Ch. 641..650

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 641-"You're awake!" A warm voice reached my ears, and I knew exactly who it was.

I moved my head and struggled to open my eyes, glancing at the handsface before me. His eyes were focused on me, and his hand gently brushed my forehead.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "Feeling better? Do you still have a headache?" I stared at Atlas in confusion, piecing together the events from before. Glancing around, I realized I was in a hospital room.

This madea bit uneasy, and I looked at Atlas, asking, "Am I sick? Is there something wrong with my head?" He looked ataffectionately and asked, "Do you feel sick?" "Then why am I here? How long have I been sleeping?" Atlas smiled, cleverly responding, "Well, it's lunchtanyway!" "I slept that long? Who broughthere? What about Grayson? Wasn't he within the office? Oh dear, there's so much I need to handle!" After saying that, I struggled to sit up, feeling a dull ache in my head.

"Well, it looks like you still remember." Atlas patted my cheek. "Grayson brought you here, and then I rushed over. Are you hungry? Let the doctor check on you again, and then we can grab lunch." He pressed the call button. Soon, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, approaching us.

I intended to ask him many questions, but I held back as soon as the doctor entered.

Instead, the doctor questioned me. Upon seeing that I was fully conscious, he nodded at Atlas.

"Mr. Atlas, there's no major issue. Ms. Chloe's memory needs gradual recovery. Currently, her brain cells are very active, and occurrences like this might happen with external stimuli." External stimuli? I was confused. Grayson's words were not stimulating.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm I looked at the doctor in a daze, and he continued explaining to Atlas, "As these sporadic memory fra el.ne enter, her cerebral cortex will becmore active, and the memory nerves will gradually clear. I believe the possibility of recovering her memory will increase over time." Recovering my memory? Me? "It's just that Ms. Chloe's reaction may make her very uncomfortable. She should have enough rest." With sconcern, Atlas nodded and asked, "Will these repeated episodes negatively impact her health or cause other issues?" I could tell that Atlas was very anxious, holding my hand tightly.

The doctor glanced at me, shaking his head. "No, As you saw during the comprehensive examination just now, Ms. Chloe's physical condition is excellent. It's just that she might experience headaches sometimes, which can be quite painful "Will these episodes continue to happen? For instance, if we talk about past events, would she experience these conditions, faint, or have severe headaches? Should we avoid mentioning those things for now and not stimulate her?" I silently looked at Atlas, and his expression turned serious.

"No. It's quite the opposite. We should actively stimulate her cerebral cortex, encouraging her to think about these memory fragments. This will accelerate the recovery of her memory." I grew astonished. It seemed like I indeed had a problem.

"Of course, it depends on her. She doesn't know the authenticity of these memories, so we can't completely rule out false memories. This requires careful care and guidance from those around her. I betieve she'll soon recall the lost memories with your help I felt sorrowful because I didn't know what I had forgotten.

Atlas thanked the doctor and escorted him out. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but feel increasingly uneasy.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 642-When he returned, I looked into his eyes and asked, "Have I really lost my memory?" He looked atseriously, as if contemplating how to tell me.

I anxiously stared at Atlas, urging, "You'd better tellthe truth. Don't just brushoff. The truth is, I've been like this for a long time.

"Whenever I think about things, my head feels like it will explode, especially when I hear about Stella. Can you tellwhat exactly my connection with her is?" As he observed my unsettled state, he sat on the edge of my bed, pullinginto his embrace. "Take it easy. I'll tell you everything." "You always say that, but it feels like you're just avoiding the issue each time. Do you know that the more you do this, the more I suffer? Can you tellabout my relationship with Stella?" I acted like a child, pouting and refusing to give in.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt He gave a faint smile, tightening his embrace as he cradled my head, pressing it against his chest. "You…" After waiting a while without continuing, I broke free from his hold. I stared wide-eyed at Atlas's handsface, tense.

"Say it…" I anxiously pressed for answers.

I felt like I was getting closer to the truth.

His expression was gentle. "You're my Stella." I didn't understand his words, staring at him in shock. After a moment, I asked again, "What did you just say?" His exquisite features remained composed, and he confidently said, "You are the Stella who has been withsince childhood. The real Stella." Even though I vaguely understood, his words still leftpetrified.

