Chapter 8 The Show Is Not Over Yet
"Helena, Helena."
A man's voice came from the elevator entrance. The bag in my hand dropped to the floor.
I stared in shock at Atlas, who had appeared out of nowhere.
"You—how are you here?"
"Are you okay?"
Atlas didn't answer my question. His eyes fell on me, darkening a bit.
Seeing my disheveled state, he took off his jacket and draped it over me, then picked me up in his arms.
"It's okay now. Don't be afraid."
The moment he lifted me up, a warmth surrounded me tightly.
My heart, which had been racing from fear, slowly calmed down. A sense of relief at surviving washed over me.
Thank goodness it was Atlas who came.
But questions quickly rose in my mind—why would Atlas be here?
In the hotel room, several doctors examined and treated me. Fortunately, I only had minor external injuries, nothing serious.
After the doctors left, I looked up. "What's going on? Where's that man? Why were you here?"
Atlas looked down at the wound on my neck again before straightening up. "I happened to hear your cries for help when I came upstairs, so I rushed over. But that man had planned this carefully. Do you want to see him?"
Planned carefully?
Atlas's words made my heart jump.
Following Knox and Natasha was a spur-of-the-moment decision. How could anyone have known?
Could Knox have sent him?
No, even if Knox sent him, he shouldn't be trying to kill me at this moment!
What was going on?
As I hesitated, Atlas spoke, "If you're scared, you don't have to see him. I'll handle it for you."
"No, I want to see him."
I interrupted Atlas, looking up with determination. "Please bring him here, Mr. Lancaster."
"Well, you'd better prepare yourself. This guy's in pretty bad shape right now."
Seeing me nod, Atlas clapped his hands twice. Soon a blood-covered man was dragged into the room.
"Spare me, please! I was really wrong, really wrong!"
The man on the floor curled up in a ball, mumbling apologies non-stop.
"Kneel properly."
At Atlas's words, the man shuddered and struggled up from the floor, kneeling properly facing Atlas and me.
"Talk. Why did you attack Ms. Lockwood?"
Atlas, usually so casual, now had a cold expression, his eyes sharp and menacing, like a different person. It made me shiver.
I quickly looked away and studied the man in front of me carefully. Then I realized he looked somewhat familiar.
"Lift your head."
As soon as I spoke, the man slowly raised his head. He apologized to me repeatedly but didn't dare make a sound because of Atlas's intimidating presence.
After seeing his face clearly, I cried out in surprise. "It's you!"
This man was actually Heath, Knox's driver.
Knox sent someone to kill me?
But why?
We were not even married yet. The Lockwood family fortune hadn't fallen into his hands. Why would he make his move early?
Just as I was terrified, Atlas spoke to Heath. "Why did you attack Ms. Lockwood?"
Atlas's deep voice carried an irresistible authority that scared Heath into trembling as he quickly said. "I, I was originally looking to settle a score with Knox, but when I saw you, I changed my mind on the spot."
Heath continued pleading. "I was really wrong. I was too stupid to hurt you. Please be merciful and let me go."
Through Heath's broken explanation, I finally understood what happened.
It turned out Heath had been directly fired by Knox because he got sick.
After losing his job, Heath felt resentful and wanted revenge on Knox.
He waited at The Pemberton Manor for a long time, followed Knox all the way to the racetrack, then snuck in.
Later, when Knox entered the hotel, he followed, but the hotel was too big and he got lost.
Then he saw me, recognized me as Knox's fiancée, and decided to make his move.
By the end, his eyes were evasive, not daring to breathe heavily, head lowered as he knelt on the ground.
Atlas slowly stood up and walked in front of him, lifting his foot to step on Heath's palm and grinding down hard.
"What are you to dare lay a hand on Ms. Lockwood!"
Heath let out a scream, begging repeatedly. "I won't dare again, never again!"
"Please let me go, I really know I was wrong!"
Atlas didn't stop, his eyes showing a cruelty I'd never seen before.
"Someone come."
After his command, two men in black quickly entered from outside.
Without waiting for Atlas to speak, the two men in black began punching and kicking Heath on the ground.
Heath wailed and rolled around on the ground. Atlas stood nearby with a cold expression, taking out a cigarette and lighting it, watching everything coldly.
