gotta go,” I said, cutting Lisa off mid-sentence, not even glancing at her which I knew was rude, but my brain had stopped functioning.

All I could think about was her.

I pushed through the crowd, ignoring every tap on my shoulder every “Hey, Atlas….” someone tried to throw at me. Eyes locked on one thing only.

Then she looked up.

That smile?

I swear my knees almost buckled. And I’m not even being dramatic.

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