Staring blankly at the person before me, it felt like a dream. This time, my head wasn't in pain. It was numb, with no reaction at all.

Seeing my reaction, Atlas looked a bit worried, fully embracing me. "Stella, maybe this is a hard truth for you to accept. Everything is too cruel! It's all my fault for losing you back then. I'm sorry." At this moment, I couldn't hear what Atlas was saying at all. My thoughts were confined to the n'Stella.' False images of the imposter Stella, Annalise, and even myself kept appearing before my eyes.

In reality, I hated the nStella. After all, the imposter Stella, who seemed exquisite and calculating, had ruined it for me.

In my mind, Stella was her, a complete schemer who could be ruthless and poison innocent !Annalise, pushing her off a cliff. without hesitation and then pushinginto the deep sea. That was how I perceived Stella. As for Annalise, who resembledso much, she suffered at the hands of the imposter. How could I be Stella? What was going on? My eyes were fixed on Atlas's face, and my mind was filled with questions, but I didn't know where to start.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "Atlas, why am I Stella?" My voice trembled. "I'm Chloe. Did you make a mistake? I've always been Chloe." He cupped my face, gently touching my cheek. "Sweetheart, let's go eat. Then we'll return to Pleca Park and take our tdiscussing everything, okay?" I looked at him, telling myself I had to trust him, just like he said. Whatever happened, we had to trust each other.

Feeling powerless, I leaned into his embrace, burying my face in his chest.

This was all too unbelievable. I felt a sense of fear.

During dinner, neither of us mentioned this matter.

After silently finishing our meal, we returned to Pleca Park. He sat beside me, embracingand remaining silent for a while. I broke the silence, asking him, "Where did Annalise cfrom?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 643-Atlas took out his phone, pulled up his gallery, and placed the phone in my hands. He started to recount the past. "Take a look. This is the real Annalise!" I gazed at the young girl in the phone album. She was beautiful, with lively, sparkling eyes and a radiant smile.

"The night after Aunt Hailey passed away, we huddled in that empty room. I'll never forget the loneliness, helplessness, and fear. It madeanxious." He glanced at me, his eyes filled with bitterness.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "I was scared, but Aunt Hailey toldI was a man and had to take care of Stella. Once lively and bustling with family, that room ended up with just the two of us. It was eerily silent." A faint, sorrowful twitch appeared at the corner of Atlas's mouth.

Even after so many years, he still recalled those events with a sense of helplessness.

"At the time, all you did was cry in my arms. I wanted to as well, but I didn't dare to cry, let alone sleep. Aunt Hailey's departure haunted me. I just wanted to wait until dawn to take you to Grandma's house! "But I never expected that dawn marked the moment we would be separated. When Celine arrived, she was there to inspect our house. When she walked in and saw us, she asked her entourage sternly, 'Why are they still here?' Then she signaled for them to send us away.

"I never thought that it meant sending you away. I held onto you, begging them to lettake you to Grandma's house, but no one listened. I watched as they dragged you into that car. You reached out, calling for me, 'I won't go. Atlas… save me! I don't want to be separated from you!"" As Atlas spoke, his grip ontightened as his face returned pale.

I leaned into his embrace, and tears rolled down. "Atlas…" "Don't cry, I'm here!" He huggedtighter. "Chlo, don't be afraid. We won't be separated again." "Later, the Lively family arrived, but you were already gone without a trace. I never thought that this separation would last for two years. I begged Grandpa to send people to inquire, but there was no news. I dreamt of you crying every day." Atlas gently caressed my face.

I remained silent because I had no memories, and at that moment, I couldn't accept that I was Stella.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm However, I could imagine Atlas's plight at the time. He had lost both of his parents, and the only family he had left had been poisoned. Then, I, his only source of support, was taken away from him.

"One day, I overheard my uncle secretly telling Grandpa that a little girl had returned to the White family, saying that it was Rory's daughter. I was overjoyed and secretly went to the Pierce residence. However, the person I saw wasn't you. "I was furious because I had heard Grandpa and others say that after my parents' deaths, the Pierce family took over my father's company and wouldn't let go. Grandpa tried several times but failed." Rose had toldbefore that the Lively family's influence was weak.

