Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Ivy swallowed down the bitterness clawing at her throat , forcing her expression into one of quiet vulnerability .
She lowered her gaze , her voice soft and filled with carefully measured concern .
Atlas , Im just worried about you , she murmured .
You havent eaten or slept in days .
This isnt good for you .
I believe Celeste will come back she just needs time .
The mention of her name made the shadows in Atlas Whitmores eyes darken .
His jaw clenched .
Ivy , he said , his voice quiet but firm .
From now on , lets not see each other anymore.
I dont want any more misunderstandings .
Ivys breath caught .
Her head snapped up , disbelief flashing in her eyes .
Atlas , weve known each other for so many years .
How can you just cut me off like this ? But he wasnt even looking at her .
His gaze remained fixed on the wedding portrait in front of him .
The image of Celeste and him , forever frozen in time .
This should have ended a long time ago , he continued , his tone devoid of warmth .
Youre married .
And Im married , too .
I cant keep hurting Celeste .
He exhaled slowly , like a man who had finally stopped lying to himself .
I love her .
I cant lose her again .
The words were like a slap to Ivys face .
Something inside her snapped .
No ! she shrieked , her voice raw with desperation .
Atlas , Im the one you love ! Its always been me ! For over a decade , its always been me ! Her breathing was ragged , her carefully composed mask crumbling .
You dont love Celeste , she spat , her voice shaking .
You just * pity * her ! Dont you see ? She doesnt love you either ! You know who she really loves- She stopped herself abruptly , her chest heaving .
18:00 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 37.5 % Chapter 9 .
Atlas stared at her , his brows furrowing slightly .
For the first time , he saw Ivy not as the unattainable woman he had once chased after , not as the person he had once put on a pedestal but as someone desperate .
Desperate to hold onto him .

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Does Ivy love him ? The thought struck him as odd .
Because if she truly had , why had she chosen to marry someone else ? For years , he had been the one following her like a shadow , always waiting , always hoping.
And Ivy had never stopped him because she had loved his devotion , his attention , the way he worshipped her .
But now , looking at her Atlas no longer understood her at all .
A sudden * buzz * from his phone broke the silence .
A message from his assistant .
Two video files .
Atlas tapped on them .
They were grainy hospital footage an angle from a dimly lit stairwell .
His hand clenched into a fist so tightly his knuckles turned white .
The video ended .
A suffocating silence filled the air .
Slowly , he turned to Ivy .
His voice was so cold , so void of warmth , that it sent a shiver down Ivys spine .
Do you have anything to say for yourself ? 18:00