Page 80 of Atlas Uncharted

I pressed my forehead against hers, voice gravel. “Tell me okay.”

She exhaled, shaky, melting.

Then, finally, she whispered, “Okay.”

And that was it.

Chapter 58

Atlas

I was on the way home from grabbing a delivery from Kairi’s post office when my phone rang.

I exhaled sharply before answering. “What?”

My mother sighed, the condescension immediately dripped from her voice when she spoke, as if I was the one in the wrong.. “Ashlen wants to speak to you.”

I kept driving. “Why?” I knew why, it had been two weeks since I told her to help fix the mess she created. She was lucky she called me today. First thing Monday I was going to close credit cards, next would have been her checking account.

“She’s signed the divorce papers. I convinced her,” she said.

I knew it wouldn’t, she wouldn’t jeopardize her lifestyle for anyone.

I hung up before my mother could say anything else. I wasn’t talking to her right now—maybe never again.

I went straight to the condo Ashlen was now living in. I knew she wouldn’t be able to put up with living with my mother for long.

When Ashlen opened the door, she looked wrecked. Her hair was up in a messy bun, her robe half-tied like she’d barely rolled out of bed. Wine bottles littered the coffee table, clothes tossedcarelessly on the couch. That was another thing I wouldn’t miss—cleaning up after her.

She didn’t say anything right away.

She just threw a stack of papers at my chest.

I caught them easily, letting them slap against my palm as she folded her arms, watching me with nothing but contempt.

“There,” she spat. “That’s what you wanted, right? Congratulations, Atlas. You’re free.”

I barely glanced at the papers. “Are you retracting the lies, too?”

She let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Oh, fuck you.”

I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. “No, Ashlen. Fuck you.”

Her arms tightened over her chest.

“You never loved me,” she whispered. “Did you?”

I didn’t answer.

She laughed, shaking her head. “Jesus Christ. Say it.”

Her nails dug into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks as she struggled to keep her hands to herself.

“I didn’t fucking need to. You wanted money and prestige.”

She lost it.

Her hands flew at me, swinging wildly. I caught her wrists, tight, pushing her back against the wall before she could land anything.

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