"What about the Cross family?" I looked at Atlas and asked. "Isn't the Cross family powerful?" "The Cross family is my father's maternal family. We lost contact with the Pierce family after my biological grandmother died. They could not intervene, so they could only help the Lively family from the sidelines. However, the Lively family's foundation was too weak to do anything." My resentment surged. "It seems that Celine has been eyeing the ATL Empire for a long time. It's not a recent development." "The outside world had various rumors about the Pierce family, especially about the two of us. It caused significant public pressure on them. So, Celine brought in the fake Stella. She thought she could silence everyone with her.

"However, I knew it wasn't you. I was so young back then, not as savvy. I pointed at Celine and said, 'I know how Aunt Hailey died. Give Stella back to me, or I won't let you off!"" I reached out to gently stroke Atlas's face and choked, "You were really foolish." "That sentence put a target on my head."

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 644-I completely understood Atlas's state of mind.

How could Celine, with her cunning nature, tolerate a child harboring such resentment toward her? She even dared to mess with Louis. She couldn't bear the threat posed by a child.

"You were really too young to comprehend all of that." I sighed as I looked at him.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt He lowered his gaze, his face carrying a trace of anguish.

"I couldn't find you, and I was so anxious. I acted recklessly and didn't care about anything else. All I wanted was to find you and be with you every day." Atlas's tone was incredibly gentle, devoid of any sharpness.

I bit my lip, wondering how I was doing after being separated from him. I pounded my head, lamenting, "Why can't I remember anything? Even a tiny bit would be helpful!" He quickly grabbed my hand to preventfrom hurting myself. "Stella, it's not your fault. It's because I failed to protect you, causing you to suffer and beclike this. Losing you for so many years is my punishment." I still found it challenging to calm my restlessness.

"Then tell me, telleverything! Why am I Stella? No, I'm Chloe. I don't want to be Stella." I stared at him, feeling a strong aversion to the memories associated with Stella. "That Stella has tainted that name. I hate her. She's an insult to everything associated with that name!" "Alright, from now on, we'll call you Chloe, just Chloe! Don't blyourself. Blme if you have to. It's my fault for not taking care of you." Atlas's emotions were also running high, his eyes filled with pain as he looked at me.

"Keep going. Telleverything!" I eagerly urged him.

"What do you want to know? You can ask me. But try not to strain yourself too much. Chlo, I never told you the truth because I sometimes think it's a kind of blessing for you to forget the past." He looked atwith eyes full of affection.

"But it's my right to know. I don't want to live in the dark. It's not fair." I stubbornly declared, looking at him intently.

"Everything changed in a blink of an eye. Someone telling you thingsabout you that you didn't know about… Atlas, it's terrifying! That would've been enough if you toldI'm not Chloe. There are so many things and people that I cant reconcile with.." I spoke with increasing agitation, but I knew Atlas understood what I meant.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "I know," he said with a pained el expression. "I'll tell you everything and be by your side. I won't leave you, won't lose you again. I'll be with you to love everyone around you." The towering and aloof Atlas sounded humble, completely unlike the regal figure he presented to the world.

I didn't know how to comfort him. Any words seemed insufficient. Nobody could understand what we had been through.

Even I couldn't imagine what Atlas had experienced. I was in pain, unable to remember all of this, even though I wanted to accompany him in reminiscing. It felt like an O extravagance. I leaned my head onto his chest, where I could sense his breath. The pain from not remembering all of this, if I truly were Stella, was a regret I couldn't fathom.

Why did fate cruelly torment us like this, forcibly tearing us apart and then bringing us back together? Atlas's strong heartbeat echoed in my chest, and I could only imagine him as a child, bearing the burden of never giving up on finding me.

When I thought about it, my heart ached even more. Despite this, the woman behind it all was still alive and well.

