Chapter 10
842words
"Atlas, you're just in time. Let's have dinner together," Kaylee said when she noticed the hollows in his cheeks. Her heart ached for him, yet jealousy burned deep inside her.
Why? Why would Atlas still care so much about Ember, even now that she's nothing but a shell of her former self?
Nevertheless, she didn't let her emotions show.
Atlas was in a low mood, and she planned to use this opportunity to show him how indispensable she could be. She had to ensure Ember would disappear from his life for good.
Kaylee gently pushed Atlas toward the table, arranging the food in front of him.
"Atlas, I heard from the bodyguards that you haven't eaten all day. You can't keep going like this.
"I know you're worried about Ember, but you have to take care of yourself too. Imagine how upset Ember would be if she saw you like this.
"Here. I've been simmering this chicken noodle soup all afternoon. Try it—tell me how it tastes."
Touched by Kaylee's attentiveness, Atlas' tense demeanor softened slightly.
He took the bowl and gave her a gentle smile. "It's delicious, Kaylee. You're a great cook."
Kaylee's face lit up with delight. "Really? If you like it, I can cook for you more often. What do you think?"
But then she quickly covered her mouth, feigning worry. "Oh no, Ember might not be happy about that. Maybe I shouldn't…"
Atlas glanced at Ember, who was lying unconscious on the hospital bed and being sustained by IV fluids. He shook his head with a bitter smile. "As long as she wakes up… I wouldn't mind if she's angry with me."
Atlas barely ate a few bites of dinner before stopping. Seeing that he intended to stay by Ember's side all night, Kaylee quickly stood up and intervened.
"Atlas, you should get some rest," she urged while placing a caring hand on his shoulder. "My brother and I can look after Ember.
"You've already done so much today, and you're injured too. You need proper rest to recover."
Atlas hesitated, and he wanted to argue. However, Kaylee's reassurance convinced him to return to his room.
"Don't worry. Ember is like a sister to me. I'll take good care of her."
Late into the night, Atlas tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
His thoughts were consumed with worry for Ember. Unable to suppress his unease any longer, he got up and decided to check on her.
As he approached Ember's room, he noticed a shadow moving back and forth through the partially open door.
Was that Kaylee? Or just a nurse on rounds?
A flicker of suspicion arose in Atlas' heart, and he stopped at the door, positioning himself in the shadows to stay hidden.
He could hear Kaylee and Spencer speaking in hushed tones from inside the room.
"She's not going to wake up again, is she?" It was Kaylee's voice. "Honestly, why couldn't she just die already?"
Spencer replied confidently, "Don't worry. Even an amateur like me can tell—she's not coming out of this in this lifetime."
He then let out a sinister chuckle. "Now we just have to wait for you to marry Atlas, and life will be smooth sailing!"
Kaylee snorted with laughter. Her voice was sharp and venomous in a way Atlas had never heard before. "Of course. Let's be real—she couldn't beat me even when she was fine, let alone now as a useless vegetable."
"That's my Kaylee," Spencer said admiringly. "But tell me, how did you manage to mess her up this badly?"
Kaylee let out a scornful laugh. "It wasn't hard.
"That idiot Ember believed me when I told her Atlas wanted to go skiing. I even mentioned a natural ski resort that was trending online, and she bought it without question.
"She spent days researching travel guides and buying gear, only to find out at the last minute that Atlas had invited me along, too. You should've seen her face—it was priceless!
"During the trip, I threw in a few jabs about her dead parents. As expected, she lost it and started yelling at me like a maniac.
"You should've seen her expression. She looked like she wanted to tear me apart."
Kaylee's eyes were gleaming with malice at this point. "And honestly, I wasn't wrong. Her parents were worthless. Who'd sacrifice their own lives to save others? They deserved to die.
"Then fate really smiled on me. Just as I was about to push her down the slope, the avalanche happened. All I had to do was go with the flow.
"Of course, she's tough. Even the avalanche didn't manage to kill her!"
Kaylee burst into laughter, and it was filled with satisfaction.
"But the best part? No matter how much she explains or defends herself, it's useless. Because whatever she says, Atlas will never believe her.
"What does she have to compete with me anyway?"
Kaylee's sharp and triumphant laugh then echoed through the room.
