Chapter 6

　　Mandy's POV

　　My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. At first I thought it was my father again. Or Margaret. Or Atlas.

　　I almost ignored it.

　　But the vibration kept going, so I finally grabbed the phone. Dozens of notifications.

　　Messages. Mentions. Missed calls.

　　I frowned.

　　"What now…?"

　　I opened the first notification.

　　Then the second.

　　My stomach dropped.

　　A video was circulating online. The wedding.

　　Not the whole video, just the worst part.

　　The moment I stood on stage and said Atlas was my husband.

　　The slap.

　　Susie collapsing.

　　The captions were even worse.

　　Heartless woman ruins dying sister's wedding.

　　A cold-blooded designer humiliates a terminally ill bride.

　　A jealous sister pushes a cancer patient.

　　My chest tightened.

　　Someone had edited the footage carefully. Every angle made me look like the villain.

　　A cold crept down my spine. "Who would....."

　　An hour later, someone knocked on my office door. The first thought that came to my mind was it being a stalker. One of the critics online who saw my leaked studio address.

　　My assistant Lily peeked in nervously.

　　"Miss Bennett… there's someone here to see you."

　　I frowned. "At this hour?"

　　She hesitated.

　　"It's… Mr. Brooks."

　　My brows edged in shock. "What's he doing here? Let him in." I grumbled.

　　Atlas stepped inside a moment later. He looked exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes. Shirt wrinkled. Tie hung loosely around his neck.

　　For a moment we just stared at each other.

　　Then he spoke.

　　"You've seen the news?"

　　I leaned back against my desk. "You mean the smear campaign?"

　　His jaw tightened.

　　"It's getting out of control."

　　"And whose fault is that?" I asked coolly.

　　He didn't answer, instead he walked closer. "I came to help."

　　A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

　　"Help?"

　　"Yes."

　　I crossed my arms.

　　"You will apologize publicly. Admit everything was a misunderstanding. Smile beside Susie in a hospital bed."

　　"You're unbelievable."

　　"Mandy, listen…."

　　"No," I cut him off sharply. "You listen."

　　I stepped forward.

　　"You stole my wedding. You paraded my replacement in my dress. My dad slapped me on stage." My finger jabbed toward the door. "And now you want me to fix your public image?"

　　His voice hardened. "It's not about image."

　　"Then what is it about?"

　　"Susie's condition has worsened with this incident."

　　I stared at him."And?"

　　"She's fragile right now. The media attention is stressing her."

　　Something inside me snapped. "So I should sacrifice myself again?" I said softly.

　　He ran a hand through his hair.

　　"I'm asking you to make a simple statement." He looked away. "Forget about the truth."

　　I laughed bitterly. The truth would destroy them. They knew it.

　　"I'm not doing it," I said flatly.

　　His patience finally ran out. "You're being selfish."

　　I stared at him intensely. "Selfish?"

　　"Yes."

　　He stepped closer, frustration spilling over.

　　"Susie is dying. She only wants a little happiness."

　　"And I'm supposed to provide it again?"

　　"You're her sister!"

　　I slammed my hand on the desk. "She is not my sister."

　　Silence.

　　His expression darkened.

　　Before he could respond, the door opened again. Bianca walked in. She stopped when she saw Atlas.

　　"Oh," she said slowly. "The hero himself."

　　Atlas frowned.

　　"Who are you?"

　　"Someone who actually has her back, unlike some people." She leaned against the doorframe. "I heard everything."

　　Atlas scoffed.

　　"Then you know Mandy is making things worse."

　　Bianca laughed outright."No, sweetheart. You are."

　　"You don't know anything about our relationship."

　　"Oh I know enough."

　　She stepped forward. "You think Susie loves you?"

　　Atlas frowned. "What?"

　　Bianca tilted her head. "That girl doesn't care about you."

　　"That's ridiculous."

　　"She cares about beating Mandy."

　　His eyes flashed. "Watch your words."

　　Bianca pulled out her phone. "I will."

　　She tapped the screen and held it up.

　　A screenshot filled the display, Susie's old social media post.

　　A message.

　　Everything Mandy has will eventually be mine.

　　Atlas's face changed. "That's fake."

　　Bianca scrolled.

　　More screenshots. Messages. Photos, Years of jealousy portrayed in it all.

　　Susie mocking Mandy behind her back.

　　Calling Atlas "the final prize."

　　Atlas stared.

　　Speechless.

　　Bianca slipped the phone back into her pocket.

　　"Congratulations," she said sweetly."You're not the love of her life."

　　"Then what am I?" he muttered.

　　"A trophy."

　　His fists clenched.

　　"That's not true." He stammered, finding reality hard to believe.

　　"Believe what you want." She turned to me.

　　"Come on. You've wasted enough time tonight."

　　I grabbed my bag. Atlas stepped forward suddenly.

　　"Wait."

　　We both paused.

　　He looked at me. Something conflicted flickered in his eyes.

　　"Just think about what I said."

　　I held his gaze. Then I shook my head. "No."

　　We walked out. Outside, the night air felt colder than usual.

　　Bianca unlocked her car. "You okay?" she asked.

　　"Define okay."

　　She smiled faintly.

　　I slid into the passenger seat. As we pulled away, my phone buzzed again. This time it wasn't a notification.

　　It was a call.

　　Mrs. Carrington flashed on my Truecaller app.

　　I hesitated before answering, gawking in shock and showing the screen to Bianca.

　　"Pick! Pick!!" She said excitedly.

　　Tapping on the green button, I pulled it to my ear. "Hello….."

　　She cut me off.

　　"Hello. It's Mrs. Carrington. Is this Miss Mandy Bennett?"

　　"Yes. Yes." I replied excitedly, looking at Bianca in question if I should mention about seeing her comment.

　　"I would love to invite you tomorrow to Carrington Estate. Your designs match my interest and I would love to patronize."

　　"Wow, really……ma'am?" I babbled, eyes shining with excitement.

　　"Yes. I want to commission you to design some custom gowns for my upcoming birthday banquet."

　　"Really thrilled. I'm highly honored. Will be there." I replied.

　　"Good. I will be expecting you. Location and time will be sent." With this, the line went dead.

　　I sat back, thinking of this. So she really meant her comment? Bianca giggled, nodding.

　　"One of the most powerful families in the country. Notoriously private. Want my service?" I exclaimed.

　　"I suppose this wave of online attention has brought you a certain level of influence. I don't mean that in a negative way."

　　I looked out the window. The city lights blurred past. I thought about that scandal, betrayal and humiliation.

　　Maybe this was the universe throwing me a rope.