I suddenly broke free from his embrace. "Why does she have to do this? Why did she make you suffer so much and separate us? Why can't we do anything about her?" I felt hatred for Celine surging through every cell in my body. "I won't let her get away with this." Privacy

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 645-Atlas, seeingsuddenly lose control, grew concerned. He quickly pulledinto his arms, holdingtightly.

"Don't be upset, Chlo… Look, fate has finally smiled upon us, lettingfind you in this vast sea of people. It must be the spirit of Hailey watching over us from above, guiding us.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "I won't let her get away with it, absolutely not," he promised, determination in his eyes. "I will make her repay us a hundredfold, bit by bit, and bring comfort to those departed souls." His words gradually calmeddown. I listened to his strong heartbeat, feeling unprecedented security and reassurance. Atlas continued to kissgently, patting my back. "Everything is in the past now, isn't it?" "How did you find that orphanage?" I asked him, now that I was calmer.

He looked atseriously, waiting until I had completely relaxed before recounting that undoubtedly harsh history.

"lan accidentally overheard Celine instructing her subordinates to get rid ofquietly. Taking a risk, lan had his 17-year-old son sneakout. He toldthat Stella had been sent to an orphanage in Northbank. So, lan's son and I escaped from the Pierce family that night." I felt a suffocating pain, and my hands grabbed his shirt tightly.

"We headed toward Northbank, and lan's son, Cody, took a significant risk in helpingescape. He toldthat we needed to get to Northbank before those people caught up, all because I wanted to reach Northbank and find my Stella before they caught us.

"Northbank is vast but desolate. We inquired everywhere about orphanages, but after checking several, we found nothing. I was anxious, so I took your photo and asked everywhere.

"Fortune favors the determined. Someone mentioned there was a little girl around here, adopted by a family. We hurriedly went to check." As Atlas spoke, there was a gleam of joy in his eyes. I could imagine how excited he must have been at that moment.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "She looked so much like you. When she was brought out, I was ecstatic, but no, her way of walking, the way she talked, her eyes… None of it was like you. She lacked your vitality. I knew she wasn't you. I was utterly disappointed. How could she not be my Stella?" Atlas's voice was low and powerless. "Do you know? At that moment, it felt like riding a roller coaster. From complete joy to sudden and complete coldness." "Why did she end up back in the orphanage later?" I asked, confused.

The situation was so messy, and I couldn't unravel the mystery as someone without any memories.

"It all starts with that little girl. When she saw us, she treated us like her saviors and insisted on leaving with us. Maybe because those people saw us as two kids, they demanded money, claiming it was for caring for her. Otherwise, they wouldn't let her leave." Atlas's description was vivid, and I could feel sympathy for that little girl.

"But when we were fleeing, even though lan had given us all his assets, it was just not enough. After running for a few days, we had almost nothing left. Plus, we couldn't predict what would happen next.

"lan's son tookaway with a ne hardened heart. But that little girl cried her heart out, remindingof how you dooked when you were taken. So I took the money, ran back, and swapped her with me. Little did I know, she would becyour substitute and save you from a dire situation." I closed my eyes, not wanting anyone to sacrifice themselves for me. Not that little girl, not Kennedy, not even Harmony.

"Later, I kept thinking, if I had been a et bit more heartless that day, maybe she wouldn't have died. But how could I leave her in the lion's den? Staying in the orphanage wasn't the best option either. She would have died at their hands sooner or later. Honestly, even now, I don't know if saving her was right or wrong." I asked numbly, "Is she Annalise?" "No," Atlas shook his head.

I was surprised. "No? Wasn't she the Annalise you brought there?"

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 646-Atlas looked at me, and in his eyes, I saw a hint of sadness. "That was just the version you heard." He continued, "They gave you that story in a deliberate attempt to confuse you. That's why I've been reminding you that you need to trust me." My mind did a quick flip. He was right. The false Stella was the one who toldabout Annalise the first time.

"The truth is, when the real Stella was sent to that orphanage, she wasn't called Stella anymore. She was given the n'Annalise'," Atlas said with certainty.

"So Celine changed her nwhen she sent her there," I deduced.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "Yes, that's right. So even though we searched every orphanage, we couldn't find Stella." "When did you find her?" I was having trouble understanding the intricacies of the situation.

