Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele novel Chapter 118

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 118 

[Cordelia] 

“That’s not what happened,” Atlas protests, his lips small and tight. “Cordelia and I are…” 

“I don’t need the details,” Angelica covers her eyes with her hands as she folds in half, moaning as she rocks herself from side to side. “Fucked, made love, whatever you call it, Atlas. Does it matter? You still betrayed me.” 

Stunned, I stand there, not sure what I should do. One moment she was threatening me, and now she’s a sobbing mess. If I tell Atlas the truth while she’s like this, my actions will look cold and cruel. 

“Angelica,” There is a softness in his voice that wasn’t there before as he sits down next to her. He rubs her back, making soothing sounds. “I know this must be hard for you to see us together.” 

Atlas doesn’t look up once to see how I am handling all of this. He is only focused on Angelica and her pain. 

I can’t keep going this way, living my life at the mercy of Angelica’s whims. 

Atlas seems to have forgotten that none of this is our fault, including her anger and sadness. She brought this all onto herself with all of the terrible things that she did. 

“Angelica,” my voice a little harsher than I intended, upset as I am about her games. “What were you doing yesterday at Steele Industries?” 

“It wasn’t me,” she insists. “I didn’t do anything! Or at least anything I remember Why do you think I’d be so cruel?” Her sobbing increases in intensity. Holding her head she screams. “It hurts, oh god it hurts!” 

Atlas looks up at me and shakes his head. “Not now,” he mouths as he scoops her up into his arms. “Let’s get you settled in. I’ll call the doctor.” 

As Atlas carries her into my old bedroom, I find the idea of him tucking her in, making her feel safe and loved, is boiling my blood with anger. Doesn’t he see how she is manipulating him? 

I feel a ping of distrust and jealousy that makes me feel guilty and selfish. What if I’m wrong? What if her memory is gone and I’m imagining things? She’s not in her right mind. The comments she made about how hard she is trying to save the two of us from some unknown somebody make me think that there might be more going on with Angelica’s mental state that goes beyond her lack of memory. 

And yet, as I try to give both Atlas and Angelica a bit of grace and forgiveness in this moment, I also cannot set aside my irritation. 

Why does he always bend for her? I had to fight my way into his heart. All she has to do is pout and he’s worked up to make her comfortable. 

Will he ever love me that way? 

When Atlas reenters the room, the mood has completely shifted. Any romance or connection from the moments before has dissolved behind the sadness I still hear sniffling on the other side of the wall. He tells me that he has called her doctor, but also our parents to come collect her and take her back home. 

He is saying all the right things. 

1/2 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 118 

Unfortunately, this scenario has played out too many times before. 

“I need to go,” I look around for what remains of my clothes from the night before. “That way you can take care of her. She needs you more than I do.”