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.

Faith's POV

I was in my room when my thoughts drifted further to what happened three years ago. Even though I had been trying to erase this memory of betrayal in my mind, my heart had always remembered.

"What the fuck is this, Mel?!" I screamed in anger after forcing Melissa to face me. I tried not to roam my eyes around her room, which was obviously Atlas' room, because I knew it would trigger waves of memories.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled back, making me dumbfounded.

Melissa used to embrace me whenever I was at my worst, but now —she was brushing the part of her cloth that I touched as if I had some contagious disease.

She used to be the first person I went to for comforting words whenever I needed reassurance, but now — she was screaming at me as if I was the person she hated most.

She used to be my best friend, but now — I wasn't sure if she was still the person I once knew.

"Are you pretending not to understand, or were you merely dumb, Faith?" Melissa asked as she walked closer to me. Her eyes had traces of wickedness, which I had never seen before.

When did my best friend change so much?

"If you really don't get it, let me clarify things for you. I am now Atlas' wife, while you? You are no longer part of his life," Melissa mockingly said.

"Tell me you're joking, Mel," I pleaded as tears slowly formed in the corner of my eyes. "You're my best friend, and I know you wouldn't do such a thing to me. I missed you both, and God knows how much I wanted you guys to return."

I was yet to finish my sentence when I felt like my energy was gradually dissipating. I knew what I wanted to say but struggled to let the words escape my mouth.

"You two came back, but how could you come back — married?" I uttered in a breaking voice.

"How could you guys do this to me?" I asked, and this time, I failed to stop my tears from falling.

"I'll tell you why," said a familiar voice from behind.

I didn't have to turn around to check who spoke because I already knew. How wouldn't I, though? It was the voice of the man I loved, which used to be music to my ears.

Still, I looked back.

"A-Atlas," I whispered as I faced the man I treasured more than my life.

I cupped his cheeks with my trembling hands and stared closely at his face, but he only pushed my hands away and looked at me in disgust.

"Don't touch me, bitch!" he yelled, making my eyes widen in shock.

Bitch? Did he just call me a bitch?

"W-why are you calling me like that, Atlas?" I asked, utterly confused.

"Why? Do you have a problem with that?" he provocatively asked back. "I called you bitch because it suits you!"

I would be lying if I said I didn't get hurt by his words. However, the confusion I was feeling now was far greater than the pain I had received.

"Faith, did you think I wouldn't find out? I know you have always been a badass, but what gives you the right to play with my feelings while I am away?" Atlas asked in anger and frustration, which made me even more confused.

"W-what are you talking about, Atlas?"

I waited for him to give me a clear-cut answer, but he only glared at me in response. He pushed me aside, and I watched him walk closer to Melissa.

I wasn't ready for this.

My heartbeat instantly accelerated seeing my man and best friend together, and it even went mad when I saw what happened next.

Atlas held Melissa's face and unhesitatingly pressed his lips on hers. They kissed hungrily, not minding whether I was still here or not.

Was I too evil in my previous life for the heavens to punish me like this?

Unable to watch them any longer, I strode forward and separated them from each other. Furious, I asked, "How could you do this to me, Mel?! I treated you like a sister. How dare you steal my boyfriend?!"

"What did I do to you for you to betray me like this?!" I cried, unable to conceal my emotions.

I then looked at my man and felt even more betrayed. I gave him nothing but love. I stayed pure for him. I never kissed another man beside him, but he? He kissed my best friend.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at my wife," he warned, making me feel numb.

"What about your promises to me, Atlas?" I whispered as my gaze fell to the ground. "You said you'll come back for me. You promised to marry me. And most importantly, you pleaded to stay pure for me."

"You don't deserve to be my wife," Atlas coldly said while holding Melissa's hand.

I raised my head to meet his gaze, only to see him staring at my best friend. He didn't even glance at me when he said, "Now, get out of our room. I want to spend time with my wife."

Then, he kissed her from her cheeks down to her neck, making me feel betrayed.

I had only been here for a few minutes, but seeing them together had constantly stabbed my heart a hundred times.

"M-May I ask why you chose her over me, Atlas?" I asked in a breaking voice.

"You already know why," he coldly replied. "Don't pretend like you didn't do anything wrong, Faith. You won't fool anyone here."

Confused, I cried, "Tell me what I did, Atlas, because I don't know what you are talking about!"

I pleaded for answers, but all I received from him was rage, which I wasn't sure where it was coming from.

"Get out of our room, you whore!"

What happened to my man?

What happened to the one who had never talked back to me?

What happened to the one who had never called me names?

What happened to the one who had never had the guts to curse on me?

What happened to the one who had always been afraid to hurt me?

And what happened to the one who had always loved me?

Where was he?

"Were you with her during the days you were avoiding me?" I bluntly asked with all the remaining courage and energy I had.

"Were you so preoccupied with her that you forgot that someone was waiting for you back here?"

