Chapter 54
The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn Chapter 54
~ATTICUS~
“Why do I feel like you’re pulling away from me since the ident?” Anya asks.
She hasn’t stopped asking me ufortable questions ever since she came over for the party.
She doesn’t hide the hurt in her voice from me, and it fills me with guilt. I still didn’t dare to tell her that
my feelings for her had changed. I didn’t know how to say to her that all of my feelings were for Autumn
because even I didn’t understand how any of that was possible.
Autumn? Why Autumn? Why her closest friend?
I’ve always feared that I cared way too much for Autumn, even while I was with Anya in the past. I kept
my distance from her because of it.
But since when had those feelings be this dangerous? Since when had those feelings
transformed into something else? And what should I do to prevent them from getting stronger?
I thought that I’d done a good job in the past at keeping her away from me. What the hell had
happened to change that? I couldn’t think of anything that could have possibly happened in that short
space of time before the ident that could have caused Autumn and me to get closer to each other.
“Atticus?” Anya calls as she waits for me to say something.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I forgot that she was speaking to me. What else has she been
saying to me? I could only remember thest question she’d asked me.
I searched my mind for a response to her question which wouldn’t hurt her feelings. Making her happy
was always my main priority, and I didn’t n on stopping it now. She meant so much to me; even if my
feelings were off, I still wanted the best for her. Hurting her was not something I ever nned on doing.
“It’s because I feel like you’ve been lying to me, Anya.” I remind her. “I feel like everyone is lying to me,
and I hate being lied to. Ever since that fatal ident, I feel like I can’t trust any of you, which is crazy
since I trust all of you more than I trust anyone else. That’s why it bothers me that the people closest to
me are trying their best to hide so much from me.”
She stiffens, and I can tell my words have hit a nerve. I wasn’t trying to anger her. I was only telling how
I truly felt. I was answering her question but not being totally honest with my answer.
“I’m not lying to you.” She snaps. “I’m just trying to protect you from yourself. That’s all. Everyone wants
to protect you. That ident scarred all of us, Atticus; I’m sorry that we can’t tell you every little detail
about that day. When we think you’re ready, we will let you know everything. You said that you trust us,
and we were hoping you could continue to do that. This is not the time to lose what we have; this is our
chance to get closer to each other. You haven’t even touched me as you used to since the ident. Do
you know how that makes me feel? It makes me feel unwanted.”
She throws her arms around me, and once again, I felt nothing. Still, I held her to me because she’s all
I’ve ever known; loving her was the only thing I’ve known since meeting her. It felt weird how much of
my feelings have changed just because of one ident.
I wasn’t going to wait around to find out the truth anymore; I was going to do my own research. It was
clear that no one would ever tell me the truth. I may spend the rest of the year waiting for answers and
never receive them. I was never someone to sit around and wait for the answers toe to me; when I
wanted something, I went after it. This was no different. I wanted to know the truth, and I was going to
find it.
“Atticus,” Anya whispers, still in my arms. “Do you promise to love me for the rest of your life?”
I held my breath; I didn’t want to answer that. I couldn’t fulfill that promise. I’d already broken it. I wasn’t
even aware of what was happening in my heart anymore. I had to figure my feelings out before I
answered her. I didn’t want to lie to her. I never liked lying to Anya.
The door flew open suddenly without warning. Whoever it was hadn’t even bothered to knock.
“There you two are,” rissa says as she barges into the room.
I should have guessed only she would do something like this. There’s a mischievous look in her eyes.
Something tells me this was totally intentional.
I move away from Anya, who res at her. Their hatred for each other has intensified so much that I
knew that plenty more had happened between them that I didn’t know about.
Did they have another argument over Damon? They were always fighting over who got to spend more
time with him. I didn’t bother asking. I knew by now that they weren’t going to tell me anything. I didn’t
know how Damon was able to split his time between the two of them. But right now Anya seemed to be
more concerned about Autumn than she was about rissa.
“What do you think I should wear for the party tonight?” She asks as she holds up two dresses in her
hand. One was a light blue and the other, a ck. One showed more skin and the other was a little
more conservative but not by plenty.
I quirk a brow at her, confused by her question. Since when does rissa care about my opinion on
the clothes she has to wear? I’ve never once given my input. I’ve never really had to either since
Damon was usually the oneining about what she wore. rissa always did the opposite of
whatever anyone asked her to do. Then why would she ask for my opinion or anyone else’s for that
matter? It was clear that her opinion was all that mattered to her. She was in my room for a totally
different reason, I was sure of it.
