Chapter 550
Her words held a wealth of information. It seems my hunch was indeed correct-I had known Atlas for a long time.
I steadied my thoughts and warned myself not to act rashly. What if this is a timed bomb that Stella set for me?
I must stay vigilant. This woman is capable of anything, and she can say anything.
At least for now, her words remain unverified, whether they’re true or false.
I told myself to trust Atlas. I have to wait for him to return and tell me the truth.
However, I couldn’t deny that Stella’s words echoed in my mind like a timed bomb, leaving me uneasy. If I wasn’t Chloe Hartz, then who was I?
While I have speculated that I might have known Atlas in the past, he was overseas, and I was in a small town up north. There was simply no way for our paths to cross. What on earth is going on?
I couldn’t help but think of my parents. They’ve always been by my side in my memories.
From the day they first saw Atlas, they didn’t seem to have known him for a long time. So, when did I genuinely meet Atlas?
All these questions crashed over me like a tidal wave. My head ached, various influences swirling relentlessly. I sat weakly on a chair in the corridor, holding my head.
Could it be that Atlas is hiding something from me?
No, I couldn’t think like that.
We agreed I would trust him, and only his answers gave me a genuine explanation. I couldn’t let Stella cloud my judgment.
With that in mind, I took a deep breath and stood up. I glanced again at Trinity in the ICU, silently praying she would pull through.
If she does, I’d have one more person to help me uncover the secrets behind Stella and her organization.
I couldn’t directly ask my parents about this matter.
After all, they were getting older. Even if they knew, it would mean they kept it from me for many years. That would show it’s not a pleasant matter.
As I was lost in thought, Ivanna stood beside me.
“Why are you here?” I asked Ivanna.
“As soon as you mentioned that her condition worsened, I got nervous. I thought I should come and check,, no matte our past. This time, she was hurt because of you! I can’t help but worry!” Ivanna looked genuinely concerned. “How did it worsen so suddenly?”
“The residual toxins in her blood are multiplying rapidly. If it gets worse, it could lead to organ failure,” I muttered to myself. “I hope she can pull through this.”
Suddenly, I turned to her and asked, “Did you see Jared?”
Ivanna shook her head. “At the moment, I don’t want to see him.”
“He’s also stretched thin. You-”
Ivanna interrupted, “When did you start making excuses for him?”
“Because I’ve witnessed how tirelessly he’s been working! You’ve said it yourself. No matter what, Trinity was hurt because of me!” I felt helpless. This reason wasn’t something I wanted to admit. Although Ivanna didn’t want to see Jared, she couldn’t avoid him.
Before she could leave, Jared returned. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was covered in the scent of blood.
He stood silently beside Ivanna, looking at the person inside. No one said a word, and the atmosphere was awkward.
“Um… I need to make a quick trip to the office. I haven’t been there since I got back!” I made up an excuse to avoid the situation. However, Ivanna grabbed my wrist, a touch of reproach in her voice. “I’m going with you. I have something to take care of.”
I gave Jared a somewhat helpless look and said, “I’ll be back later.”
“I only came because she saved you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be worried. Now that I’ve seen her, I can rest easy. Let’s go!” After saying this, Ivanna turned and left, not even sparing Jared a glance.
I looked at Jared, speechless. He said to me, “Go ahead.”
In the car, I shot Ivanna a glance, a touch of reproach in my voice. “You’re being stubborn!”
“Perhaps you’re right! Choosing him is my stubbornness!” Ivanna chuckled. “Sometimes, after settling down, you realize some choices are worth careful consideration.”
“When a man is deeply infatuated
with a woman, it’s bound to hurt another woman. It’s fatal for everyone involved,” I said from an outsider’s perspective. “Sometimes, it’s not about giving up but taking step back.”