Chapter 8 Atlas pinched the bridge of his nose , exhaustion pressing down on him like a weight he couldnt shake .
He returned to the estate .
Everything was exactly as it had always been .
My books still lined the shelves .
My favorite mug sat on the kitchen counter .
The faint trace of my perfume lingered in their bedroom .
It was as if I had never left .
As if the past twenty four hours hadnt shattered everything .
He sank onto the leather couch , his gaze locking onto the enormous wedding portrait that hung in the center of the living room .
The image had always been there , but tonight , for the first time , he really saw it .
The bride and groom stood side by side , facing each other , their hands entwined .
To an outsider , they looked like the perfect couple .
But if one looked close there was something else .
A quiet sorrow lingering in both of their eyes .
I hadnt understood it before .
But now , I did .
The sadness in his gaze ? It was because he had married a woman he believed he didnt love .
In the beginning , we had treated each other like old friends .
Polite .
Respectful .
But always with an invisible wall between us .
Until that night .

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That night when Atlas had come home reeking of whiskey , his composure undone , his defenses lowered .
He had pinned me beneath him , his breath uneven , his voice raw as he murmured my name over and over again like a prayer .
Celeste .
Celeste .
Celeste .
18:00 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 36.7 % Chapter 8 I hadnt pushed him away .
Instead , I had kissed him first .
A hesitant touch that quickly turned desperate .
That night , something between us had snapped .
There was no more distance .
Only tangled sheets , whispered names , and two hearts pressed so close together it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began .
From that night on , we had become what the world believed them to be an inseparable couple .
A husband and wife who belonged together .
And Atlas had convinced himself that what he felt for me was just guilt .
That every birthday surprise he planned , every moment he spent by my side , every time he looked at me and felt something tighten in his chest- It was all guilt .
Nothing more .
But now , he finally realized the truth .
Atlas clenched his jaw , his hands curling into fists .
In the day to day moments of our life together , in the small intimacies we had shared , he had fallen in love with me .
And he hadnt even noticed .
His eyes squeezed shut , his mind flooding with images of me .
The way I laughed , eyes crinkling at the corners .
The way I looked in the mornings , hair messy , skin warm from sleep .
Then another image surfaced my face , pale with pain .
His eyes flew open , his breath coming in ragged gasps .
His hands trembled as he looked down at the medical report still clutched between his fingers .
A sharp , unbearable pain tore through his chest , unlike anything he had ever felt before .
Atlas , dont be sad , a soft voice cooed from behind him .
Slender arms wrapped around his shoulders , a familiar floral scent filling the air .
Atlas stiffened .
For a brief , wild moment , his heart leaped with hope Celeste , she had come back .
He turned abruptly , pulling the figure into a desperate embrace , his voice rough and frantic .
Celeste , youre back, he murmured against her hair .
Dont leave me .
I wont divorce you .
Ill fix everything just let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you , please- and My First Love 37.0 % Chapter 8 A long pause .
The body in his arms remained unnaturally still .
Then a quiet , tremulous inhale .
And a voice that wasnt hers .
Atlas … its me , Ivy whispered .
A suffocating silence filled the space between them .
For one long, agonizing moment , Atlas remained still .
Then , realization crashed into him like a tidal wave .
He pushed her away .
Ivy stumbled back , her expression faltering .
His gaze , once desperate , was now cold , cutting through her like ice .
Youre not Celeste , he said , his voice sharp enough to wound .
He took a step back , as if repulsed .
Why are you here ?