“Today, all of the work has to be completed by five o'clock. Understood?”

I glared icily at my personal assistant, who was trembling under my watch, and gave her an order. After that, I gave all of the necessary files to her in a very dangerous manner.

“There was a delay till five o'one. Get moving and get started right away.” I proceeded while giving her a menacing look in her direction. I was aware that she would submit her resignation any moment now, but I couldn't care less about that fact.

When she exited the room, she responded with a trembling voice, “Y-yes, Ma'am,” and she came dangerously close to falling due to her anxiety and the pile of paperwork she was carrying.

I let out a sigh, sat back in my chair, and began massaging my temples as soon as I realized that she had already left my office. I really cannot stand it when my head begins to hurt. After that, the phone in my workplace rang, which jolted me out of my trance. I responded with exhaustion to your question.

“M-Madam, so someone is coming to see you…” That was my assistant calling me once again. I just despise the fact that she stuttered.

“Are you unable to communicate clearly? Jesus! Talk properly!” I stated, to let her know that I am irritated with her talking like that.

She repeated, “Madam, someone is coming to see you,” as she approached the door. I rolled my eyes in response to her voice, and then I hung up the phone without giving her another chance to speak.

As I was just ready to leave the office, its door abruptly opened, allowing me to exit the building. “Mommy! Mommy!” he yelled. I answered when I heard a soft voice. As I glanced down at my legs, I saw a little child holding onto my skirt. He was only three years old. “I miss you!” He went on as he was holding onto one of my legs.

“Get off me, kid!” I yelled as I violently wrenched my body away from him and shouted the words.

For fuck sake! How on earth was this kid ever able to make it here?

As I heard footsteps approaching into my office, the first thing that went through my thoughts was, ‘Damn it!’ When some time had passed, I was able to see his face. "Damn it," I muttered once again, really wanting to utter the phrase out loud.

“My apologies to you, Faith. As I parked the car in front of the building, he bolted out of the car. He couldn't express how much he was missing you.” A well-known low and gruff voice spoke out next. As I glanced at him, I saw that he was wearing a grin on his face.

I stared at him in confusion before turning my anger at the child. “Mr. Williams, what are you doing in this building?” I inquired in a manner that was very formal—cold and rigid. The grin that had been on his face vanished all of a sudden. It seemed as if he was suffering from... agony and pain.

The idea made me laugh out loud. ‘Agony? Pain? Fucking ridiculous!’ Pain and him are not a very good match for one another. Putting them together in one sentence doesn’t make sense.

“Come on, Faith. Do you still not remember that I own fifty percent of this company?” Atlas said, and in response to that, I rolled my eyes and settled back into my seat in the room.

Again, the little kid yelled out, “Mommy...”

After giving him some attention, I saw that the tears were welling up in his beautiful eyes. In addition to that, both of his arms are raised over his head. He requested that I carry him, but it is something I will never do. I diverted my gaze and pretended not to see him.

“Daddy,” he began sobbing, “I need you.” I watched as the tears slid down his rounder face and landed on his blue eyes.

“Honey, please come over here. It's alright, your mommy was just so busy at the time,” Atlas said in a low voice. I can't stand the way his voice makes the word ‘mommy’ sound.

I snapped at him in exasperation, “I am not his mom.” After hearing these comments, Atlas's expression towards me became harsh.

“Faith—” he started, but I stopped him off.

“Would you just be quiet? Therefore, see to it that your child does not return to this place under any circumstances.” I told him right in front of his face. “This is not a damned nursery or a playground where you can bring your child whenever you want to,” I continued.

“He is your son.”

It made me laugh. That was freaking hilarious and I gave him that.

“My son? What makes this child my son? To be very honest with you, Mr. Williams, I had no idea that I was even his mother.” I spit it out.

“But he—”

Once again, I severed communication with him.

“I said shut up. He isn't my son so stop brainwashing the kid's mind!” I loudly said. He did nothing except stand there and stare at my face, which caused me to tighten my fists in complete and utter rage.

‘Why the heck he’s insisting that this kid is my son?’

I made a solemn vow that the rage, hate, and contempt that I felt against this man would never go away. It had been three fucking years, and although I believed that I could finally move on after such a lengthy period of time, the reality is that I would never be able to do so.