"Perhaps it was fate. Just as I found the lost little girl, we discovered an orphanage. We went to inquire, and when Cody cback, he toldthey had someone named Stella there. Overjoyed, I ran out to see her, but they wouldn't let me. Instead, they keptand questionedabout my situation. Something felt off, so I ran away." "Was it because they had received sorders?" I asked, connecting the dots.

"I couldn't care less at that moment. I just wanted to see Stella. We went around the orphanage, trying to find a way in. Later, I decided to climb over the outer wall from a slope, and Cody waited outside.

"Once inside, I saw you there among a group of children, looking dispirited. I was ecstatic; it was the first tI'd seen you in two years. You were so thin. But I didn't dare approach you because the caregivers were also there. I waited anxiously for an opportunity to get you out.

"Maybe it was because I'd been inside for too long, but Cody got worried when I didn't cout, so he cto find me. Before he entered, he hid the little girl outside. She was scared and cried while she waited.

"When she didn't see us after a while, she ran out crying, which resulted in her being discovered. The commotion outside drew all the children to see what was happening. You stayed there, unresponsive, while I ran over quietly. When you saw me, you were utterly shocked. You just stared atwithout moving." Atlas paused, his eyes filled with tenderness. Then he kissedlightly and chuckled, "You looked so dumbfounded. I didn't dare say a word; I just grabbed you and ran. You didn't make a fuss and just followed me.

"Cody carried us over the wall to a tree, and we quickly escaped. But then, we realized that the little girl was missing. Later, he climbed onto the wall to check inside and said she had been caught and taken back in. We were afraid of being discovered, so we had to leave with you first." "She replaced Annalise that way?" I sighed helplessly, feeling a bitter sorrow in my heart. It was unfair; she shouldn't have died. But it happened because Stella had died.

"We didn't want to give up on her. We were afraid you would be captured again, so we planned to hide and find an opportunity to get her out later. But we were too late. When we wanted to get her gut, we received news of her death, claiming she fell off a cliff." "What happened exactly? Why did Stella push her off?" "After you cout, you told us there was another Stella inside, and you called her Annalise. That's when I realized Celine had orchestrated a switch.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "Many years later, when I investigated the situation, I found l.n et out the reason. They said that the child kept crying, and insisted she wasn't Annalise when she was caught and taken back. Later, she escaped again, wanting to find us. She insisted on leaving with us that day because she was being abused in that house, and she had injuries on her body." I choked up, closing my eyes. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.

"What was her name?" "I only know she was called Kylie," Atlas said heavily. "Her death weighs heavily on my conscience too." "It was an unjust death," I said, sniffing.

"After she was captured and brought back, the imposter Stella began to suspect her. It's unclear how Stella managed to push her off when they ran away together. No one knows the details, and maybe only Stella herself knows." As Atlas spoke, I fully understood his previous deliberate distance and feigned indifference. He didn't wantto be involved in this tragic past.

"Stella used her death as an excuse. She claimed that she didn't die from falling off a cliff, but was just disfigured. Celine took her for treatment and she underwent plastic surgery, creating the entirely new Stella we see now." "I still don't understand one thing. Wasn't Stella in the Pierce family at that time? Why did she appear in the orphanage again?" I was puzzled by the sequence of events.

Privacy

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 647-Atlas's face darkened. "I think that was a trap set by Celine." "How so?" I asked, wiping my eyes. I didn't understand "Because later, after the Cross family rescued me, I found out that once she realized I had escaped, she quickly discovered that lan's son had also disappeared. You can imagine what happened to lan. She could easily speculate that I was probably going to find Stella. Wherever she sent Stella, she must have planned it well. The facts proved that her approach was correct." Atlas's reasoning was convincing.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "After the incident, she began to search forlike a madwoman. She might not have known whether 'Annalise' was real or fake, but she was certain that I had been there." Atlas's tone left no room for doubt.

I muttered to myself, "So that's why there's a photo of Stella and 'Annalise' from that time. When we first saw the photo that Grayson found, I couldn't understand why Stella was also in that orphanage. Now it makes sense." "That photo you had him investigate was taken during that time. I connected the dots through that photo and realized that the fake Stella had a story," Atlas said confidently, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"You found that photo too?" I looked at Atlas inquiringly.

