"Huh?"
Silo stopped in the hallway as he, Cedrick, and Slater were the last to leave the ward. They—Silo and Slater—didn’t really want to go. If Atlas hadn’t glared at them, they would’ve stayed with Lola all night.
"What?" Slater asked when Silo suddenly turned his head. Cedrick, too, looked back curiously.
"Where did Haji go?" Silo asked, brows raised and head tilted.
From what they knew, Haji had been with them just monts ago. Silo assud he’d rely stepped out and was waiting outside the ward.
"He left when I ca in," Slater said, blinking. "How did you not notice him leave?"
"Why would he leave and not co back?" Silo mumbled, fishing his phone from his pocket to call Haji. The man didn’t answer. "Oh well. Never mind him."
He turned to Cedrick and tipped his chin. "I’ll buy so ointnt for your scratches. Wait for in the car."
"Okay."
With that, the group split—Silo heading toward the pharmacy while Cedrick walked to the parking lot. But as Silo took his first few steps, he noticed a shadow tagging along beside him.
"Huh?" Silo scowled. "Where are you going?"
"Following you," Slater said casually with a shrug.
Silo sighed and looked away, irritation flickering across his face.
Of course, he’s following . This guy dragged into an online fiasco, and now he’s acting like I didn’t get roasted because of him.
He exhaled a huff. Not that he really cared about what people on the internet said—he’d learned to ignore the noise—but it was still annoying.
"Fine," he muttered. "But I’m not unblocking you on my account."
Slater grinned mischievously and leaned closer. "Hey, you know my sister owns a security company that also handles cybersecurity, right?"
That remark stopped Silo in his tracks.
"She loves so much that I can ask her to hack you!" Slater laughed, waving his hands. "Kidding, kidding!"
Silo deadpanned, his patience wearing thin. If Slater weren’t Atlas’s brother, he would’ve already given him an earful. But for the sake of love—and his survival—he forced himself to stay civil.
They continued walking, though Slater’s chatter didn’t stop for a second. Anyone who heard the nonsense spilling out of his mouth would think the man was better off mute.
"By the way," Slater humd, eyes glinting as he studied Silo’s side profile, "about the accident earlier—are you sure nothing weird happened before it?"
"Huh? What do you an?"
"I an, did you notice anything suspicious?"
Silo frowned. "What are you insinuating? That it was intentional? There’s no way soone would—" He stopped mid-sentence when Slater’s brows lifted.
"What?" Slater pressed, leaning in eagerly. "Co on, tell ."
Silo pursed his lips. Lola does have a lot of enemies... Even if they stopped attacking her publicly, soone might’ve tried sothing behind the scenes.
Slater bumped his shoulder playfully. "What?"
"Tch! It’s nothing!" Silo hissed, resuming his pace. Still, his thoughts were restless, already planning to report it to Amala later.
*****
At the sa ti...
Atlas sat on the edge of the hospital bed while Lola remained seated upright.
"How’s Baby?" she asked softly. "Is he okay?"
"Don’t worry about him."
"How could I not?" she pouted. "Baby saved and Cedrick from what could’ve been a really dangerous situation. He’s surprisingly fast for his size. Even I couldn’t react that quickly."
She wasn’t lying. Though she’d managed to dodge the first falling light, Baby had shielded her from the real impact.
"That’s why I assigned him to protect you," Atlas said, eyes never leaving her. "I trust him. And he’s fine. He just wanted to know if you were okay."
"Goodness," she laughed softly. "Why is he asking about when he’s the one who got injured more?"
She looked around the ward, then back at him. "Atlas, I really don’t think I need to be admitted. It’s just a scratch."
Normally, she wouldn’t have stayed. Her "injury" was barely a cut. But for so reason, Izu had insisted, and before she knew it, she was in a private room.
Lola blinked when she noticed Atlas wasn’t answering. He was just sitting there, quietly watching her. His tone earlier had been softer, heavier—sothing she’d only started to recognize after spending so much ti with him.
"Baby," she said gently, tilting her head. "Is sothing wrong?"
She reached for his hand, offering a small, comforting smile. "I’m okay. Don’t worry about . Your woman isn’t made of cheap glass."
She thought he was still shaken from the accident. The look on his face when he’d barged into the ward earlier had startled everyone, including her.
But that wasn’t what was going through his head.
Atlas was thinking about what he had learned that day—about Jasmine, Mike, and Loren. Everything.
He wanted to tell her. A part of him even ached to.
But his heart whispered, Don’t.
This accident hadn’t hurt her. But the truth he carried would.
Atlas had never been this conflicted before. Every decision he’d ever made in his life was straightforward—cold, decisive, imdiate. Even when he’d accepted his role as the leader of one of the most powerful families in the secret society, it hadn’t taken him more than a minute to decide.
"Atlas, darling—"
Her words were cut short when he reached for her arm and gently pulled her into his embrace.
Her brows furrowed as she felt his heartbeat against her chest. Slowly, she placed a hand on his back, though he was the one patting her softly instead.
"Atlas, you’re worrying ," she murmured.
He didn’t answer. His hand moved rhythmically on her back—rub, pat, rub—while his mind raced with thoughts of the past, the people involved, and the weight of what he hadn’t said.
"Lola," he whispered finally. His heartbeat was so loud he could hear it.
She waited, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is it?"
"Nothing," he said quietly. "Just... stay here like this. With ."
A gentle laugh escaped her lips as she relaxed against him, lting into his warmth. Of course she would. Being in his arms was always a comfort—a bonus she’d never refuse.
*****
Minutes later...
Lola remained in the ward to attend an online eting before heading ho. Taking advantage of the quiet, Atlas stepped out into the hallway, pressing his phone to his ear.
The line rang several tis before connecting.
"Hello, First Brother~!" Penny’s cheerful voice sang through the speaker. "Where are the babies? And my sister?"
Atlas didn’t answer imdiately, his eyes fixed on the closed door behind him.
"First Brother?" Penny’s tone softened, cautious now. "Everything okay over there?"
"Penny." His voice ca low and steady. "The test... I need the results."
"Huh? Didn’t you say you wanted to see them in person? That I should deliver them myself?"
"I need them now," he whispered, and his throat tightened. "Those results... might be the only thing that can cheer up your sister."
He paused, swallowing hard. "One good news... might make everything a little more bearable for her."
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