Chapter 17 Humiliating Knox
Atlas nodded and gave a soft response, then grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.
I struggled hard to break free along the way, but couldn't shake him off.
As soon as the car stopped at The Lockwood Manor entrance, I couldn't wait to jump out.
"Goodbye Atlas, thanks for today."
Without waiting for his reaction, I strode into the villa.
After a long while, I finally heard the sound of his car driving away.
Inside, I saw Maria arranging flowers. I walked over and hugged her waist tightly, nuzzling against her affectionately.
"Where did you run off to all day? Do you know Knox came to the house looking for you?"
"What, Knox came?"
I was startled and let go of Maria's waist, looking around. "Where is he?"
"He left. He came to tell you that the wedding dress you ordered has arrived and wanted you to try it on."
Maria spoke with a smile on her face, clearly satisfied with Knox's gesture.
"I know that wedding dress brand - it's by a famous foreign designer. I heard this designer only takes one order per year. Knox is really thoughtful."
He was indeed thoughtful - very thoughtful when it came to pleasing my family and me, but also ruthless when it came to killing people.
Thinking of this, I opened my mouth to tell Maria that the wedding between Knox and me wouldn't happen, but facing Maria's smile, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Call Knox back quickly and arrange to go try it on together tomorrow." Maria urged again.
I nodded mechanically and picked up my phone, only to find it had somehow died.
As soon as I turned it on, Knox's call came through.
His voice was anxious and panicked. "Helena, where did you go? Why couldn't I reach you?"
Atlas's face flashed through my mind, and I cautiously replied. "I went shopping, my phone died."
Knox on the other end relaxed after hearing this. "If you want to buy clothes, I can take you abroad and let you pick out more."
"No need." I refused directly.
There won't even be a wedding, so why buy clothes?
"Mom told me the wedding dress is back?" I quickly changed the subject.
Sure enough, Knox stopped asking about the phone.
"Yes, shall I take you to see the wedding dress tomorrow?"
I nodded. "Okay, I'll come over tomorrow."
"Let me pick you up instead. I haven't seen you all day, I really miss you."
This was Knox - if I hadn't seen him cheating with Natasha that day, I would really think he cared about me.
I chuckled. "Alright then."
After settling that, I hung up and returned to my room, lost in thought.
I had the video that could directly ruin the wedding, but how could I stop Knox from pestering me afterward?
Thinking of this, Atlas's image suddenly appeared in my mind.
If I could marry him, wouldn't that cut off Knox's pestering?
But I quickly shook my head and abandoned this dangerous idea.
I couldn't just shake off one man only to attract an even more dangerous one. This plan wouldn't work.
Atlas's POV
I didn't know what was wrong with Helena. She was fine at the canyon, but became much colder when I drove her home.
When I realized she was avoiding me, God knows how much strength it took to control myself and not pin Helena down and kiss her.
Looking at her slightly panicked eyes, I suddenly remembered the last time at the hotel when she hid in my room - her eyes looked the same way.
She was avoiding Knox back then. Realizing this, I almost slapped myself twice.
How could I suddenly have such shameless thoughts about her?
I was damn awful!
Watching her flee in panic, a sense of defeat rose in my heart.
I thought I had successfully gotten close to Helena, but it turned out to be wishful thinking. Helena had been avoiding me all along.
I was disappointed - in myself, and even more in Helena.
In frustration, I drove away directly. Not far down the road, my phone rang. It was Tristan Vanderbilt.
"Atlas, we're all at The Shadow Tavern, just waiting for you. Coming?"
"Yes!"
After I spoke, cheers erupted on the other end.
Soon Tristan's voice came again. "Great, Atlas we'll wait for you!"
"Okay."
After hanging up, I stepped on the gas and the car quickly headed toward The Shadow Tavern.
When I parked and appeared in the private room with a cigarette in my mouth, everyone was making Tristan drink.
When they saw me, everyone quieted down. Soon someone made room, and I sat down next to Nancy.
"Atlas, where's that beauty from this afternoon?"
Tristan led the teasing questions.
At his question, the room fell silent except for the noisy music from the speakers.
My lighter clicked in my hand. I looked around at everyone staring at me, and with a crisp sound, the lighter flared.
I took a deep drag of my cigarette, and through the smoke rings, Helena's image became clearer.
Before I could speak, Nancy beside me said directly. "But Atlas, that woman is Knox's fiancée."
As soon as Nancy finished speaking, everyone's expressions varied.
Someone chimed in. "So what if she's Knox's woman? Any woman Atlas wants ends up obediently in his bed."
This group were all friends we'd grown up with. Hearing this, they knew he was joking, but the atmosphere instantly livened up.
"Exactly. Any woman Atlas wants, whether she's Knox's or not, doesn't matter."
"Atlas just has to crook his finger and she'll come running."
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
Nancy beside me looked upset and grabbed some sunflower seeds to throw at Tristan, who was laughing the loudest.
"Shut up, what are you saying? Atlas isn't that kind of person!"
"True, everyone knows plenty of women have had their eyes on Atlas over the years, but Atlas has never given any of them a second glance. But today's Helena is an exception!"
"You know what, maybe Atlas is really interested this time?"
"Yeah, could be true."
Tristan's words immediately got many people agreeing.
Seeing everyone throwing the question back to me, I held my cigarette with a calm expression. "It's too early to say, stop making a fuss!"
I didn't see that Nancy's expression darkened at my words.
"So you're saying Atlas has real feelings?"
"But think about it, it's exciting. That Knox thinks so highly of himself, always challenging Atlas. I heard Atlas directly snatched Knox's Top Horse at the auction this time, and now he's stealing his fiancée. Well done!"
"Right, after Atlas gets Helena, he can dump her hard and humiliate Knox!"
"Atlas, this is brilliant!"