"I was the one who discovered the photo. I instructed Grayson to gradually feed you with information," Atlas said with a sly smile. I had no reason to blhim. He had put a lot of thought into it.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "That photo was what fueled my determination to investigate Stella more thoroughly," Atlas said, looking at me. "It's also why she could maneuver so freely aroundlater." "You wanted to find clues about the organization in Jitador from her?" I speculated.

Atlas nodded. "Exactly. When she showed you that photo, she meant to confuse you with misinformation. That's why I've been telling you to trust me." I now understood more about how Atlas had developed his icy demeanor over the years.

"At that time, as the real Stella, I knew that my nhad been changed to Annalise.' So when the imposter Stella toldthat your true love was someone named Annalise, and you denied it, I was confused. I couldn't understand why you would say such a thing." As Atlas explained, and I realized there was much more to this story, a chain of events that unraveled the mysteries within.

"That's why I verified your identity and hesitated to tell you everything after I found you. You had amnesia and didn't know anything. If I revealed too much too soon, it might have led you astray," Atlas said, making complete sense.

"Now I understand why. 'Annalise' was another fabricated identity created by Celine for the real Stella She probably didn't anticipate that the death of this 'Annalise' would involve such bizarre circumstances. It's unbelievable, and I feel sorry for that little girl." Thinking about the little girl madesad. I turned to Atlas and asked, "So, how did I lose my memory?" Atlas's face was filled with regret. "When Annalise died, it gave Celine an excuse to make her move, but she also sensed my presence and intensified her search. The three of us were on the run, and when they closed in, you were discovered. Their car deliberately crashed into ours, and when our car overturned, you were thrown out. Cody sacrificed himself to cushion my fall. In the end, he couldn't escape the car before it exploded… and he died." "He… died?" I stared at Atlas in shock, my voice barely audible.

Atlas remained silent for a long time, his eyes filled with remorse. He said hoarsely, "I didn't just lose you. I also lost Cody, lan… and many others who risked their lives to protect me. I remember every debt, and I will settle them with her one by one." "Were you injured when you fell into the sea?" I asked cautiously. It was a thing of the past, but I couldn't help but feel nervous at the thought.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 648-He looked at me, full of heartache and urgency, and kissed my forehead.

"That spot was right next to the cliff. He pushedwith all his strength, and his car rolled down the slope and exploded. You were thrown out on a steep bend, not near the sea.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "After I fell, I completely lost consciousness. I didn't know where I was when I washed ashore. I woke up in a fisherman's village. "They saved me. My leg was broken, and I couldn't move. I begged them to helplook for you. They searched everywhere and couldn't find you. I refused to believe it. Even if you were dead, there should have been a body." He said bitterly.

"I was afraid they had deceived me, so I started to search for myself despite my injured leg. I collapsed and fell unconscious, and my leg was infected after I was rescued again. The locals tookto the hospital." I looked at Atlas, silently shedding tears.

He gently wiped them away. "Don't cry." I touched his leg gently, choking on my words. "What happened after that?" "The Cross family found the hospital in time. I told them I had found you. But due to a twist of fate, we missed each other by two days. They protectedand sent people to search for you. After much effort, we quickly confirmed that a little girl had been sent to the hospital with head and collarbone injuries but had been taken away. Her whereabouts was unknown." "Why couldn't they find anything?" I asked, puzzled.

"Simmigrants in Nocturnia don't have very stable lives. They get their children discharged before they fully recover because they're not from wealthy families, so the information they leave with the hospital is vague. When we tried to find them, the addresses they provided didn't exist. But we speculated they might be new immigrants or temporary tourists. We made all kinds of speculations." "The Cross family also tried many ways to find you but to no avail. But in my heart, I was convinced that you hadn't died, so I was determined to find you," Atlas said resolutely and confidently.

I didn't know what to feel.

