Chapter 279: Let’s Be Honest
Lola rubbed her chin, seated on the sacred throne called the toilet, while Atlas showered.
"Just to make sure... you asked someone to do a DNA test for me and the twins? But the result was negative," she hummed, deep in thought. "But because you’re always right, you’re saying someone tampered with the test. And you suspect there’s a mole in the Zorken family and in this Order you’ve been talking about."
Atlas listened while showering, but he didn’t answer for two reasons: the water was running, and everything she said was basically what he had already said—except for the part about him always being right.
"You believe this because I’m the only woman you slept with..." she trailed off, thinking of the honorary title bestowed upon her by this divinity named Atlas. "And then, you also said this could be a six-year conspiracy."
Lola furrowed her brows, narrowing her eyes as she tried to process all this information. It was overwhelming, information she never thought she’d have to dive into. But Atlas believed in the conspiracy, and she believed in him.
"But that’s strange, Atlas," she muttered. "Someone went to prison because of that accident. At least Lawrence Young did something for me for once."
The second those words left her lips, she flinched as the sliding shower door opened. She watched him tie a towel around his hips while saying,
"Instinct."
"Huh?"
Atlas let out a shallow breath. "I didn’t say it’s because I’m always right. I said it’s because I follow my instincts."
"And the rest of what I said?" She asked, but he was already walking away. "Did you catch them?"
"Atlas, you should listen to me," she called after him. "Between us, I’m the one trying to make sense of this. And you’re just trying to convince me! Not the other way around!"
But Atlas didn’t stop. He headed straight for the wardrobe. Lola followed, leaning over the middle rack of the walk-in closet as he rifled through his clothes.
"Anyway, since it’s a secret society, it’s not impossible... I guess?" she continued, taking everything in instead of collapsing in a corner to cry. "Still, there are just too many things to consider."
Lola rambled on as Atlas got dressed. Everything she was saying was his own words, repeated aloud to help her process them. So he remained silent.
"Wait a second," she blinked. "Atlas, didn’t you say you only took over this secret family—the Zorken family—around five years ago?"
"Mhm."
"And you took over before you even knew you had kids," she stressed, earning a hum from him. "Don’t you think you’re overthinking? Maybe everything is just a coincidence!"
This time, Atlas shot her a look.
"I’m not saying I don’t want to be the mother of your children... but I’m also okay being the grieving mother of my own child," she reassured him. Perhaps that was the only thing she had yet fully accepted.
Or rather, it was a subject she couldn’t fully embrace—not because she didn’t want to be the mother of Chacha and Second, but because it would be upsetting and disappointing if the truth differed from her expectations.
That didn’t mean she didn’t want to help him find the truth about his children.
Once Atlas was dressed, he faced her squarely, standing just across the rack of accessories.
"We’ll get to the bottom of it," he said. "You should sleep first."
Lola blinked and frowned. "I would sleep if I wanted to."
"Then, let’s just eat breakfast."
"Mhm." She tilted her head, noticing his clothes. "Wait. You’re not going to the office?"
Atlas shot her a look and cocked his head. "Later."
*****
Lola played with her food, still deep in thought. Meanwhile, Atlas glanced at her every other minute while quietly eating.
"What is it?" he asked, since she finally went silent.
Lola snapped out of her thoughts, flicking her eyes toward him. "Ah... well, I’m just thinking."
"Tell me."
She nodded and straightened her back, facing him. "Atlas, if you already knew me from that night... why didn’t you look for me?"
"I left you a note," he said.
"A note? What note?"
"Told you to call me to discuss that night," he clarified as he reached for his glass. "You didn’t."
Lola shook her head, eyes on him. "And that’s the answer you thought I’d give you."
"Mhm."
"I didn’t see the note."
"Figured."
"Then what about when you had the children?" She asked, confused. "Didn’t you think about their mom? I mean, it could’ve been me or someone else. Either way... didn’t you think to look for her?"
Atlas gave her a lazy look. "I thought you left them."
"Me?"
"You already knew me from that night," he said, peeling his eyes away. "You were moaning my name before I even introduced myself. I assumed you knew me, and where I live."
Her face contorted. "Did you really sleep with me six years ago?"
"Why?"
"I mean... I didn’t know you liked chubby girls."
"You weren’t."
"Huh?"
"Compared to Penny, you’re not chubby," he said casually, chewing as he looked at her. "You’ve seen Penny. She was like..." he trailed off. "...a pug."
"A pug?" Lola imagined Penny’s smiling face in a dog’s body. She squeezed her face, looking at him in disbelief. "Are you blind? Your sister is gorgeous! How can you call her a pug?"
Atlas looked back at her. "Ah... a teacup. A teacup piglet... or an otter."
"???"
"What I’m saying is, you weren’t that big. You’re like a balloon."
"A... what?"
"You were round, but light," he clarified. "Penny’s like a rock—a boulder. Heavy. Traumatizing-ly so."
Lola gulped, imagining Penny having breakfast and choking. She felt sorry for her if that was happening.
I’ll pretend this conversation didn’t happen, she thought.
"Anyway, I’m glad," he said, earning her attention again, a subtle smile playing on his face. "That I was able to tell you this. It was... liberating."
Lola pursed her lips, eyes softening. She reached out and took his hand.
"Atlas, let’s be honest, okay?" she hummed. "Tell me anything you want to say—everything on your mind—"
"Do you masturbate?"
"..." Her face twitched. "Forget it. Don’t tell me anything on your mind. Just don’t."