“Does my opinion matter?” I ask.
“Of course.” She says with a forced smile. “Your opinion has always mattered to me, Atticus.”
I held in theughter inside of me at her tant lie. What could she possibly be doing this for? It almost
felt like she’d purposefully interrupted my time with Anya. That wouldn’t be so far-fetched, considering
how much she enjoyed angering her.
“Whichever one is covering more of your skin.” I finally say.
She rolls her eyes, “this one?” She asks, pointing at the opposite of what I’d told her, just like I
expected her to do.
I sigh, “whatever you want, rissa.”
She looks at Anya, “should you be inside here with him?”
The re between them was deadly. Those looks could kill a person.
“I’m his girlfriend.” She snaps. “Of course, I’m allowed in his room. Why does that bother you so
much?”
She shrugs her shoulders, “it’s nothing. I like pointing it out. Mother wants to speak with you, Atticus.
You should go see her.”
I was d for the distraction. I didn’t want to give Anya an answer to her earlier question. This was my
opportunity to escape from having to answer her.
I quickly excused myself and followed rissa out of the room.
“I heard you and Autumn had a steamy scene in ss today.” She points out with a grin. “Is there
anything you’ll like to share with me?”
I stop walking, “Where did you hear that?”
We did have a moment in ss, but that was just me trying to get answers from her. I know I could
have done it without touching her, but a part of me wanted to hold her close, and that was the closest I
could get without doing too much damage.
“Everyone at the academy is talking about it.” She answers me. “It sounds like you’re both getting along
well.”
“It sounds like people at the academy should mind their business.” I retort. “Enough about that.” I say,
distracting her from that discussion. Thest person I wanted to discuss this with was rissa.
“What does mother want?”
“Oh, nothing. I just said that because it looked like you were begging me to help you get away from
Anya.” She points out.
I pause. She meant that this entire time my mother hadn’t once asked to see me? Since when did
rissa be this sly?
“rissa,” I growl.
“What?” She asks innocently. “Did you not want my help?”
I sighed, I wanted to be angry at her, but she was right. I begged her to help me without having to say a
word. I was desperate for an excuse to leave that room with Anya still in it. When she mentioned not
touching her, I felt uneasy. I didn’t know how to touch her when I didn’t feel anything at all for her. She
wouldn’t understand even if I tried exining.
“If you’re unhappy with Anya, why are you still with her?” She asks. “I’m genuinely curious.”
“It’splicated,” I tell her. “I’ve loved Anya for so long, yet my feelings for her only changed after the
ident. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I can’t just break everything off like that because my
feelings have changed. I also need to consider her feelings. I don’t want to hurt her.”
She sighs, “It seems like you should be with Autumn instead of her. There is more chemistry between
the two of you.”
I quirk a brow at her, “chemistry? What do you even know about that?”
“This isn’t about me. Don’t try to change the subject.”
“You’re suggesting I end my rtionship with Anya and start dating her best friend?” I ask. “I’m not
heartless, rissa. I could never do something like that.”
Sheughs like my words were some kind of joke to her. Did she know something that I didn’t? What
was so funny about that?
“I wish you only knew what you are capable of doing Atticus. Give yourself a little more credit.” She
says. “Anya and Autumn are no longer best friends. Do you see the way they re at each other?
Autumn has moved on to better friends.” She imed as she pointed at herself.
No one had to tell me that. I saw everything on my own. It’s crazy how much has changed.
I’m about to ask her what she meant by that, but she turns her attention to Damon next. And once
Damon had her attention, no one else had a chance of getting it also.
I considered what she’d just said to me. Dump Anya and date Autumn? The more I thought about it, the
crazier it sounded.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.
I had to get my feelings in check. I couldn’t keep feeling something I knew was wrong. Tonight, I had to
avoid Autumn as much as possible. I couldn’t let her get under my skin.
The ident messed with my head. It’s the only exnation I have for everything happening. I
wouldn’t let it mess with my heart as well. It was time for me to get everything under control. Anya was
hurting enough; I didn’t want to cause her any more pain. Enough was enough.
. . . . . . . . . . .
~AUTUMN~
Atticus is on the dance floor with Anya, and it hurts my heart to see him with her again. It pains me
even more, to know that he’s like this because of an ident. He’s no longer trying to assure me he
was over Anya; it was the opposite now. I had to watch them together and act like it wasn’t killing me
inside.
“You got this,” rissa assures me.