"After my recovery, the Cross family tookin, and things calmed down for a while. But I never stopped looking for you. You disappeared as if you had evaporated from the world since the car accident." He changed his posture, cradlingon his lap.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm I shook my head in disbelief. "Who could have takenaway?" He looked at my face, gently touching it as if it were delicate porcelain. He was cherishing it as if he had regained something precious and lost. The joy in his eyes was palpable.

"I didn't care how long it would take. No matter the circumstances, my determination to find you never died." Didn't Celine trouble you later? I hac Grayson look into it. Why did she ever stop? Was it because she had he protection of the Cross family?" ooked at Atlas in disbelief and isked, "Was Celine so formidable hat not even the Cross family could fandle her?" Content belongs to ¡wet "I was a thorn in Celine's side, so she never stopped trying to get rid of me. I got into all kinds of trouble during those years. The moment I left the protection of the Cross family, would encounter problems. Later, the Cross family had enough, and joined forces economically with several major conglomerates to act against the Pierce family? They imposed sanctions on the Pierce family's finances, putting Celine back in a situation worse than before my father took over. "They also intercepted all my father's major projects and connections he had before his death. This forced Celine to retreat temporarily. I started developing my own power at the age of fifteen with the support of the Cross family. The Cross family provided significant support and education and helpedestablish my own influence. Dylan is one of those who fought alongsideduring that time." From Atlas's tone, it was clear that he felt indebted to the Cross family. They clearly loved him too.

"But before coming to Foswood, I was attacked again. The one who targetedhad a serpent tattoo, and the Cross family's investigation showed it had nothing to do with the Pierce family. I found that hard to believe." "You suspected that Celine was behind those attacks?" I asked him.

He nodded without hesitation. "After investigating that tattoo and knowing the results, I understood something. They were the ones behind my parents' plane crash. There was no way it was not related to Celine." "How despicable!" I cursed through gritted teeth.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 649-After listening to Atlas, I realized that his concerns were not unfounded. Atlas was worried that Celine might harm me, so he carefully orchestrated the ruse with Harmony.

Stella used Harmony to create a commotion, intending to forceout, but Atlas would never let her lead him astray. Her actions also clashed with my plans when she pretended to beduring the shopping spree at the mall. That incident disrupted their scheme, and I managed to reclaim the items they had seized.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt Subsequently, the imposter Stella resorted to a more sinister plan, attacking Harmony and ruining her face, hoping to frme again. However, Atlas intervened before she could execute her plan.

It seemed that Stella had been relatively quiet recently, but it was likely she was preparing a major move. She wouldn't sit idly by while I enjoyed a smooth ride.

When I saw Atlas's worried expression, I asked, "On the surface, it looks Celine has stopped, but she's secretly using other people to do her dirty work. She got those criminals from Jitador to get rid of you while keeping herself clean. Once the job is done, she can claim what she's been longing for rightfully and without dispute. It's a ruthless strategy." Atlas was silent, but his expression gradually darkened. He heldtightly, caressing my silky hair.

After a while, he spoke, "She's teaming up with an external organization, but it won't necessarily work out in her favor. Sthings won't go as planned for her." "How so?" I asked, still perplexed, looking at him with lingering anxiety.

Atlas calmly explained, "When they attacked me, the Beringer family tookin afterward. The Beringer family provided substantial support because the groundwork had been laid long before my father's death.

"After arriving in Foswood, I integrated into the Beringer family. After all, Celine wouldn't dare act recklessly against the Beringer family since they had a strong background. That's how I steadily developed my influence over the years." I now fully understood Atlas's relationship with the Beringer family. It seemed that Grandma Rose had been quite modest when she spoke about this. She knew more than she had let on.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm Atlas's eyes narrowed, and he continued, "After that, Celine had to show goodwill towardsince she was under pressure from the Cross family and several major financial groups. However, she used the Pierce family's rules to suppress and control me. But these rules had no effect onat all." I looked at Atlas, understanding what he meant.

"I didn't argue with her before I exposed her secrets, but she still quietly found opportunities to make trouble forand ATL Empire." "She really is remorseless. Could this be related to her mother?" I asked Atlas.

He nodded, "She's an ambitious woman. Sof her cunning schemes might have cfrom that old lady." I couldn't help but think less of the Pierce family, since they had someone like that among their ranks. Celine's mother was definitely not a simple woman.

