Seven Years of Love Seven Minutes of Truth

Chapter 5

Atlas glared at me, his anger burning hot and unwavering.

But he didn’t see the redness blooming across my cheek, the sharp sting left behind by Ivy’s slap.

I lifted my head, meeting his gaze with a calm, almost eerie stillness.

“The one who should be apologizing isn’t me,” I said quietly. “It’s Ivy,”

His brows furrowed, irritation flickering in his eyes, but I continued before he could interrupt.

“She brought up my father, Atlas. Don’t you think you owe me an apology for what happened back then?”

For a split second, something flickered across his face–something unreadable. Then it was gone.

“If it weren’t for me, your father would have died even sooner,” he said, his voice cold with certainty. “Celeste, I promised your father I’d take care of you for the rest of my life. But that promise came with a condition–you wouldn’t hurt Ivy.”

I stared at him, and then laughed. A quiet, hollow sound. How foolish of me to think, even for a moment, that he

might finally see me.

Just as the edges of my vision darkened, the room tilted violently, and then–nothing.

When I woke up, the sterile scent of disinfectant filled my nose. A nurse stood by my bedside, gently removing the

IV from my arm.

“Congratulations,” she said with a kind smile. “You’re pregnant.”

My breath caught.

“You need to be extra careful,” she continued. “Your body is weak–you can’t afford too much stress. Try to rest, eat well, and keep your emotions stable.”

hand instinctively drifted to my stomach. For five years, I had wanted to have

longed for it. And now, at the worst possible moment, life had given me one.

*Buzz.*

vibrated against the

message was

fine as long as you rest.]

06:50

Years of Love, Seven Minutes of Truth

68.7%

Chapter 5

second message

Ivy, I’ll

cold, bitter laugh slipped from my lips. I turned off

returned, her expression hesitant. “Miss Laurent, the

me.”

her. But instead of leading me toward

wrong. A familiar voice confirmed

find Ivy Monroe standing behind me, her arms crossed, an unmistakable smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She

mused. “You’re more stubborn than I thought.”

I said nothing.

her head, studying my face like a cat playing with its prey. “Do you know why you never got pregnant in the

fingers curled instinctively against my stomach, an invisible chill

a conspiratorial whisper. “Because I told Atlas I

child.”

to slow around me.

knives carving into my skin. “Every morning, when

smiled sweetly, waiting, expecting to see devastation

the satisfaction. I met her gaze,

my lack of reaction

reaching for the door, but I didn’t make it. A sudden force slammed into my back. My balance was ripped from