I can’t fucking move on. The wounds were still here and were left unhealed.

Never in a million years, especially considering the fact that I am the Chief Executive Officer of this firm and he just showed up out of the blue and identified himself as the other owner. Never, especially considering that I was aware that we were working in the same place and we would be sharing the same air.

I repeated it with a little more composure this time as I returned to reviewing my files: “Go out, you're wasting my time.” I could hear the child choking back his tears and sniffling in an attempt to calm himself down.

“I will never walk away from you, regardless of how much animosity you feel against both me and our kid Leo. Absolutely not, Faith. I will stop at nothing to win your forgiveness, so that you may return to loving me the way you once did and making me once again the center of your life. It was a vow I took to heart and kept with myself.” He spoke it with a firm resolve and an air of assurance. To tell you the truth, it made me want to throw up. As it came from him, those remarks immediately gave off an impression of being a falsehood.

I sat up straight and began to intertwine my fingers with those of the person sitting next to me. “Mr. Williams, you may do anything you want, but I will never forgive you and Melissa for what you both did to me. I don't care what you do to me. My respect for myself is much more essential than your so-called love emotion or any other feeling you claim to have. I will never contact you again, and I will never allow you to reenter my life. You and I just owned this business together, and it will continue to serve as the foundation of our partnership moving forward. Nothing more than that. Now, get out.” I asserted in a loud and clear voice.

He turned his head away, his face conveying regret, hurt, and guilt to no one in particular but himself.

He carried his son with him as he made his way toward the entrance. As he quietly exited the room, he said, “I love you,” and then he was gone, leaving me with sad thoughts.

‘What the fuck? What the hell that I love you mean to me now? Nothing!’

**

FIVE YEARS AGO…

“Faith, you have no idea how much I adore you.” He cried out in pain as he gnawed on my neck. “Oh God! I just can't get enough of you. I just can't. You are mine, all mine.”

He spoke softly in my ear while biting the lobe of my other ear. I used to like the way it made me feel whenever I moaned his name.

I responded in a hushed tone, “I love you too, Atlas—so much.”

The door swung open with a thud all of a sudden. What a great timing! And here it is, it was our wonderful buddy Melissa who was a master at sabotaging our precious times.

Atlas whimpered “Melissa,” which made me grin to myself.

She expressed her regret while rolling her eyes and added, “I'm sorry, it was not my aim to disrupt your make-out session all the time.” She then approached the sofa while carrying a bag of Doritos in her hand.

Melissa switched her position just as Atlas was about to kiss me, interrupting the kiss. She had moved seats and was now seated between Atlas and I.

Atlas groaned and asked, “Mel, what the hell?”

She flashed a wry grin as she switched on the television while saying, “Sorry.” That caused me to giggle once again.

Atlas took a few moments to watch some television before grabbing the remote control and turning the television off. Melissa looked at Atlas and said, “What the heck are you doing? I was just watching that! You just spoiled the suspense!”

I was concerned because of the tone with which he delivered the next statement: "I know, but listen. I forgot to tell you both something.”

I asked Atlas what had occurred as I moved over to his side of the sofa and sat down next to him. “What happened?” After that, I put my hand on top of his, and I can feel him squeezing my hand even more tightly.

He began by saying, “I have some news. One of them is good, and the other is bad.”

After giving one other a glance that conveyed both anxiety and confusion, Melissa and I turned our attention back to Atlas and waited for him to continue.

“I-I have been offered a position in New York's one of the top companies—in fact, top over the globe. It was controlled by Mr. Richard Bailey,” he continued, causing our eyes to widen in shock.

Richard Bailey had a net worth of one billion dollars. Getting a job at one of the numerous businesses he controlled all across the globe was so desirable that people were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. It made Melissa and I shout with joy, and we both gave Atlas a bear hug as we were overcome with delight.

“Oh my God! Congratulations, Atlas! I knew you could do it and I am beyond proud and happy for you,” I said with joy as I kissed his cheek firmly, causing him to expose his charming dimples. “I knew you could do it and I am so pleased and happy for you,” I added with delight.