His eyes haven’t stopped at me once. He doesn’t know I’m here, or maybe he chooses to pretend that
he doesn’t know. Whichever one it was, it still felt like a stabbing pain in my chest.
I sucked in my breath and held my head high as I entered the dance floor with rissa. Even though I
felt sad, I promised to try my best to get him back.
“I asked Damon to have them change the music from these boring slow songs to lively ones.” She
informs me.
The music changed after the song finished, and I began swinging my hips from left to right. I wanted to
slowly remind Atticus of every moment we had together before the ident.
This would hopefully remind him of the day Griffin had took me to a party on the beach. It was a day I
could never forget. He’d lifted me off the ground and carried me to his jeep. I still got butterflies thinking
about it.
I’m not even sure that he can see me. I’m turned in the opposite direction. Usually when Atticus is
looking at me I can feel his gaze digging into my back. I didn’t feel that way and maybe he’s too busy
dancing with Anya to notice me.
“Look at Autumn go,” Griffin says as he whistles loud enough for Atticus to hear him. He was also
happy to have me back in his life. Griffin has always supported my rtionship with Atticus; I’m d it
hasn’t changed.
“Forgive me.” Griffin apologizes as he pulls me closer to him. “I’m only helping you get my brother back
from the evil one.”
The evil one? I stifle myugh. That’s the perfect name for someone like Anya.
It felt ufortable dancing with him knowing I was married to Atticus, but I was happy for any help I
could get. Besides, I trusted Griffin; he would never cross the line.
“How has he been without me?” I ask.
“Not good,” Griffin confessed. “He looks like he’s missing an important part of his life, and he is.
Without you, Atticus is very unhappy. He needs to regain his memory quickly. If he doesn’t, someone
will have to tell him the truth. He can’t spend the rest of his life never knowing that you’re his wife.”
It was true. One day, someone will have to tell him the truth. But I was still hoping my love would help
him remember before it came to that. It would be easier for all of us if Atticus regained his memory.
“He’s looking at us.” He informs me. “And he doesn’t look happy. That’s a good sign. It means his
feelings have not disappeared with his memory.”
I was happy that he could keep me informed without having to look at Atticus dancing with Anya. It was
easier when I didn’t have to look at them.
“Thank you, Griffin.” I meant it from the bottom of my heart.
“Don’t thank me yet.” He warns. “Thank me after you get my brother back.”
I smile, “You’re that confident I’ll have him back?”
He frowns at me, “Have you seen how he looks at you without even having any memory of marrying
you? I think it’s safe to say that he’s still yours. Now it’s time that he realizes it on his own. That’s why
I’m here, to help push him in the right direction. You should know by now how good I am at pushing his
buttons. That hasn’t changed at all.”
It was true. There were many times that Griffin helped bring Atticus closer to me. I had to trust that this
n of his would also work.
He throws nces at Atticus while ordering me to pretend tough at his jokes. I didn’t have to pretend;
Griffin was a joy to be around. And his jokes were actually funny, most of the time, at least.
“Now it’s time to spice up the fun.” He tells me as he takes my hand and pulls me out of the dance floor.
Spice up the fun? What could he possibly have in mind?
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Anywhere that Atticus would not be able to find you.” He informs me. “When he realizes you left the
party with me, he will lose his mind. I’m positive that he wille looking for you after.”
Griffin takes me out to the back of the mansion. We keep walking for a few minutes when something
catches my attention.
I freeze.
And I stayed that way for a few seconds.
“What’s wrong?” Griffin asks as he follows my gaze.
The jeep.
Atticus’s favorite.
It’s the first time seeing it in person after the ident. I’ve never seen a vehicle look this destroyed
before.
I felt the tears begin to form in my eyes as I walked closer to it. My hands are shaking as I slowly reach
out to touch it.
“It’s bad, I know,” Griffin says as he watches my reaction to finally seeing it in person. “I’m happy you
weren’t there to see the ident. I’m d you didn’t have to see Atticus in that state.”
“I feel horrible.” I cried as the tears flowed down my cheeks. “I hate that I couldn’t be there when he
needed me the most. I hate that this happened to him because of me. I hate everything about this.”
“Hey!” Griffin says as he hugs me like a brother would hug his sister. “You’re not to me for any of
this. Atticus did his job as your husband to protect you. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you’re not to
me for this. These things happen, and sometimes there’s no one to me. Come to think of it, that
isn’t exactly true; those men who kidnapped you are to me.”
“Griffin?” A third voice says.
We pause, and when I turn, Atticus is staring at us.
We both freeze.