Beyond the Divorce

"I have a plan." Atlas asserted confidently.

"What

plan?" Arnold asked.

"I'll tell you tonight."

"Okay." Arnold nodded.

I felt uneasy. I put down the spoon in my hand and looked at Atlas. "Atlas, aren't you getting too comfortable at deceiving me? Has it become a routine for you now?"

Atlas's smile was charming as he sat down behind me. "No way, I can't keep it from you this time. You need to know our entire plan to work with us. But with so many people around in the hospital, we need to be careful."

His reasoning seemed sound, and after a moment of hesitation, I glanced at the door and nodded. "Alright then. But remember what you said."

After finishing my meal, I pushed the small table away. "I need to go see my dad."

seeing that I wasn't pressing further, accompanied me to my father's room. Luckily, he had just woken up. When he saw us enter, his eyes lit up, and he seemed to regain some spirit.

quickly took a cotton swab, dampened

studying me. "Don't worry about me. How about you? Are you

seeing his anxious expression, I knew he must

said gently, "Atlas has already told me. I

Atlas and nodded earnestly to my father. "Yes. We're

my wish, as well as the wish of Atlas's parents. You two have been inseparable since childhood, and we all hoped to see the day you get married and continue the

hand. "Dad, don't

him. Atlas offered his hand to my father. My father placed my

of her forever and ever." My father's

Stella is my

for a

take care of her and our children. That's what Lucille instructed

would never have wanted to live and get humiliated for so many years. I would have gone to