“Congrats!” Melissa extended her congratulations to Atlas and said that this was very wonderful news.

“But,” Atlas remarked with anguish.

I inquired with a “But what?”

Then he stated that, “Getting that position means I have to remain in New York,” which he made, caused me to grimace. “With that, I will have to leave London... in three days,” he said. My body was instantly overcome by a feeling of sadness.

I shook my head in disbelief and questioned in a trembling voice, “What? Three days?”

As tears began to form in my eyes. Atlas swiftly grabbed my cheeks as soon as he saw that I was crying. He wiped my tears away with a kiss while saying, “No, no. Please, baby, don't cry.” He stated it with such love and sincerity, “I don't want to see tears in your beautiful eyes. If you don't want me to go, then I will happily remain for you. I'm sure I can find another fantastic job here in London. You, nonetheless, were my highest priority.”

I felt guilty.

He wanted it and waited for it.

He really put forth a lot of effort to acquire this position. I can't let myself be the reason he gives up on his goals and ambitions. I wished for him to have the most success that was possible in this life.

“No, you need to go there, and achieve what it is in life that you want, and I... I will gladly watch it. But you gotta promise me to keep in contact, okay? Please don't find any gi—” he interrupts me by passionately kissing my lips.

“I promise to keep in contact. I promise to stay faithful to you as you are my badass angel. Remember? I am the only one who will take your virginity and you will be the only girl who will take mine,” he said, somewhat playfully. After that, he gave me a bear hug and proceeded by saying, “You are my first and last.”

I considered myself quite fortunate to have this guy as my boyfriend... my Atlas.

Our intimate moment was rudely interrupted by a cough. Melissa remarked this with an upset expression on her face, “I suppose you guys are forgetting that I am here.” That gave us reason to chuckle.

I chuckled to myself as I looked at her and said, “Of course not. How could we forget you?” After that, I switched my attention to Atlas as though we were conspiring on something.

In an attempt to defend herself, Melissa said, “Why does that look give me a negative feeling?” as both Atlas and I smiled devilishly at her. After that, we went on top of her and began to tickle Melissa on her collar bones and foot.

She just managed to utter the words “Oh God, please stop!” in between her uncontrolled laughter. Instead of continuing, we decided to stop and give each other a group embrace.

“Nothing's going to change, okay?” Melissa said.

“Nothing,” both Atlas and I said together in unison.

I couldn't have asked for anything better. These two people were everything to me.

**

PRESENT…

Just look at how fast the night changes…

I felt my chest tighten with those memories. Atlas’ presence suddenly triggered these unnecessary memories.

‘I should have forgotten this bullshit!’ That's what I thought.

But, I didn't.

I can't.

So I couldn't do anything whenever the memories of the three of us crossed my mind. It just hurts so bad. the kind of pain as if someone is cutting your skin with a sharp knife. That's how painful it was for me.

As I wiped away the tears that were falling from my eyes, I murmured to myself, “Little did I realize that as the years go by, the same persons who were once my universe, once my lifeline, would become the cause for the broken heart.”

Faith's Point of View

After Atlas's unwanted visit earlier, I'd lost my focus on work. I couldn't do my job well, and it frustrated the hell out of me. I knew I had to go somewhere to clear my head, so I left the office late in the afternoon and went to my favorite place—a secluded hill on the outskirts of the City.

It was the perfect place with an excellent view of what I was about to do. Drink and scream at the world.

"Damn you, Atlas! Damn you!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I couldn't control the pain anymore. I had to vent everything out, or else my grudges would consume me. They had hurt me enough for years, but that bastard just wouldn't let me be.

Funny how life could sometimes be unpredictable. I didn't expect to arrive at this point of my life, living only by anger.

Sometimes, I've wondered when the past would stop latching on me. But I'm only hurting my head from thinking about something uncertain.

"Mommy..." I muttered as I looked at the bustling night cityscape and burst out laughing.

I once imagined getting married to someone I love. That we'd create a family of our own, and one day a little boy would come running into my arms, calling me that dearly.

However, I wouldn't be so sure about that now. I'm no longer the foolish woman who'd believe in such things.

