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."

wasn't pressing further, accompanied me to my father's room. Luckily, he had just woken up. When he saw

a cotton swab, dampened it, and wiped his lips. "Dad... are you feeling uncomfortable

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

hearing his words and seeing his anxious expression, I knew he

my hesitation, he said gently, "Atlas has already told me. I know you two

glanced at Atlas and nodded earnestly to

and 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

grasped his hand. "Dad, don't worry too much. We

his hand to my father. My father placed my hand in Atlas's

care of her forever and ever." My father's words

Stella is my

for

I'll take care of her and

in my father's eyes. "If it weren't for that secret, I would never have wanted to live and get humiliated for so many years. I would have gone to Lucille