I honestly didn't know where I got the strength to say such things because this matter had already drained me to my core last time I checked.

"Shame on you, Atlas. Shame on you," I said as I sneered. "I thought you're not like other men, but maybe I expected too much from you."

"Likewise," he scoffed.

He kept giving me vague answers, and my patience couldn't hold on any longer. "Just tell me directly what your problem is, Atlas! What do you mean?"

However, he only firmly said, "Get out of here before I drag you out myself. I want to spend time with my wife, and you are disturbing us."

After that, he wrapped his arms around Melissa's waist and gave her a peck.

I was only in the room next door, so I could hear them moaning non-stop. They didn't stop wailing in pleasure while I didn't stop sobbing in pain.

Unable to take it anymore, I ran out of his house and returned to ours. Furious, I threw everything my hands laid on, including my pillows, books, vases, and all. I threw everything on the ground until I calmed down.

My best friend betrayed me while my man cheated on me.

Why couldn't life be simple and easy?

Faith's POV

A new day began, and my eyes and mind couldn't be busier as a thick pack of documents rested on the left side of my table.

This was a typical day in my life.

I was reviewing a couple of proposals and signing countless progress reports when my assistant came into my office and said, "Mr. Campbell has constantly expressed huge interest in our newly approved project, Ma'am Faith. Do you want me to book an appointment with him?"

Not minding raising my head at her, I only nodded and calmly replied, "Yes, but make sure to set an appointment in the afternoon because I have a lot of meetings to attend and things to settle in the morning."

"Noted on that, Ma'am," she replied and asked, "Anything else you want me to do?"

I then closed the folder on my table to look at her briefly and said, "That should be all, Lily. You can leave for the day. Thank you."

After nodding at me, she left.

I continued reading a few more important files until I heard a knock on the door. If there were anything I hated whenever I was in the middle of something important, it would be any form of destruction.

Annoyed, I clenched my jaw and shouted, "Come in!"

The door creaked open and heavy footsteps soon followed. I knew it wasn't Lily, so I raised my head to check. I wish I hadn't done that, though. Now, I'd be spending the rest of my day in a bad mood.

Why did he always have to show up wherever I was and ruin my mood? Was this a talent he had developed lately? God!

Unwilling to talk to him, I said nothing and looked at the documents again. I tried to focus on reading what was in front of me, but the screeching sound made by the chair he pulled rang in my ears. Then, I felt his scorching gaze on me, which made me frustrated and annoyed.

"Can you stop staring at me?!" I snapped as I glared at him, unable to control myself anymore. "What the fuck is your problem? Can't you see that I am working? Don't you have other things to do aside from bugging me?"

My heart was brimming with rage, and I couldn't care any less if I looked like a mad lion right now. This guy was getting on my nerves!

"Finally, you noticed me," he replied with a smile as if none of what I said mattered.

"What are you doing here?" I coldly asked.

"I miss you," he replied, not even bothering to beat around the bush.

If he thought he could win me over with this strategy, he thought wrongly. My once soft heart for him had been processed and molded into a rock, so I would never fall for him again.

I looked at him expressionlessly, and he did the same.

If I was the same Faith in the past and he was the same man I loved, I would've stared at him the entire day without getting tired. However, even glancing at him had become a hard thing to do for me.

Unable to match his gaze, I retracted my eyes and flatly said, "I'm busy, Mr. Williams, so please leave at once. You're disturbing my work."

"Atlas. Call me Atlas," he corrected, looking like he was in pain.

"I hate it when you're being formal with me. Faith, we've been together for years. There's no need to call me that way," he added.

I wanted to speak and correct him, but he continued, saying, "I hate it when you're calling me Mr. Williams. Also, it's been a while since my name came out of your mouth."

"Isn't that your surname, though?" I scoffed as I asked. "If you don't want me to call you that, what do you want me to do then? Would you prefer if I call you a jerk? Douchbag? Cheater? Choose one."

I saw traces of regret and guilt in his eyes, which I only ignored. You made me like this, Atlas, so bear with it.

"Faith, please..."

"Miss Abdella. Call me Miss Abdella," I corrected, imitating his tone when he spoke earlier.

"Why are you being like that, Fa—"

"Didn't you hear me? You know me, Mr. Williams. I hate repeating myself twice," I stated in annoyance. "We're not in a relationship, so please address me formally."

"Fai—" he uttered once more, but when he saw the warning signs in my eyes, he immediately corrected himself. "Miss Abdella, please don't do this to me— to us," he muttered.

"Us?" I sarcastically repeated and chuckled.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but there's no such thing as 'us,' Mr. Williams. Stop dreaming, and face the reality that we will never be the same again. You had your chance, and you blew it up! Now, be a man and face the consequences of your actions," I remarked, raising my brows.

I glared at him for a few seconds as silence enveloped the two of us. It felt so suffocating, and I couldn't stand it. Annoyed, I stood up and walked toward my door.

