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"You wanted to go with me," Atlantis reasoned with her. "You begged me, saying Lanlan please take me out of here!"

Atlantis wondered if she wore this white dress on purpose today to humor him. Or, was it another slap in his face? He was seeing her in a lucky color for a wedding isle.

His voice grew in volume, turning darker, angrier, almost filled with accusation. Lina simply stood there. She let him rant. She knew he needed it. He had so much to say off his chest. At a different time, she wouldn\'t care. But now, she\'d let him plead his case. She had her fair share of things to say as well.

"You just—" Atlantis sharply exhaled. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then popped back into the seat. He yanked on his tie, loosening it out of frustration.

In a different moment, ladies would\'ve swooned at the delinquent behavior.

"Sit." Atlantis ran a tired hand through his hair. "Take a seat, I\'ll keep my voice down, let\'s have a civil discussion."

Lina narrowed her eyes. She eloquently slid back into her seat. If this was how he wanted to deal with it, then so be it. She\'d be his guest.

"I love you, Lina."

"Get in line," Lina muttered under her breath.

"I already am," Atlantis deadpanned.

Lina said nothing. She took a deliberate sip of her wine. She looked him right in the eyes as he made his confession. That startled him—good. He expected her to glance away in shame. He wanted to see her hurt and touched by his words. He wanted an emotional response, and she wasn\'t going to give him anything.

Lina made up her mind. She was going to tackle all of her problems head-on. There was an issue? She\'ll go straight to the point. No need for formalities.

"I\'m doing what I know is the best for you. You will not think it, in the same manner, that a daughter will never understand their mother\'s intentions until they become one. One day, you are going to regret all of this Lina, and I know you will. I\'ve seen how painful this relationship is for you. Both of you two are too toxic for each other. There are extreme highs just as there are drastic lows," Atlantis continued.

A little too late for that now.

"You are currently at an all-time high in your relationship, having just woken up from your coma, and being reunited with him. But then, everything will crash and burn to the ground. He will become even more overbearing, you will feel restricted. He will see how far you glide in the sky, with your job and all, then, demand for you to stay home when you are with child," Atlantis babbled.

Of course, Atlantis would think this—he was that exact kind of man as well.

Lina wasn\'t sure if Atlantis was describing himself or Kaden. She suspected it was the former. She crossed her legs and rested her cupped palms on the table.

Lina wanted him to know he had her full attention—she expected the same when she made her piece. She\'ll let him go on a monologue, but he better give her the same respect.

"I care for you, Lina. I care more than he possibly can. I always have, ever since our very first meeting! You know that there is no one else that I fathom being with. It has to be you, it must be you, not anyone else. What we\'ve had, our youth, our first encounter when you saved me from my father\'s beating, I—" Atlantis cut himself off. He bowed his head in defeat.

"I have become a lost soul without you, Lina."

Lina\'s expression didn\'t crack, not even when her heart stirred. It was brief. "Then I must confess the only emotion I felt was pity, not for what you just said, but the battered and bruised illegitimate son in that basement."

Atlantis froze. Every hair on his body stood.

"It could\'ve been anyone else. You do not love me. You are obsessed with the idea of me—your little savior in pigtails. Had it been Mia, had it been any strange woman who entered that day, you would\'ve been fine with it. Any powerful little girl with a strong backing would\'ve satisfied your father. You do not love me, you adore the ideals of your father," Lina sharply said.

"No, I—"

"I let you speak, now it\'s my turn," Lina deadpanned.

Atlantis immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"If you have any ounce of respect for me or yourself, you will sign that annulment document," Lina coldly said. "You will walk out of here and you will move on. I have never loved you and you\'ve lost me for good."

Atlantis swallowed hard.

Lina\'s expression softened—briefly. "Move on, Atlantis. You owe that to me for what you\'ve done."

"I tried to protect you!" Atlantis cried out. "I did what I thought was the best for you."

Lina\'s face froze over. "You gaslight me. You manipulated me. I didn\'t know any better five years ago. I was lost and confused, relying on the only man I could trust. And what did you do?"

"Lina, I—"

"You forced me into a wedding gown. You made me put on your ring. You took off Kaden\'s and kept it. You exchanged a ring for a collar. You said you\'d protect me forever, Atlantis, but your definition of it was putting me in a cage!"

"Lina please—"

"I trusted you."

Atlantis\'s entire world came crumbling down. For once, he saw her break. She was finally revealing her emotions towards him again—and it was the worst one. There was pain and betrayal written all over her face. He felt thousands of knife wounds stab into his chest.

"Was that why you never gave me a second chance? Because I truly lost you?" Atlantis begged.

"There were never any chances, to begin with," Lina stated. "I appreciate what you\'ve done for me as a child, but you should also appreciate what I did for you. I shouldn\'t have to repay your protection by reciprocating your love as payment."

Atlantis was utterly hopeless. He was defeated and disarmed by her words. The only thing left was what he could offer her—a single solitude. Lina slid the pen over to him.

"Now sign," Lina demanded. "You owe me this."

Atlantis picked up the pen. He placed the point on the paper. He paused for a split second.

"I will never see you again, will I?" Atlantis murmured. "I have lost my childhood forever?"

Lina swallowed. She was suddenly reminded of that pitiful boy in the basement, with green and purple bruises. She remembered his expression, filled with despair and dissolution.

Before she could respond, Atlantis suddenly asked her a question that made her pause. Her heart stopped. Time slowed down for him. She saw his mouth and pen were moving. Then, he settled the pen onto the table. He slid his palms across his knuckles and raised his head to look her in the eye.

No.

Impossible.

In a seldom and sincere voice, he asked her something that made her whole world spin.

"Lina, do you believe in different lives?"