Beyond the Divorce

Atlas took out his phone, pulled up his gallery, and placed the phone in my hands. He started to recount the past.

"Take a look. This is the real Annalise!"

I gazed at the young girl in the phone album. She was beautiful, with lively, sparkling eyes and a radiant smile.

"The night after Aunt Hailey passed away, we huddled in that empty room. I'll never forget the loneliness, helplessness, and fear. It made me anxious."

He glanced at me, his eyes filled with bitterness.

"I was scared, but Aunt Hailey told me I was a man and had to take care of Stella. Once lively and bustling with family, that room ended up with just the two of us. It was eerily silent."

A faint, sorrowful twitch appeared at the corner of Atlas's mouth.

Even after so many years, he still recalled those events with a sense of helplessness.

in my arms. I wanted to as well, but I didn't dare to cry, let alone sleep. Aunt Hailey's departure haunted me. I just wanted to wait until dawn to

our house. When she walked in and saw us, she asked her entourage sternly, 'Why are they

never thought that it meant sending you away. I held onto you, begging them to let me take you to Grandma's house, but no one listened. I watched

Atlas spoke, his grip on me

embrace, and tears rolled down.

tighter. "Chlo, don't be afraid. We won't

would last for two years. I begged Grandpa to send people to inquire, but there was no news. I dreamt of you crying every day."

and at that moment, I couldn't accept that I was

of his parents, and the only family he had

I overheard

Rory's daughter. I was overjoyed and secretly went

Grandpa and others say that after my parents' deaths, the Pierce family took over my father's company and wouldn't let go. Grandpa tried several times but failed." Rose had told me before that the Lively

at Atlas and asked. "Isn't the