"Where are you going?" he asked in a confused tone.

"To a place away from you," I casually replied and continued walking.

However, I had only taken a few steps when he grabbed me and pulled me toward his rock-hard chest.

"What the fuck are you doing?! Get off me!" I snapped in anger. Wasn't he aware that what he was doing was harassment?!

Still, instead of moving his body away, he only wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me closer. I tried to resist and push him away from me, but my efforts didn't affect him at all. After all, he was much stronger than me.

"You are crossing your limits now, Mr. Williams," I warned before demanding, "Get your filthy hands off my body right now! You disgust me!"

"Filthy hands?" he repeated with a smirk.

"Faith, these are the same hands I used to touch you, and—" he started and stopped as if he realized something.

When I felt his grip slightly loosen, I took that opportunity to break free from his embrace. Of course, that alone wasn't enough. I pushed him with all my strength, causing him to stumble a bit.

"Faith, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to —" he said while looking at me with eyes full of guilt.

"No, go ahead! Why did you stop?" I asked, cutting him off. "Do you mean they are the same hands you used to explore her body? Are they the ones that cupped her cheeks? Or are they the ones that held her hand?"

I knew my words hurt, but I had no plan to stop here.

"They're also the ones you used when you raised your hand at me, right?" I mocked.

"F-Faith," he called with a shaky voice. "I'm sorry..."

"Your sorry won't change anything, Mr. Williams. It won't take away the pain you've made me feel," I hardly said as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I don't understand why you complete me just to break me into a hundred more pieces. Stop chasing after me because I find it annoying. I will not forgive you— not now, not ever," I added as I sniffed and looked away.

"Faith," he whispered as he moved closer to me. His eyes swelled red as tears fell from his eyes, but that wouldn't erase all the pain and lies.

"I promise I won't hurt you again. I won't leave you like before," Atlas muttered in sorrow. "You are mine, and you have always been. I'm never going to give up on you — on us. Never, Faith."

Still, I remained unfazed. "I'm no longer yours, Mr. Williams, and I will never be yours again. You already belong to someone else, and she's the one who belongs to you, not me," I stated. "I am now choosing to walk out of your life, so move on and let go. Perhaps one day, I could also find someone who could genuinely love me and trust me beyond words."

I once knew the feeling of being loved, so I wouldn't deny that I still longed to experience that again. However, I had been through a lot, and the pain Atlas gave me was still scorching hot. Years had passed, but time still hadn't cooled the flame.

I'm not ready for another heartache yet.

Atlas' embrace instantly pulled me out of my trance. He hugged me tightly as he said, "No one can love you like I do, Faith. I won't let you be in somebody else's arms. You're mine and mine alone. Understood? I won't let anyone steal you away from me before I can even win you back."

"I know I hurt you and that I don't deserve you, but Faith, I love you so much," he sobbed as he held my cheeks. "I love you so fucking much that I can't stand hearing you mention loving another man. Just the idea of seeing you with others is fucking killing me inside!"

"It's fucking killing you?" I chuckled as I asked him in disbelief. "It kills you thinking that I am with another man? It kills you hearing me mentioning another guy?"

"Well, what the fuck did you think I felt when I saw you with my best friend?!" I snapped. "How do you think I felt whenever you kissed her in front of me? Or whenever I heard you moaning in pleasure as you fuck her while I am only in the room next door? How do you think I felt when I discovered you married her instead of me?"

The grievances I tried so hard to conceal had now gotten the best of me. Now was the time to verbalize my pain, and I would not let such an opportunity be in vain.

"Do you think I was okay with everything that has happened? Do you think it was easy for me to accept your decision and continue with my life?" I successively asked in anger.

"Fucking no, Atlas! Fucking no!"

I gritted my teeth as I struggled to control myself. I didn't want to sound like a mad woman in front of him, but he pushed the wrong button.

"What you did fucking killed me inside, Atlas. It shattered me into pieces. It broke my confidence. It made me doubt my worth!"

If words could kill, this man might be lying lifeless already. Still, why would I care?

"Stop telling me that it fucking kills you to see me with another man because I don't care about your opinion. We're not the same, Atlas. You're a cheater while I am not. I stayed faithful to you for five years, so don't ever call me a slut like you did before!"

I let my tears run down my cheeks as I turn my back away from him. However, I felt his hands around my waist from behind again. His face was so close to me that I could feel his tears dripping down my neck.

He's crying, but I don't care. I don't give a shit about him anymore.

"I'm sorry, Faith. I'm fucking sorry. I was a dickhead, and I know it'll take time for you to forgive me again. But please— give me one more chance," he pleaded.

Still, I only wiped my tears and shrugged him off my body. "I don't want to see your face ever again," I coldly said and unhesitatingly left.

"I won't fall for you again, Atlas. I'm not going to repeat the same mistake I once did," I muttered to myself with an utter determination.