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.

Faith's POV

Tiredness gradually crept into my body as I took my steps toward our house from work. My eyes were getting heavy, and I felt like something was sucking my soul.

I badly wanted to pass out until I heard my mother's sweet voice calling me softly, saying, "Faith, sweetheart, are you home?" And just like that, all the exhaustion I felt evaporated into thin air.

"Yes, Mom," I replied, smiling.

"Why do you look so tired today?" she worriedly asked, which I merely chuckled at. "Anyway, dinner's ready. Why don't you go upstairs first and change? I'll call your dad, and let's have dinner together."

I then nodded, kissed her on her cheek, and went upstairs.

I took a quick shower, prepped my skin, dressed in comfortable pajamas, and dashed downstairs.

I was on a full smile because dinner with my family had always been something I looked forward to after a long exhausting day.

However, what flashed before my eyes when I arrived at our dining area instantly flipped my mood upside down.

"Why are you still standing there, Faith?" asked my mother, seeing that I hadn't moved an inch from my position. "Come and sit, sweetheart. Dinner's waiting."

"What is he doing here?" I coldly asked, completely ignoring my mother's invitation.

My eyes met Atlas' wherein, unlike before, I felt no sparks — just a volt of hatred. He looked affected and hurt by my indifference, but I couldn't care any less about that.

At this moment, I had no love or sympathy left for him.

"Don't be rude, Faith. Atlas is our guest," Dad firmly said before inviting me to sit for the second time. Left with no choice, I did as instructed.

I sat down next to him, but I made sure not to make him feel like it was fine being around him.

My eyes remained focused on my plate and my plate alone. I neither raised my head to look at him nor did I join their conversation.

There were four of us at the dining table, but here I was — immersed in my own world.

"So, how's our dear Leo doing?" My mom asked with a broad smile painted on her face.

Did she just call Atlas' son dear Leo? God! Did my mom bump her head somewhere without me knowing? How could she mention that kid's name as if he was her grandson?!

"He's doing fine, Aunt," Atlas replied with a shy smile. "He badly wanted to come here with me, but I thought it was already time for his bed, so I left him with my parents."

"Oh, right!" Mom exclaimed. "How's Kate and Dave, Atlas? It's been a while since I've last seen them. I also lost contact with them when we moved," she sadly added.

"They were actually planning to visit you and Uncle Kiel soon, saying they miss talking to you both," Atlas answered, making me lose my appetite even more. I had been so close with his parents, but many things had already happened. Thinking about meeting them after so many years made me feel uncomfortable.

Uninterested, I continued playing with my food using a fork.

"Faith, sweetheart, why aren't you eating?" Mom asked in concern.

"I'm not hungry, mom," I casually lied.

However, my mother knew me better than anyone. She didn't even believe my excuse and said, "Come on, sweetheart. I know you haven't eaten anything since you came to work because you are hardworking. Now, eat up and fill your belly."

Mom didn't even let me respond as she immediately filled my plate with a serving of pasta. Not wanting to offend her, I took a bite, which I didn't regret. For me, Mom's cooking would always be incomparable!

I took one bite after another then I felt Atlas' gaze on me, making me clench my left hand under the table. Fucking bastard, can't he see that I am eating? Didn't he know that staring that intensely at someone is rude?

"Faith," Mom called, breaking the suffocating silence.

I looked at her and waited for what she would say, but Dad answered on her behalf, saying, "Your mother and I have been wanting to talk to you about something, Faith."

Sensing the seriousness in my father's tone, I put down my fork and signaled them to continue. When my parents exchanged suggestive glances with Atlas, I knew what they would say next would be bad.

"Faith, sweetheart, you're not getting any younger," Mom said, making me frown inwardly. "You're already twenty-seven. Atlas is now a single parent, so your father and I thought that you two —"

If there were was a skill I had mastered throughout my twenty-seven years of existence, that was to pick up through my mother's odd gestures. She was yet to finish her sentence, but I already knew what she wanted to say.

Not wanting this conversation to drift further, I rose from my seat, causing a screeching sound they didn't like.

Still, I stood unfazed and said, "I'm full." I prepared myself to leave, but mom spoke again.

"You can't keep avoiding this conversation, Faith," she said with a sad voice. "You and Atlas have known each other since you guys were young, so if there's anyone who knows you better than yourself, that would be each other."

Mom paused for a while and looked at me with a pair of pleading eyes. She said, "Leo loves you so much, sweetheart. He even thinks that you are his mother. Like you, we are not getting any younger. Faith, we also want to see you get married and be happy."

"Be happy?" I sarcastically repeated before chuckling and giving them a stern look. "Mom, do you think I'll be happy if I marry the person who has ruined my life?"

"Fai—" Atlas called from the side, which I immediately cut off when I yelled, "Shut up!"

"I'm not talking to you, so don't you dare intervene," I added while pointing my finger at him, unable to control my rage.

"You're being disrespectful, young lady," Dad scolded, making me sneer in disbelief. "We didn't raise you to be rude," he added.

"I'm not being disrespectful, Dad. I'm just stating the truth," I scoffed as I approached them. Then, I looked at Atlas and said, "Besides, didn't you teach me that respect is to be earned, not to be given?"

"Stop wasting your energy trying to put together something that has long been broken. Our relationship will no longer be the same," I firmly stated despite my parents' unhappy expressions.

"But Faith, Leo is—"

"What about Leo, Mom?" I asked, cutting her off. "I haven't even spent a minute with that kid, so I don't get why he thinks I'm his mother. Well, it's obvious who has been brainwashing him."

"Faith, I know what she did couldn't be more painful, but her last wish was for you to look after Leo," Dad said, making my blood boil even more.

"Her last wish? Dad, do you think I give a damn about her fucking last wish?" I asked in disbelief.

"Hell no! She could've left this world without causing trouble to others, but she still had the guts to leave a burden to me."

"Faith!" Atlas yelled, which I didn't like. Why the hell was he yelling at me?!

I glared at him, and he did the same. He walked toward me and said, "Leo isn't a burden, Faith. He's my son."

Of course, he was. He was yours and that traitor's son.

"I'm glad you know that he's your son, Atlas," I sarcastically remarked. "He's your responsibility alone, not mine. I have nothing to do with him, so find someone else who wants to be his mother, and stop bugging me!"

After that, I walked away and didn't bother to look back.

"Fuck you, Atlas Williams," I whispered in anger.