Chapter 4

I barely touched my breakfast, and now my stomach churned violently on the way to the shoot.

By the time we arrived, nausea clawed at my throat. I stumbled out of the car, leaning against it, gulping in fresh air in an attempt to settle the sickness.

Meanwhile, Atlas was carefully lifting the hem of Ivy’s gown, his head slightly bowed as he guided her into the

studio with the utmost care.

I watched in silence.

The man who once promised to cherish me–who used to hold my hand so protectively–was now treating another woman as though she were the most precious thing in the world.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, swallowing back the bitter taste in my mouth.

“Celeste,” Atlas called out to me, his voice laced with frustration. “The shoot is about to start. Be nice–just do your job. This is important for both Ivy and Whitmore Industries.”

Without warning, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward. I stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

Pain flared up my arm, but Atlas had already turned away, his attention elsewhere, as if I were nothing more than a reluctant participant in his carefully orchestrated world.

It had been five years since I last held a camera. Now, as I raised it, my hands trembled.

Fear gripped me, a cold and suffocating weight pressing down on my chest. But I forced myself to push through it.

Click

With each shutter press, I fought against the flood of emotions threatening to drown me.

Grief.

Rage.

Betrayal.

snap of the camera

emptied, leaving only Ivy and me. She scrolled through the shots, a slow

to me, her voice light, almost

father, Celeste,” she said, her words laced

06:50

Seven Minutes of

68.1%

Chapter 4

you try, you’ll never be good

nails dug into my

my lungs grew heavy, my body trembling

And then-

*Slap.*

cheek, leaving

wrist, shaking off the impact, before looking

are shameless,” she sneered. “I never expected you get married with Atlas after you were discarded by your fiancé. Do you really think you deserve

voice

her breath warm against my ear. “Atlas belongs to me. Just like your ex–fiancé. You don’t deserve either of them.”

my cheek throbbing, my

grabbed my wrist–and in one swift motion, she slammed

her own face.

from her lips as she staggered backward, letting herself crumple onto the floor in a perfect display

her cheek, looking up at me

wanted to ask if you could try a different angle for me.

ceramic cup slipped from Atlas’s fingers, shattering

quickly darkening into fury. In two long strides, he reached Ivy’s side,

he knelt beside her.

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