I opened a can of beer and drowned my woes with its bitter malty taste. Looking back, I didn't know what bitter tasted like until Atlas left five years ago. We didn't break up, but I hoped we did at that time. Perhaps things would have been different than now.

The memory of me crying in his arms was still vivid in my mind.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," I sobbed, hugging him tightly. I didn't care if I was making a scene at the airport back then. Seeing him leave broke my heart apart.

"I'm gonna miss you too, my badass angel," he sweetly whispered back.

I didn't want to let him go. He was my world, my obsession. How would I live without him by my side?

"Baby, you have to let me go. It's time for my flight," he said, kissing my head.

I hugged him tighter and continued sobbing.

'Just a bit more,' I thought until he broke the hug and cupped my face.

A warm smile swept across his face, and he kissed me on my forehead.

"Stop crying, Angel. I'll call you once I've arrived, I promise," he said, wiping the streams of tears off my face.

I nodded and then smiled.

"Now give me my kiss," he smirked and kissed me passionately on my lips which I, lovestruck, returned.

"Take care and call me, okay?" I said while sniffing my tears back.

He chuckled and pecked my lips once, twice, and then thrice. I remember giggling when Atlas did that. He always managed to make me laugh whenever I started crying.

"I will, and you also take care," he said playfully, pinching my cheeks.

"Don't create any problems for the teachers, you trouble maker," he added, making me chuckle.

He then turned to Melissa, who stood there watching us.

"Come here, Mel," Atlas said with open arms. She ran towards him and hugged him tightly, making him laugh.

"I will miss you, Mel. Try and control this troublemaker. I don't want her getting into fights while I'm not here," he told her.

She nodded. "I'll miss you, Atlas. Make sure to call us once you get there," she said in a sweet voice.

It was such a gloomy day for all of us that I thought nothing of it when Atlas kissed her forehead. Melissa was my best friend, and like a sister to us, it was normal for a brother to treat his sister warmly.

But that was just what I thought. I should have held on to that flag when they goddamn raised it.

Melissa and I watched Atlas waving at us, boarding his flight through the gates until we could no longer see him.

That scene of him leaving was so sad that I cried again.

"He will be fine. He will come back as a very successful man," Melissa comforted my heart as she hugged me from the side.

"Yeah. He sure will..." I answered weakly and gazed into the sky.

Time went by quickly. The days of Atlas and I, loving each other far apart, turned into weeks and months.

I began to miss him badly, his cuddles, touch, kisses, and teasing. I missed him so much that we'd call and facetime each other almost daily. He'd always make time for me despite his tight schedule.

Well, ain't he a loving guy.

One time, Atlas got swamped with his workload and we didn't get to talk for a week. I understood his circumstances, yet I couldn't bear not hearing his voice for that long, so I checked up on him.

He was tired, but he looked delighted when he heard my voice.

"How was work?" I asked him. He sighed and lay on his bed.

"Tiring, but good," he answered with a yawn.

"Aw. Is my baby tired? Gosh, I want to cuddle up with you right now." I sounded crazy talking babyish, but at least I've made him chuckle.

"Same here, babe. I want to hide my face in your neck and take in your beautiful scent. I've missed you so much, my angel," he said, blowing me a kiss on the phone.

"I miss you too," I longingly told him back.

"When will you come back home?" I asked with a slight frown.

"I don't know, babe. Maybe in a few years?" he answered, looking uncertain.

"What?! A Few years?!" I yelled in shock.

I didn't know we'd be that apart for long. I thought he'd be able to come home, even if only once a year. Didn't he promise me he would?

"Babe, calm down. I promise I'll come back to meet you every month," he said with a sad smile.

"I can't live without you, Atlas. I could hold on for days, weeks, heck, even months! But years? I'll probably die by then." I sighed.

"Don't you dare talk about death Fai!" His voice rose a little, snapping me out of it.

"You are my life. Even death can't do us apart. Just wait for me, okay? I will come back for you, and then we can get married, and then we'll make a cute football team," he said, winking at me.

"You want to marry me?" I exclaimed in surprise. He rolled his eyes at me and brought the phone closer to his face.

"Of course, I will. I will make sure you marry me. I am the only man for you, and you will be the mother of our cute children," he said earnestly, making me blush.

