Chapter 278: Can I Shower First?
"They’re with me all these years."
A long pause settled over Atlas and Lola, their faces barely a palm’s length apart. The creases on her face deepened as she processed his words.
"What?" she whispered under her breath. "Atlas, what are you..."
"The mother of my children," he said, his eyes flickering with resolve. "I think they were yours—"
Atlas raised his brows as she suddenly covered his mouth. Her hand trembled against his lips, just as the gleam in her eyes trembled.
"Don’t you dare," she breathed, shaking her head. "Atlas, don’t."
Don’t you dare give me hope.
Lola’s chest rose and fell heavily as her breathing slowed. Her eyes remained fixed on him, yet the only sound between them was the heavy silence.
"I am fine when I said I am — I will be," she continued, her voice cracking. "Don’t console me like this, Atlas. Not like this, please."
Atlas studied her face and reached for her hand over his mouth. "I’m —"
"Impossible!" Lola jumped from her seat, pacing back and forth. "Hold on. I need to think about this — I mean, no, I don’t need to think. I know what you’re trying to do."
She stopped in her tracks and faced him squarely. "Atlas, I appreciate that you’re here, and to be honest, I don’t mind just us cuddling — maybe kissing, making out, or even having sex! That would console me. But to tell me... I am Chacha and Second... I just found out my child is missing!"
"Please, just give me some time to breathe!" she said, panting despite only standing there. "I can’t be their mother."
"Don’t you want them?"
"No! It’s not — it’s not like that," her voice softened as she looked down.
For a brief second, she imagined being the real mother of the twins.
"That would be amazing, but..." she trailed off, snapping her eyes back to him. "...I know it’s impossible."
Lola sat beside him, holding his hand. "Atlas, I can be their mother at heart, but biologically? It’s impossible. Besides, I didn’t have twins, Atlas. I know because I saw my ultrasound, and my doctor would’ve told me if I was expecting two."
"Please," she whispered. "Don’t do this to me, please."
It had taken her time to calm down from the cemetery until now. But because he mentioned the twins, her lips quivered and her heart clenched.
A shallow breath escaped Atlas. He thought he’d brought it up too early. His eyes fell to their hands, then looked up at her, and he nodded.
"Okay," he whispered, continuing before she could even sigh in relief. "But know this: I won’t change my mind, and I’m not trying to console you."
He moved closer, locking eyes with her. "I will get to the bottom of this and give you a satisfactory answer. But I need you with me in this fight."
Hearing his words, Lola’s shoulders lowered, unable to look away. Before she could think of a response, he whispered,
"Do you really think... I could be their mother?" She asked, and he nodded. "Why?"
Atlas blinked slowly. "I’ve never been with anyone else."
"What?"
"From that night in the red district of Anteca... until now, I’ve only been with the same woman," he said quietly, but clearly. "Just one woman. You."
Her eyes widened, holding her breath as Atlas pulled her into his arms.
"Keep it together, Lola," he whispered, his hand trembling slightly against her. "I’ll get an answer for both of us. Don’t crumble before me."
Otherwise, he would regret everything tonight. Or perhaps, everything—from the moment he left the island to the moment he decided he wanted her in his life.
Atlas... would deeply regret it.
*****
Last night had not gone as Lola expected: not Vito sending his goons, not Atlas taking her to the cemetery, not their revelations. All she had planned was a nice dinner with Atlas; a really nice dinner.
But reality had other plans.
Lola didn’t even know how the rest of the night passed; she didn’t sleep it off. All she remembered was ending up in her room alone, thinking.
According to Atlas, he had only ever been with one woman: her. He remembered that night six years ago because how could a man like him forget? After that, he exercised abstinence and was too busy to think of anything else.
While Lola tried to fix her life during her pregnancy, Atlas ensured that everyone else had a life to fix. By the time she lost her child, two babies had been delivered to his doorstep. While her world crumbled in grief, he had to build a new world for the lives entrusted to him.
Five years later, here they were—forced to face something they never imagined. At least, in her case.
Lola blinked, her weary eyes drifting to the window.
"It’s morning," she whispered, realizing she’d been sitting on the bed all night thinking. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at the sky slowly turning blue.
I didn’t even get a wink of sleep, she thought. And I still don’t feel sleepy.
She drew a deep breath, reclined, and closed her eyes, telling herself to sleep it off. A minute later, she opened them. The corners were sharper.
"Screw it," she huffed, tossing the blanket off her legs.
Without hesitation, Lola marched down the stairs toward his bedroom.
"Atlas!" she called, only to see his bed empty. Before she could wonder, she heard water running in the bathroom.
She marched to the sound, swinging the door open and sliding the shower door aside. Under the water, Atlas almost flinched at her sudden intrusion.
He slowly turned his head, only to meet the unwavering determination in her eyes.
"Count me in!" she declared, unfazed by the naked man under the shower. "If what you said is true... I want to know the truth! Count me in. I want to find out who played God with my life and make them pay."
She paused to catch her breath, nodding at him. "Let’s catch them together, Atlas... and I’m going to skin them all alive!"
"..." Atlas blinked. "Can I finish showering first?"
The realization finally dawned on her. She looked down, then up at him, forcing a smile. "Heh. No."