"My grandfather crippled her, so she probably hateseven more. After all, I'm the only remaining heir of the Pierce family, and I pose the biggest threat to Celine.

"Think about it. She could destroy my father, so why would she spare me? This is an unstoppable disaster. I suspect my grandmother also died at her hands. Otherwise, why would the Cross family harbor such deep hatred toward the Pierce family? My grandfather was the one who helped evil prosper, and this is all happening because of him. "On the other hand, Stella lives a stable life by Celine's side. It's clear that Stella is not a simple 'orphan'.

Celine would never have the patience for a little girl like her otherwise. Stella's not an easy one." Atlas's analysis leftfeeling cold. It seemed that this covert battle wouldn't end so easily.

Beyond the Divorce Chapter 650-"According to reports from my people in the Pierce family, Celine has incurred significant losses in recent years. That's why she doesn't want to give up ATL Empire." I looked at Atlas, understanding the situation. "Because she colluded with external forces?" "Yes." Atlas looked at me, smiling approvingly. "But she also understands that since the Cross family sanctioned her, ATL Empire is just an empty shell in her hands." "Oh?" My thoughts raced. "Is it because the Cross family is familiar with your father, especially since he grew up with them?" Atlas shook his head, "Not entirely. My father had already prepared for everything. This was all part of his strategic plan. After his death, the Cross family activated my father's emergency plan.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt "We have many projects and large businesses that are not part of ATL Empire's structure. The original ones are gradually shrinking and becoming mere shell companies. The real ATL Empire has been in my hands since I was 15. She can't do anything about that." Atlas spoke with a gleam in his eyes. He lowered his gaze to look at me, "After finding you, I beceven more unbridled. With you alive and by my side, I can deal with her without any reservations. This must be fate." "Looks like the Cross family really favored you. Your father had a keen business vision too. If he were still alive, during these twenty years, you two would have been…" I couldn't continue as tears welled up in my eyes.

"My father's business acumen has always been accurate. He foresaw the development of the country and focused on it. That's why he placed so much emphasis here, especially on the forefront city, Foswood. But there was also another crucial factor in my decision to cto Foswood…" He looked at me, his smile brightening like a dazzling galaxy. I sensed that it was related to finding me.

"Because… we had found a lead. The girl who died in your place, Kylie, cto Nocturnia to reunite with her family and went missing. Later, that family moved from their original location, but one thing was certain-she cfrom Etria. So I shifted the entire business focus to Torado. I had a premonition that you were here in Etria." "It seems like a fairy tale." Atlas's story seemed surreal and utterly unbelievable to me. I had no recollection of any of this.

"I have no idea how I went from a 1distant place like Nocturnia to a small town northeast of Etria. The only thing I knew was what happened after my high school entrance examination.." I looked at Atlas, my heart and eyes full of love for him. This young business war god, the true overlord of Foswood, had looked forfor a whole eighteen years.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm I didn't know if I would have ever reunited with him without the heart-wrenching divorce battle and if I hadn't re-entered the business world. How many more years would he have searched for me? "If… we hadn't met again, would you have kept looking?" My voice was almost inaudible, lacking confidence, filled with doubt.

"Yes." His tone left no room for doubt, determination etched on his handsface. "I would find you, even if khad to search every corner of the Earth. I firmly believed you were alive. That was reason enough fornot to give up." "How are you so sure that I'm Stella?" I looked at Atlas, full of questions.

It was incredible. It seemed impossible for two unrelated timelines to intersect. He believed I was the real Stella because of my appearance. Wasn't that a little far-fetched? Who were my parents, then? These questions overwhelmed me, and at that moment, I couldn't remain calm. I wished I were still the ordinary Chloe without these experiences and painful memories.

"The first tI saw you at that tender meeting, I was overjoyed. I knew it had to be you. Our spiritual connection was too strong." He recalled the situation, and I vividly remembered it. He had looked atintensely that day, and even then, it had madefeel uneasy.

But I saw no sign of happiness on his face at that time. He was too well-guarded, and I couldn't discern any hint of delight.