Heath's miserable state made me feel somewhat sympathetic, but thinking that if it weren't for Atlas, if I had fallen into Heath's hands, who knew what would have awaited me—thinking of this, my heart hardened again.
After a long while, Heath on the ground no longer had the strength to moan.
Only then did Atlas extinguish his cigarette. "Drag him away and clean this up."
"Wait."
Heath had put me through so much—just getting rid of him would be letting him off too easy.
Besides, this whole thing started because of Knox. I should get something back from Knox, shouldn't I?
I said coldly to Atlas. "Please have Mr. Lancaster keep him under guard for now."
"No, no, please let me go, I really know I was wrong!"
Heath banged his head hard against the floor, howling and desperately begging for mercy.
"Ms. Lockwood, I know Mr. Pemberton's secrets. I also know he's keeping a woman on the side. Ms. Lockwood, if you let me go, I'll tell you everything." Hearing this, Atlas looked at me. I shook my head. "No need."
Atlas raised his hand and waved. Heath was quickly taken away.
When the room quieted down, Atlas picked up a napkin from the table and vigorously wiped his hands.
His eyes showed disgust. After he cleaned his hands, the coldness around him slowly faded. When he looked up, his eyes had returned to their usual clarity.
"Did I scare you?"
I shook my head and got up to get off the bed.
"Don't move."
As Atlas spoke, he strode over to me, knelt on one knee, picked up the shoes from the floor and put them on my feet.
I was embarrassed and tried to pull away, but Atlas held my foot firmly in his palm.
"Don't move. If you keep moving, I'm going to kiss you."
Atlas had returned to his usual carefree manner. Upon hearing his crazy talk, my face immediately blushed.
I bit my lip tightly and finally muttered reluctantly. "Pervert!"
Atlas laughed, his chest heaving. After putting on my shoes, he stood up and extended his hand.
Seeing I still wanted to avoid him, he reached out and pulled me directly into his arms.
His burning palm pressed tightly against my thin dress, and my skin burned with more than just heat.
I squirmed uncomfortably, trying to break free from his control.
"Be good, don't move."
As he spoke, his chest vibrated like a drum.
I pushed him hard. "Let me go, I need to go out."
Knox was still outside. I didn't want what happened last time at the hotel to happen again.
"You have an injury on your neck. Just stay here quietly, okay?"
"No."
I directly refused Atlas. Today's show wasn't over yet. How could I not be there?
I stood up and headed for the door. Seeing this, Atlas lowered his head and took a deep breath at my neck. When he looked up, his beautiful eyes were full of teasing.
"Fine, I'll let you go out, but remember to miss me."
He stepped back and let go. I took the chance to quickly run toward the door.
When I got out, I realized I'd returned just in time—Knox and the others hadn't appeared yet.
I secretly smirked. Knox has good stamina, quite lasting. But if Natasha knew he had hooked up with other women, what would she do?
Atlas's POV
Among hundreds of people at the racetrack, I still spotted Helena at first glance.
Today she wore a white dress, beautiful as an elf.
The white clothing was dreamlike, her face like an angel—peaceful and beautiful. I couldn't look away, deeply absorbed.
But soon I noticed there was one, no, two annoying people beside her.
Knox and that cousin of hers, Natasha. Watching these two flirting with each other across Helena, I took a deep drag on my cigarette.
That damn Knox—having Helena but still hooking up with another woman. A man like that didn't deserve Helena at all.
It was time to remind Helena and let her know what kind of person this boyfriend she had been treasuring really was!
Throughout the race, I was distracted, constantly thinking about how to get dirt on Knox to give Helena a heads up.
But I soon noticed Knox had disappeared at some point.
When I came to my senses, I saw Helena quietly getting up and heading out. Seeing her serious expression, I followed her without thinking.
I watched her sneak into a room. Just as I was about to go in, my phone rang.
After I finished the call, Helena had disappeared.
Just as I was about to knock on the door, I faintly heard a woman's voice from the elevator area.
The voice was familiar—it seemed like Helena's.
I followed the sound.
"Helena, Helena."
The voice became clearer and clearer. It was Helena's voice.
Her voice carried panic. I didn't dare hesitate and followed the sound.
When I opened the elevator and saw her, I was scared out of my wits.
Her clothes were covered in blood, looking disheveled as she hid in the elevator with a panicked expression.
"Helena!"
Seeing her like that, my heart nearly stopped.