The atmosphere in the Sinclair mansion shifted into partial silence, as everyone returned to their rooms.
Atlas walked through the halls with determined wrinkles lining his forehead.
As he passed by a door, he stopped briefly and stared. His hand reached out to touch the doors, but returned back to his side.
Taking one last pitiful glance at the door, he continued on his way.
He had just taken a turn when from the corner of his eyes, he saw the outline of someone familiar.
His eyes went to the Audemars Piguet watch around his wrist, and he nodded.
Switching directions, he went straight to the balcony.
"Go away," Faiza said as soon as she felt his presence.
Atlas paused to stare at her back that was turned to him.
She was putting on a dress that had her entire back out for the world, which included his eyes to see.
A beautiful back, that led to the waist he once held with desire. Waist he now looked at with disgust.
"Stop staring." She turned swiftly and caught his eyes on her waist.
His disgust spread all over his face, as he lifted his head. "Don't flatter yourself." Every word dripped with the annoyance he felt in his soul.
"I hate you, Atlas," Faiza said.
"Good, now we're getting somewhere. It's just unfortunate you don't hate me enough to leave forever. Why are you still hanging around my family? What do you think you'll achieve by inserting yourself? I will never desire you again, Faiza. When will you get it?"
She scoffed. "You don't get to dictate what I can or can't do. You're hurting your mum, and I'm the only one right now that can console her."
"Bullshit," he snickered. "Absolute hogwash. You're lingering because in that sick head of yours, you think seeing you is enough for me to change my mind." He took a step forward, closing the already small gap between them. "But get this, you disgust me." He breathed down on her.
Faiza's head swayed back. "You're lying," she whispered, feeling the effect of his closeness deep in her core.
"I am?" Atlas leaned in even more. "Or is that your delusions speaking again?"
"No. I know for a fact you're lying. And this is why I know."
In a split second, she pushed her lips against his.
Atlas' first instinct was to push her away, without a care in the world about the possibility of her falling over the balcony.
However, he dwelled longer on the thought than the action, giving Faiza the opportunity to apply more pressure on the kiss.
A rush of dopamine flowed through him, pushing him to grab her waist, and pull her closer to him.
Faiza's chest swelled victoriously, as she felt the familiarity of him giving in to her.
He never could resist her body. That was the one aspect that kept them together for so long.
The kiss intensified, as they began to breathe in each other.
Atlas spun Faiza around, and pushed her against the wall. He broke the kiss for a few seconds, before going in again.
One knee moved in between her thighs, as he brought his tongue to her ears.
"This is what you've wanted right!" He whispered.
Her moans and squirms were the only response he needed to know he had her exactly where he wanted her.
"Tell me how much you want me," he teased her with his words.
"All of me craves you, Atlas. You drive me crazy. I'll die without you," she replied in a heartbeat.
He smiled, and kissed her ears. "Then die, because you'll never have me again."
Faiza's entire body froze as Atlas pulled away. Right before her, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped off his lips.
"Filthy whore!" He threw the handkerchief on her, and walked away.
Several thoughts went through Atlas' mind, as he redirected his steps to his initial destination.
At the very top was disbelief. Disbelief at the fact Faiza could even think she still had any hold on him.
But it felt good to know he still affected her the way he did. It was good to watch her suffer, knowing that even on his deathbed, she would never have access to his heart again.
He stopped in front of his parents room, took a deep breath, and then knocked.
"Who's there?" Nadia Sinclair asked at the top of her voice.
He didn't reply, only pushed the door open, and stepped in.
"Really son?" Cane Sinclair who had just walked out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel tied around his waist, scowled.
Atlas shut the door behind him, and immediately began to speak his mind to Nadia who had a curious expression. "Why is Faiza here?" He asked, unable to hide the irritation in his voice.
"Why are you barging into my room, and daring to question me? When did you start being that disrespectful?" Nadia fired back.
"You talk about disrespect, but keep meddling. Do you care about Faiza more than your own son?" He replied, desperately trying and failing to keep his calm.
Cane Sinclair went silent. He knew not to get in-between the mother and son. Whatever difference they had was simply temporary.
Anyone dumb enough to take sides, would end up regretting it after they settled. A settlement which was always inevitable.
"How can you ask that? The reason I'm pushing so much for you two is because of how much I care about you, Atlas. Can't you see? You're my life. I will never rest until you're completely happy!"
He kissed his teeth. "Common mum. How is being with Faiza going to make me happy when I'm getting married to Aveline in two days?!"
"Oh please," she swayed a dismissive hand. "Stop mentioning that rat's name around me."
Atlas hands in his pockets tightened into a fist. "Is that why you decided to buy the rat?" He seethed.
"What?!" Cane Sinclair who had initially planned to stay out of it, stepped in.
"You heard right, dad. She offered Aveline twenty million dollars to leave me."
Cane whistled. "You dislike her that much?"
"And so what if I do?" Nadia Sinclair defended her decisions without projecting an iota of regret.
"Nadia, you can't—"
"Don't tell me what I can or can't do. I was the one that had to carry him for nine months. I know what is good for him, and that gold-digger isn't!" She cut off Cane Sinclair's attempt to reason with her.
Atlas sighed. There obviously was no getting through his mother. Not when she was so adamantly stubborn.
"If you choose to believe that Aveline is a scammer, that's your prerogative. Now I love you to death, but this time, you won't win. I'll rather be with a scammer, than a slut. Talk to your wife, dad." He turned around to leave.
"You take that right back, Atlas! Faiza is not a slut!" She screamed after him.
Atlas ignored her, as he walked out of the room, and slammed the door behind him.
"Ugh, I hate that girl! She's turning my own son against me!" Nadia's fist tightened, the veins in her face popping off.
Cane Sinclair shook his head, as he stared at his wife. He had been indifferent about Aveline before. Now he was actively rooting for her.
If she was the one to break his son off the smothering hold his mother had on him, then so be it.