Didn't that just sound like a proposal?

I heard him chuckle after seeing my blush. I'd laugh too. I looked red as a tomato.

"Wait for me, baby. Time will fly. I'll soon come to you on my horse and then take you away with me," he teased, making me laugh.

"I love you so so so much, my badass angel," he said and then yawned.

"I love you too, my corny devil, and good night. You must be tired. I'll call you tomorrow," I said, kissing him on the phone.

"Love you, good night, baby," he whispered and disconnected the call.

I fell back on my bed, sighing, and then dreamt of the day we would get married, go on a honeymoon, and have kids. I was probably blushing even in my sleep.

However, that was the first and last time we talked about it.

Six months later, I was back at the airport, seeing another away.

I was crying while saying goodbye to Melissa.

"Mel, do you have to go?" I asked, greatly saddened.

Mel cupped my cheeks apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Fai. I wish I could stay, but my aunt is the only family I have left. I need to be there with her. I'll be back, I promise," she said with a sad smile.

I sighed and looked away. How could I possibly take her away from the last family she had? But it was sad knowing I'd be left by them alone.

"First Atlas and now you. Why does it have to be in New York?" I huffed.

Thinking about it, I didn't see what her expression looked like after I said that. I even wished her aunt well and sent her off with care.

Seeing the people I care about leave without knowing when we'd see each other again was painful.

I wasn't practically alone. I still had my parents, two protective older brothers, and Atlas's parents with me here in London. But those two were once the most important people in my life.

Fuck! I should've known. I shouldn't have been too trusting, especially when Atlas offered to pick up Melissa at the airport.

Yes, I shouldn't have trusted Melissa.

Time passed in a blur, and Atlas and Melissa had been in New York for a year.

I've felt Atlas and me slowly drifting apart during that time. He started to distance himself from me for an unknown reason. Our texts, calls, and facetime calls were reducing day by day.

At first, I thought it was because he was busy. But I was sure he wasn't that busy that he couldn't even spare two minutes to talk to me.

Melissa was the only person who would talk to me at that lonely time. But that, too, also stopped.

She did tell me once her Aunty was going through surgery, so I didn't want to annoy her. I just missed them so much.

I was in London while they were in the same city together. They would even spend time together, and here I am, dying without them two.

Atlas had also begun behaving strangely with me. He sounded bored and different whenever we talked. As if he was already tired of me.

I felt a stab in my heart, thinking he might have found another girl. I didn't want to believe it, of course. I knew Atlas would never cheat on me.

He made me a promise and always told me he loved me. I trusted him even though I'd never heard those words from him lately.

I passed off the first few times he sent me that feeling as having lonely blues. People tend to exaggerate things when they are anxious. And yes, he made me uneasy.

Whenever I would call or text him, he would always say he was busy. He didn't even have time for me anymore. That thought upset me, and I started holing up in my room. It went to the point that I made my family worried about me.

One day, I went out of my room to clear my head. I didn't want to continue being depressed.

"Hey, baby sis, what's up?" my older brother Noah asked, having heard me sigh.

He sat beside me in the living room, playing on his phone, while I stared at mine, waiting for a call.

"Nothing, just bored," I lied.

"Have you talked with Atlas and Melissa?" he asked, not taking his eyes off his phone.

"No, apparently, they are too busy even to make time for me," My voice dwindled as I lied again. But it was true when I said they didn't have time for me.

"Hey, don't get upset." This time, Noah looked at me and smiled.

"We're here for you, plus they are your best friends. I'm sure they'll make time. So, cheer up, sis." Noah nudged me, which somehow brought the laughter back to me.

But I didn't laugh for a good reason. Neither my family nor Atlas's family knew of our relationship. They just think we're tightly close friends.

Except Mrs. Williams had been shipping Atlas and me since we were in our mothers' womb.

Another year went by, and our long-distance relationship had its second anniversary. Atlas had been colder to me.

"Atlas, it's been two years. You have also stopped visiting me," I called him and complained.

"I'm busy, Faith. I don't have time to chat with you," he said coldly. I frowned.

"Atlas, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like that? Have you found someone else?" I said furiously.

"Shut Up, Faith!" He yelled, and I froze in shock.

