After His Eyes Opened

　　"If you choose her today," I swallowed a sob. "I'll die, Atlas,"

　　My husband, Atlas Volkan, froze at the door. He unhooked his arm from my sister's and marched forward.

　　I forgot how to breathe as he approached me, the scent of his cologne invading my nose like an addiction.

　　How do you love someone to the point of loathing yourself?

　　"I have always chosen her." His words stabbed me in the chest. Turning the dagger, he continued. "Today is her big day and if you love me, don't ruin it."

　　Atlas turned to leave and I blurted. "You are my husband. We are married, Atlas!"

　　"Enough, Julia!" Lovie snapped, glaring at me "Your marriage is a sham. Atlas loves me and you know this,"

　　"I have a bad feeling, Atlas." I begged, "Let me come. I'm scared Atlas."

　　Atlas' gaze rested on me, almost as if he was worried, but the flicker in his eyes vanished as Lovie spoke.

　　"Choose, Atlas. Her or me?" She asked. Like that, the fog cleared and he grabbed her wrist, leaving the house.

　　The sound of the keys inside the lock rang through the room. They left and locked me inside.

　　I walked over to the closest window, watching as they drove out. My husband and my older sister — the perfect affair.

　　My heart ached, my body trembled with sobs. This was my life and I hated it.

　　I prepared coffee to clear my mind and I barely took a sip when the banging came minutes later. I stumbled, wide-eyed as the door handle shook.

　　Someone... someone was trying to break in!

　　I bolted in the opposite direction, tripping over my feet as the door fell off its hinges.

　　My stomach twisted into knots as we made eye contact. The man in front of me looked taller, stronger, and masked.

　　He reached for me but I scrambled to my feet.

　　I flailed my hands and kicked my feet, barely able to hear anything over the sound of heavy pants escaping my lips. I froze as something grazed my skin, pain shooting through my torso.

　　My hands dug into my jean pockets and I speed dialed Atlas. He was the only contact I had.

　　The only one I trusted.

　　He didn't pick up.

　　I kicked the man between his legs and raced up the stairs. I struggled to breathe as I continued calling Atlas.

　　Pick up. Pick up! Pick—

　　An inhuman screech escaped my lips as the man grabbed my hair, pulling me. My back collided with the wall and I was face to face with his masked face.

　　Before I could process anything, his hands found their way to my neck — squeezing life out of me.

　　My eyes threatened to pop from their sockets as a soft whimper escaped my lips. Why was he trying to kill me?

　　In my life, I sacrificed everything for everyone. I did everything to be loved — wanted, to be seen.

　　But nothing worked and now, I was dying.

　　I was about to be killed by a stranger in my home, while my husband of three years was at my fashion show, parading with his lover. I was going to die alone, bleeding and gasping for air.

　　Was this the reward for being a good person?

　　I spat in the masked man's face and he let out a disgusted grunt. I took the chance to enter my room and lock the door.

　　I dialed Atlas, again and again. My knees threatened to buckle as I registered the number of times I had called.

　　Fifty-seven.

　　My chest tightened as I glanced at the door, which threatened to pop off its hinges.

　　He was going to break that door soon, and Atlas hadn't answered.

　　I called one last time, a soft gasp escaped my lips as his voice broke through.

　　"Atlas!"

　　"What is wrong with you, Julia? Why are you determined to make your sister unhappy?"

　　"Someone is trying to kill me, Atlas!" I cried, my grip on the phone tightening. "They are about to break into the room, At—"

　　"You will do anything to get my attention, won't you?"

　　"Just shut up and listen for once, Atlas. A man wants to kill your wife! Is Lovie the only one you—"

　　The door broke down and a shiver ran down my spine as the man stepped forward, a sadistic grin on his face.

　　"Why are you running?" he whispered, "I am setting you free, Julia."

　　I stumbled, my heart falling into my stomach as I applied pressure to my torso. "Stay away! Don't come close!" I threw all the objects in the room at him, begging for him to leave.

　　He didn't budge.

　　My back hit the wall and my knees buckled as I registered blood on my hands. The adrenaline washed off as Atlas' voice reached me again.

　　"Yes, Lovie. That dress looks amazing on you."

　　"I called Sylvia and she assured me everything was fine. Was Julia lying again?" Lovie's sickeningly sweet voice followed.

　　My grip on the phone finally loosened, my life slipping from my grasp. As my body slacked against the wall, the fight for my life, died.

　　As the man lunged at me, his hands tracing my neck and squeezing — I didn't call Atlas.

　　I couldn't.

　　All my life... I had to prove myself, to fight for my place... Why did I think it would be different with Atlas Volkan? In the end, he only saw me as his brother's murderer.

　　His priorities and love lay with Lovie, the one he was supposed to marry. I was the mistake he could not avoid.

　　The night before their wedding, I was kidnapped but escaped into his mansion, hiding in the first room I saw, drugged and barely breathing.

　　Atlas was in that room.

　　So, when we woke up to cameras and whispers — Everything changed. Rumors spread and I was forced to marry Atlas Volkan to avoid a scandal. Despite the bitterness between us, I did nothing but love Atlas Volkan.

　　I was the perfect wife and he was the nonexistent husband, the one who followed my sister's skirt and never found his way back.

　　As the man's grip on my neck tightened, a tear rolled down my cheek and life left me, slowly.

　　I sacrificed everything to earn his love and the one time I needed him — Atlas Volkan was nowhere to be found.

　　A final gasp escaped my lips and my eyes widened, my body jerking as I died a slow, cruel death.

　　As my vision blurred, my chest tightened. I lived my life for everyone but myself. If I was given a second chance…

　　I would not be my mother's obedient daughter, my sister's slave, and most definitely not Atlas' Volkan's submissive wife.

　　I would live for myself and walk away from everyone who never let me truly live.

　　As if my pleas were answered — my eyes shot open.

　　I jolted upright, scanning my surroundings. I was back in my room. The door... was intact. The floor wasn't littered. No vases, no objects thrown about — nothing.

　　Not even blood and no masked man strangling me.

　　I traced my neck and torso. There was no sign of a struggle or even a scratch.

　　It couldn't be…

　　Even the clock read twelve p.m., two hours before Atlas and Lovie left.

　　Don't tell me... I have been reborn!

　　I scrambled to my feet, my hands tracing my body in the mirror. Fate heard my pleas, I would get to live again. I could crash that runway and snatch everything back!

　　But, before the thought even settled, loud, violent banging shattered the silence…