Chapter 12 Keep the horse here
"Looking for me?"
My heart tightened, not knowing what this unpredictable Atlas wanted to do.
But Knox wouldn't give Atlas a chance to get close to me. Like declaring his ownership, he grabbed my hand.
"What do you want with Helena, Atlas? I'm warning you, don't get any ideas about Helena."
Atlas's eyes fell on our clasped hands, a cold look appearing in his gaze.
After a long moment, he sneered, "What are you afraid of, Mr. Pemberton? Afraid I'll eat your Helena?"
"You!"
Knox immediately got angry, but before he could speak, Atlas clapped his hands. Soon a side door opened, and a beautiful, strong horse appeared in my sight.
Atlas pointed and said, "Ms. Lockwood, this is my gift to you."
"For me?"
I frowned. At this time, in this situation, how could I possibly accept something from him?
"Thank you, Mr. Lancaster, but I—"
Before I could finish, Atlas interrupted, "Is Ms. Lockwood planning to distance herself from me?"
His eyes fell on me, and everywhere he looked felt like it was burning.
As I remembered our intimate encounters, my breathing quickened, afraid he might say something shocking.
"Atlas, don't go too far!"
Knox suddenly interrupted Atlas, furious. "Take your damn horse and stay away from Helena!"
Ignoring Knox's shouting, Atlas said calmly, "Watch carefully, Mr. Pemberton. I'm giving this to Ms. Lockwood. Just because you can't afford it doesn't mean Ms. Lockwood can't have it. Whether to keep it or not is up to Ms. Lockwood."
After speaking, Atlas looked at me.
I'd experienced Atlas's persistence before. If we kept arguing, the horse would probably end up staying anyway.
Besides, this horse could be a connection to Joseph.
In my past life, the Pemberton family rose to prominence in Starwave City because of Joseph. Why couldn't the Lockwood family rise in status this time?
With this in mind, I decided to accept the gift.
"Knox."
I pulled back the angry Knox and shook my head at him. "Since it's Mr. Lancaster's kind gesture, I'll accept it."
Knox's face immediately darkened. "Helena, you're actually accepting Atlas's gift?"
I smiled and said softly, "Knox, don't say that. Mr. Lancaster means well, and I've never owned a top horse before. I'd like to try raising one. As for the cost, we can pay Mr. Lancaster back together."
I emphasized the word "together."
I knew if Knox needed this horse, he would understand what I meant.
Sure enough, after he thought it over, his expression relaxed.
"Fine, since Helena likes it, we'll keep the horse. But Atlas, I'm warning you—I'll pay you back later."
He put his hands in his pockets, looking disdainful. "But Atlas, I'm warning you, stay away from my fiancée!"
Atlas acted as if he hadn't heard him.
He nodded to me. "Ms. Lockwood, have fun. See you!"
With that, he waved and left.
After he was gone, Knox's smile faded. "Helena, why did you have to accept Atlas's gift?"
I frowned in confusion. "But you didn't object just now."
Knox said urgently, "I didn't object because I was considering your feelings, but Helena, I don't want you tangled up with Atlas."
"That's not fair. I just accepted a gift—how is that a connection? You've given Natasha plenty of gifts, and I've never questioned you and Natasha."
"Helena, you!"
Knox hadn't expected me to bring up his relationship with Natasha. He looked flustered, wanting both to argue and explain.
"Helena, Natasha and I are different. We've known each other for a long time—we're friends. Besides, she's your cousin."
His tone softened. "Helena, our wedding is coming up. Let's not fight over outsiders, okay?"
I nodded, pretending to be hurt. "I didn't want to fight with you. It was you—"
"Right, right, it was me. I'm sorry, Helena. I was wrong."
Hearing Knox apologize repeatedly, I smiled. "Okay, I accept your apology."
Seeing I wasn't angry anymore, Knox quickly said, "But since the horse is from Atlas, keeping it at your place will cause gossip. Let me take care of it for now."
The moment I saw that hunger in his eyes for the horse, my face went cold. I said calmly, "No need. I'll raise this horse myself."
Knox hadn't expected me to refuse him directly. His face darkened.
"Helena, what are you trying to do?"
"You know the horse is from Atlas. Why do you insist on keeping it?"
"But didn't you say you'd pay him back?"
I turned to the attendant. "Take it away for now. Hand it over to the Lockwood family later."
"Yes."
The attendant answered and led the horse away.
After they left, I looked at Knox. "Knox, I've never raised a horse before. This time, please, let me keep it. Please, please."
I smiled at him sweetly.
I knew Knox couldn't do anything about it, so he'd have to agree.
Knox shook his head. "I really can't do anything with you. Fine, if you like it, keep it."
"Knox, you're so good to me! I can't wait to show my mom my horse."
I cheered happily and winked at him. "Quick, take me home. I want to tell Mom this good news."
"Okay."
Knox's smile was strained. He reached out and ruffled my hair, then turned to get the car.
After he left, my smile faded. I picked up my phone and called Hugo, instructing him to take good care of the horse before walking toward Knox's car.
Knox's POV
My foot pressed hard on the gas pedal. I irritably slammed the steering wheel, triggering a series of honks.
A pedestrian rushed into the road, and I almost hit them. I slammed on the brakes, barely stopping in time.
I stuck my head out the window and yelled at the pedestrian, "Are you trying to die? Can't you watch where you're going?"
After cursing, I drove off.
The whole way, I grew more irritated. Everything today had gone wrong.
Not only did I fail to get the top horse, but Atlas took advantage of the situation. Thinking of Helena's stubbornness made me furious.
If it weren't for the horse being useful, I wouldn't have let Helena accept it.
As my woman, she accepted gifts from another man—what would people think?
But my father had specifically told me to get that horse. Having messed things up, I could only use this roundabout method to temporarily keep the horse with Helena.
The phone kept ringing. I knew it was Natasha calling. If I didn't answer today, she'd blow up my phone.
She must be furious today. As soon as I answered, Natasha launched into a tirade.
"Knox, are you still with that bitch Helena? Are you?"
Her screaming made my ears ring. I moved the phone away and explained patiently, "No, she's already gone home. I'm alone now."
"Good. The usual place. Come now."
With that, she hung up.
"Damn it!"
I angrily hit the steering wheel and had to turn the car around toward the hotel where we usually met.
Knocking on the hotel room door, Natasha answered in a fire-red camisole nightgown. Large areas of skin showed beneath it, her full breasts bouncing as she moved.
On any other day, seeing her like this would have made me pounce on her immediately, but today I just wasn't in the mood.
"Knox, you need to explain what happened today!"
Natasha sat down on the sofa huffily, confronting me first.
Watching her domineering behavior, I felt a wave of disgust.