"Stop acting like a controlling, possessive girlfriend! I have a life here! I have a job unlike you, who lives off your parents' money!"

I was horrified and frightened as he continued to yell at me. He changed. He treated me indifferently, as if I was a stranger. It felt like he was cruelly carving my heart out of my chest.

"Now stop annoying me! I am busy." He disconnected the call leaving me petrified.

"Controlling possessive girlfriend? Seriously?" I scoffed.

Tears swelled in my eyes, recalling his words.

What happened to my Atlas?

Then one day, I heard he was coming back after five long years.

I was so happy when Mr. and Mrs. Willaims called me telling me that Atlas was coming back.

After he dropped that call, our communication ceased for three years. Still, I never stopped hoping he'd come back for me. I held on to his promise like crazy.

"Fai! He's here!" Mrs. Williams yelled from downstairs, making me blush.

It's been three years since I haven't seen his face. My man sure had become famous. I was so proud of him. He was finally the CEO of one of Mr. Bailey's companies and owned many other clubs, restaurants, and high-rise buildings.

Atlas was all over the papers, and girls were going crazy after him. I used to scoff at that thought. Atlas belonged to me, but I wondered if that was why he distanced himself from us.

Was it because he became a famous businessman?

I had plenty of questions in mind as I ran down the stairs in excitement, ready to meet the love of my life, the man I had waited for all my life.

He promised he would come back for me. He told me to wait for him, which I did for five years, and finally, that day arrived.

But damn, I was wrong about everything. There I was, desperately longing for Atlas, but my soul seemed to have escaped into the atmosphere at what I saw.

"Congratulations on your wedding, son. You and Melissa look gorgeous together," Mrs. Williams said, looking at the couple with adoration and love while my heart and mind shattered.

I felt numb. I couldn't even feel my tears as they fell like a waterfall from my eyes.

Married. He was married!

The confusion kept ringing in my head. I didn't know what to make of that betrayal as I looked at him with immense pain.

Suddenly his eyes locked with mine making my heart freeze. I saw a flash of pain in his eyes, but he quickly replaced it with coldness. He looked at me blankly as if he didn't care. And he didn't care about how I felt.

My five-year-long faithfulness got thrown in the dumps when he came home married to someone else. And not just any woman. It was with my best friend, Melissa.

I looked at my friend in disgust, and she looked at me, flashing an evil smirk.

I've run out of space in my head for asking the question, why. My world died down from the confusion and pain. I barely even heard Mr. Williams as he talked to his son.

We were all distraught. None of us knew. None of them told us what they'd planned on doing. They came back, and we were forced to deal with it. Especially me.

I remember the kind of look he had on me at that time. It was cold, dark, frightening, and indifferent. He didn't answer his father when he asked why and said nothing. Atlas only looked at me with raging eyes as if he wasn't looking at a human being.

As I recall that disgusting gaze, I couldn't help crushing the beer can with my bare hands.

Was my love a joke to him?

He seemed hilarious more than I am.

I couldn't help but laugh. The nerve of him barging with his son into my office, donning a pained look in his eyes!

He was acting like I was the villain that wronged him.

"Fuck you, Atlas Williams! Am I a joke to you? Was my heart just a game to you? Fuck you! Get off my back, will you?! Why are you still bugging me, bastard? Go die a thousand times and go to hell!" I screamed until I lost my breath.

You heard that right. To hell with him.

ATLAS' POINT OF VIEW

I am now at the office with my son seated on my lap. He was crying, still because of what Faith had said. "Mommy didn't mean to say that, okay? She was just tired and busy at that moment…" I tried my best to explain as I stare at him. Damn, he looked so much like me—everything, except for his eyes which he got from his mom.

He looked up at me with his big, cute, and teary eyes. "Does mommy loves me?" He innocently asked with sobs in between.

I then kissed his chubby cheeks. "Of course, mommy loves you. We love you, Leo—a lot," I said with a smile trying to give him assurance. I was so happy when I saw him smile and clapped his hands. He then crawled around the office floor.

