Swallowed by the Flames of Regret

When I woke up again, I was surrounded by private doctors.

"Mrs. Payne, you have a high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If we hadn't discovered you in time, you might’ve almost died." Their tone was urgent, but I remained calm.

I had almost died, huh?

"Hurry and inform Mr. Payne!" Alfred urged from the side.

I interrupted, my voice as soft as it could be, "No need. Mr. Payne is very busy right now. He doesn't like being disturbed, even if it's by me."

“Mrs. Payne...” Alfred sighed. "Mr. Payne is just seeking a bit of novelty for a while. Once he gets tired of her, he'll come back to you. After all, you two grew up together."

His tone was filled with regret because he had witnessed Atlas and me grow up from children into adults. He had witnessed both Atlas breaking his vows to me time and again, as well as us loving each other so much that we were willing to sacrifice our lives for the other.

However, all of this was in the past. Atlas had changed, and he no longer loved me. He was in love with someone else, and she was pregnant with his child. We did not have a future together, so it was time for me to let myself go.

After the medical staff left, I began to think about strategies to escape.

Atlas was powerful, with informants all over the world. No matter where I fled, he could easily find me. The only way to escape completely was to fake my death, and the best way to die was in a fire.

Atlas feared nothing except fire. Years ago, his mother died in a fire, leaving him with severe trauma. This was the only way he would not dare rescue me.

However, perhaps I was overthinking it, because Atlas might not come to rescue me regardless of the situation I was in.

After all, Jasmine could become Atlas' wife once I was gone.

With this in mind, I let out a long sigh and contacted a friend abroad, asking him to arrange a new identity for me in Buldaria.

Once I faked my death and escaped, I would go there to start a new life.

I transferred my assets and started packing, sending out some expensive items in advance. Halfway through packing, I realized I had very few belongings, most of which were gifts from Atlas. There were also things that held shared memories, such as a collection of love letters he wrote for me and photos of us from every Christmas.

I caressed the corner of his smile in the photo frame, my eyes stinging with tears. We were so deeply in love back then.

Atlas walked in just in time to see this. "What are you doing?"

I immediately put the photo frame back and whispered that I was fine.

Atlas paused, glanced at the frame, and a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes. He helped me to bed, touched my forehead, and spoke gently yet reproachfully. "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

A gust of wind blew in from outside, sending the cheap perfume on him into my nostrils. It made me nauseous, so I brushed his hand away. "It's just a fever."

Atlas stared at his dangling hand, startled. I had never refused his touch before. "Are you mad at me?"

Hearing my silence, he chuckled and pulled an exquisite box from his bag. Inside was a necklace I had liked for a long time.

Atlas gently put it in my hand, whispering in my ear, "A belated apology. Naomi, I promise I'll be on time next time."

His eyes held a seriousness I had never seen before, but I knew there would be no next time.