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.”

drifted to my stomach. For five years, I had wanted to have a child

of it, longed for it. And now, at the

*Buzz.*

phone vibrated against the hospital sheets: Atlas.

message was

be fine as long as

06:50

of Love, Seven Minutes of

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Chapter 5

message

to Ivy, I’ll

from my lips. I

hesitant. “Miss Laurent, the doctor has scheduled another test. Please follow

me.”

her. But instead of leading me toward the examination rooms, she stopped

familiar voice confirmed my suspicion. “I

her arms crossed, an unmistakable smirk playing at the corners

you, Celeste,” she mused. “You’re more

I said nothing.

its prey. “Do you know why you never got pregnant

stomach, an invisible chill creeping up my spine.

her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. “Because I told Atlas I

child.”

seemed to slow around

skin. “Every morning, when he handed you your vitamins, he

sweetly, waiting, expecting to see devastation on my face.

her gaze, my voice eerily calm. “I

if my lack of

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