As I watched my son play on the floor, the scene that happened earlier played back in my mind. There were so much anger and hatred in her eyes. Faith could never forgive me, and I could easily say it just by looking at her. Well, I am a complete fool and a jerk. After everything that I have done to her, I totally deserve her hate—and I didn't deserve her, but I am selfish, and I just can't live without her. Faith was still my badass angel. She still was my girl, my damn life—my world.

I don't know what to do anymore, but I know that I should do something.

I don't know how to make her forgive me, but I want us to be okay like how we used to be before.

I don't know how to get the love of my life to love me again, yet I want her to love me just like before and I want her to feel my love.

My bubbly, lively, badass angel who always had a smile on her face was now a cold, and heartless businesswoman. There was no one else to blame but me.

How can I be so stupid to believe in someone else's lies?

If only I could turn back the time, then I would—over and over—just to make these right.

FOUR YEARS AGO

"Melissa?" I asked as I come near her. "What happened? Why are you crying?" I said in worry as I gave her a tight hug. Melissa was like a sister to me. She was someone whom I wanted to protect as much as I wanted to protect Faith.

As I broke the hug, she looked at me with teary eyes. "Atlas…" She started. "Fai- Fai…" Her words were barely recognizable because of continues sobbing.

I then looked her in the eyes. "Faith? Tell me what happened. What happened to Faith?" I yelled at her face making her flinch. "Tell me!" I repeated when she didn't give me an answer.

"Atlas…" she finally spoke as she took the phone from her pocket. "You… you need to take a look at this," she continued as she gave me her phone. I first looked at her with confusion before I get the phone from her hand.

There was a video.

I gave her one last look before playing it and what I saw fucking broke me into million pieces.

It was a video of my girl having an intimate moment with someone else. The video was full of her moans and the man was hovering over her in great pleasure. This can't be real.

This can't be fucking real.

"What the fuck is this, Melissa?" I paused the video and glared at her with tears in my eyes. "Stop playing pranks on me!" I yelled at her as I threw the phone onto the floor.

"How I wish that this was just a prank, but Atlas… it isn't." She said, crying.

"No, no, no!" Tears were still falling on my face. I feel like it won't stop. "Who sent you this, Melissa? Who?!" I was so mad. I can't control the surge of emotions and pain that I was feeling right now.

"Re-remember Ben from- from our college? He- he was at the club at that time when he saw this. And he- he sent it to me…" she was stuttering so bad.

"And you believed in that shit, Melissa? Why do you even have Ben in your contacts?" I asked furiously. Her face looked pale as she looked away.

"He followed me on Instagram, and I- I followed him back but we never spoke. This was the first time." She said looking so nervous. She can't even look me in the eyes now.

"I'm gonna kill the mother fucker!" I cursed. "Fucking send me the video, Melissa," I commanded her.

"But—"

"I said send it to me!" I cut her off. She then had no other choice but to pick up her broken phone and send the video to me.

After receiving the disgusting video, I sent it over to a trusted friend and texted him if he could check if it was morphed, or edited. He was an expert at this. After a few minutes of waiting, I got a response from him.

My world completely collapsed.

According to my friend, the video was raw and there was no chance of it becoming an edit.

I unconsciously dropped my phone.

I cannot feel my whole body as tears began to fall again.

My Faith, my girl, my love cheated on me.

Suddenly, I felt warm arms wrapped around my shoulders. I looked up at her with my red and still crying eyes. "She- she cheated…" I said in such a low voice.

"Shhh," she then hugged me even tighter. "Let it out, Atlas. Let it out," Melissa whispered beneath my ears making me cry even harder. I broke down in betrayal by the woman a trusted and loved the most.

How can she even do this to me?

Am I not enough? Am I not fucking enough?

"I know you're already hurt, but I need to show you something else. You need to know everything," she said as she took her phone again. What more should I know? I feel like nothing could hurt me anymore. This was the most painful.

I then heard a recording from her phone…

It was Faith who was speaking. I knew the sound of her voice all too well.

'I only want Atlas for his money, Mr. Williams. He was going to be wealthy, you know that. Why would I even let go of that opportunity?' She even laughed at the end.

The pain entirely ate me. And even though I do not want to, I started to feel hate towards her.

I had the want of ruining her as much as she ruined me.

Faith Abdella… I will make you regret playing with my heart.