Chapter 122 Greedy
I'd been wanting to leave this troublesome place for a while now.
Seeing the situation, I spoke up directly, "Let's go."
This visit was even more exhausting than a full day's work. After leaving the Lancaster Manor, I collapsed onto the car seat.
"I'm sorry, Helena. You see what my family is like - everyone's got their own agenda. I'm sorry you had to put up with that." Atlas looked at me with concern.
I shook my head. "It's nothing. I was more worried about messing up and embarrassing you."
Seeing me brush it off so casually, Atlas looked even more guilty.
"I can handle whatever they throw at me - I don't care. But I hate that you had to go through that."
I shook my head reassuringly. "Since I've decided to be your girlfriend, I'm not afraid of any of this."
Atlas nodded. "Thank you, Helena. Thank you for not looking down on me."
"Don't be silly. I've known about your situation from day one. If I looked down on you, I wouldn't have said yes in the first place."
"True."
Atlas gripped my hand tightly and gently kissed it. "But still, thank you."
"Alright, focus on driving."
On the road, I suddenly thought of Amy and couldn't help asking, "What do you think of Amy?"
Atlas was silent for a moment before speaking. "After I grew up and joined the company, I moved out and didn't go back often. But every time I did, only Amy showed me genuine kindness without any ulterior motives. I do have brotherly feelings for her."
I understood what Atlas meant.
Amy had lived at the Lancaster Manor for so long - she couldn't be completely unaware of what went on there. But as long as she didn't actually do anything to harm Atlas's interests, he wouldn't move against her.
I sighed. Perhaps with Amy, Atlas felt family affection that wasn't mixed with scheming.
I just hoped Amy wouldn't betray Atlas's trust.
I thought back to what she'd said when she first defended me, and my heart felt heavy. I didn't know if tonight's events were her idea or Yvonne's.
I hoped she was truly innocent.
"When your grandfather called you out, was it about me?"
My question caught Atlas off guard. After a moment, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "Helena, I really can't hide anything from you."
"He did bring it up, but mostly he talked about Zane."
My heart sank. "He's using saving Zane as leverage to get you to accept me?"
As I finished speaking, Atlas pressed my hand to his lips and kissed it. "Don't worry, this was already part of my plan. Even without his suggestion, I would have brought Zane back eventually."
"I want Zane back, staying by grandfather's side, so grandfather can really see what kind of person his beloved Zane truly is."
"Of course, I'm not saving him for nothing. I'll pay half the ransom, but in exchange, I get another ten percent of the Lancaster family's shipping business. That ten percent is enough for me to bring some people over to my side."
Seeing he was prepared, I finally relaxed.
The car soon stopped in front of my house. Atlas turned off the engine but didn't let go of my hand.
His eyes shone brightly in the flickering streetlights.
"Helena."
Atlas moved closer.
His fingers touched my chin, gently lifting my face.
His warm breath fell on my cheeks, making my heart race inexplicably.
I licked my dry lips and said awkwardly, "Atlas, you...?"
Before I could finish, a finger pressed against my lips.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this day, Helena. Don't reject me."
Then, slightly cool lips with a faint mint scent pressed against mine.
My heartbeat instantly accelerated, my mind went blank, feeling like it might explode. In my daze, I felt a nimble tongue slip inside.
Lips and teeth intertwined, touching and turning. A warm, large hand appeared on my body. I suddenly snapped back to reality and grabbed his hand.
"Atlas."
"I know, I won't go further, but you need to focus."
After Atlas's soft laugh, the kiss deepened.
After a long while, when my lips felt numb, Atlas finally released me.
His fingers brushed across my lips, his bright eyes full of affectionate laughter. "It's so good having you by my side."
"Alright, I should go back."
I pushed him, and he reluctantly sat up straight, sighing. "When can I see you every day? Helena, let's just get married."
"Please, we just became boyfriend and girlfriend. Nobody moves that fast."
"Just because others don't doesn't mean we can't."
Atlas tried to persuade me. "Helena, why don't you think about it?"
"Don't even think about it."
I laughed and jumped out of the car, waving at him. "Alright, go home now."
Seeing this, Atlas could only shake his head helplessly. "Fine, remember to think of me in your dreams."
After saying that, he lightly pressed the gas and left.
After he left, I entered the yard.
Not long after returning to my room, Maria came upstairs. Seeing me, she smiled gently. "You went to the Lancaster Manor today?"
I nodded. "Yes."
I knew Maria must be worried. Without waiting for her to ask, I told her everything that happened at the Lancaster Manor in detail.
After listening, Maria shook her head angrily. "The Lancaster family is really too much. How could Amy do such a thing? What were they trying to achieve?"
"Vying for favor."
I laughed coldly. "They just wanted Wesley to be dissatisfied with me. The tactics were crude, but they seemed to work."
Thinking of Wesley's changing attitude toward me, I understood - he must already see me as an unlucky woman.
But I didn't believe that Wesley, seasoned in business, could be fooled by such shallow tricks.
Perhaps, deep down, he subconsciously chose to believe his family.
"What should we do, Helena? If you really marry into the Lancaster family, won't there be constant trouble?"
Seeing Maria's worried expression, I shook my head. "Don't worry, Mom. These petty tricks seem extremely stupid to me. Even if I marry into the Lancaster family, I won't tolerate them targeting me."
"My confidence comes from you and Dad. The Lancaster family can't control me."
Hearing my words, Maria was very relieved.
"Helena, it's good that you think this way. Just maintain surface-level peace with the Lancaster family. Even if you get married later, you and Atlas can move out and live separately. Don't worry, your dad and I are here for you."
I nodded. "I know, but marriage is too early. I haven't considered it yet."
"Good, good. You're right not to consider it. I'm not ready to let you marry so soon either."
After chatting a bit more, Maria went downstairs with a smile.
When I woke up the next morning, I had just gotten out of bed when I heard a commotion downstairs. I frowned. "What's going on?"
A servant whispered, "John and Natasha are here."
Natasha was here again. Nothing good ever came of her visits.
"Weren't they supposed to be stopped from entering? Why weren't they turned away?"
I got up and headed downstairs.
As soon as I reached the first floor, I heard Natasha angrily saying, "Where's Helena? I need to ask her today why she's so greedy. What exactly does she want with Knox?"