A NIGHT IN SIN CITY

Aveline's head rested on the window, her thoughts filled with the events of the night.

Her life was moving at a faster pace than travelling light, and it made her feel dizzy.

It usually went meeting the parents first before the engagement, but she had done the latter before the former.

As a result of that, she was thoroughly confused.

"Wedding in three days?" These words haunted her.

She didn't see the possibility. All her life she had thought the dramatic portrayal of rich families in movies were just for cinematic purposes.

Unfortunately, she had felt tension sharp enough to slice a wooden surface, and it made her realize that this was not acting. It was real life. Her life now.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Her heart skipped a beat on hearing Atlas' voice. Not only was his voice deep, it sounded like a sexy low rumble.

"Nothing," she lied through her teeth.

"Humans are not good liars. It's about my family, isn't it?"

She sat up, and looked at him. "Are we really getting married in three days?" She asked the one question that had been in her mind all night.

"Why not?" He shrugged slightly, juggling between focusing on driving and listening to her.

"Your family didn't look too pleased about my presence and your announcement. I also overheard some people talking about how you were supposed to marry Faiza Marek," she said innocently.

Something about the fear in her voice made Atlas hold his breath for a few seconds.

When he released his breath, he was furious.

"This isn't one of the rules, but it's something you must absolutely always remember. I do whatever I want to do. No one dictates shit to me. I chose you because I want you to play this part. Do you understand that?"

"No–"

"What?!" His brow lifted.

"I don't understand it. I was wondering where I had heard that name, Faiza Marek from before. Then it hit me that my best fr—my ex best friend used to rave about how she graces different magazine covers as the top model she is. Why would you have the opportunity to marry her and choose someone like me?"

"Someone like yo–" Atlas scoffed, catching himself on time before he could get into defending her. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Aveline opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it when she realized that the conversation had practically ended.

She returned her eyes to the windows, and as she reclined into her seat, her stomach rumbled.

She froze. Her head spun, only just realising she hadn't eaten anything all day.

It was in itself crazy considering how she spent the previous night drinking.

From the corner of her eyes, she looked to see if Atlas had noticed.

He hadn't budged. His eyes were completely focused on the road.

"He's icing me out already," she thought. "Well good. At least he didn't hear me just embarrass myself."

She buried herself in her mind, shutting off the world around her.

When the car suddenly stopped, and the side of her door opened, she jolted up in surprise.

"Get down," Atlas said, already stepping out of the car.

Aveline wheezed a little when she saw they were at pineapple street, despite how dark it was in the night.

She hurried out of the car, and faced Atlas who had just stepped in front of her.

"I don't live here anymore. Well my landlord kicked me out. I don't—"

"I know the story. You're not here to stay. I assume you have your belongings you'd like to bring to your new place?" He raised a brow.

"My–my new pl-ace?" She stuttered, widened eyes.

"We're getting married. You're going to be living with me. Why's that a surprise?"

Aveline was still trying to come up with a response when Alice approached them.

"Aveline?" She called.

"Madam Alice," she quickly acknowledged the woman's presence.

"Oh, it's really you. I almost couldn't recognise you," she said.

Her gaze then travelled to Atlas. She kept her thoughts to herself but her eyes gave him a good once-over.

"Atlas." He stretched his hand out to the older woman.

She accepted the handshake, but gripped his hand firmly.

Atlas' eyes bulged a little, surprised by the older woman's strength.

"Are you going to hurt Aveline?" She asked, not breaking eye contact with him.

"Why would I do that, when she's going to be my wife?"

"Wife? What?" She quickly shifted her eyes to Aveline, and was shocked to see the ring around her finger in that same moment. "Oh," her grip loosened and Atlas dragged his hand away. "You're engaged?"

His phone rang just then, and he excused himself to answer it in the car.

Aveline used that opportunity to explain as much as she could without breaking the rules of the contract.

"Aveline, I know people call you naive and stupid. But I trust you to do what's right for you. Come, I found some people to help gather your belongings. I can keep the heavy ones you can resell later, but you need the more personal items."

Aveline's smile was filled with gratitude, as she followed behind madam Alice.

By the time they filled up the trunk of the car, a lot more people had gathered to see who had brought such an expensive car to their relatively poor street.

Aveline ignored their burning looks and was about to go tell Atlas he could lock the trunk when a taxi pulled up beside the car.

She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Laura, and Craig come out of the car.

Is that Ave?" Laura said, holding onto Craig's hand as they both stood in front of her.

"Aveline?" Craig called with widened eyes. "I can't believe it's you. Why do you look so–"

"Stupid," Laura laughed mockingly.

Aveline's shoulders collapsed. She knew she looked like a clown. Wearing expensive things didn't change the fact she was from a filthy, poverty stricken background.

Everyone that truly knew her could see that too.

"Oh Aveline. What have you done now? Where did you get that dress from? You stole it? And the car too? Are you trying to be something you're not?" Laura went on and on, all whilst holding onto Craig.

"Wh-y?" Aveline finally gathered enough words to ask.

"Ave, it wasn't—"

"Why did I sleep with him or why is he with me?" Laura swiftly cut off Craig from responding. "It's the same answer for both questions. You're boring, uninspiring, and childish. He needed a real woman. I am that real woman. Right baby?"

"Baby?" Aveline thought, her heart squeezing painfully against her chest.

"Yes, babe. You're right," Craig replied.

Her heart completely shattered. It was all the answer she needed.

They showed no remorse. They were the worst kind of monsters she had ever encountered, and that was including poverty.

Atlas, who had just finished his call, stepped out of the car in time to hear Laura call Aveline boring and uninspiring.

It took nothing less than a couple of seconds to figure out what was going on.

Walking straight to Aveline, he pulled her by the shoulders to face him. "Darling, are you okay?" He asked.

"Darling?" Both Laura and Craig chorused in shock.

Hurt, and filled with tears stuck to her throat in fear that if it spilled, her shame would be complete, she sought to have a moment of victory.

"No," she said, and buried her head in his chest. "I'm exhausted."

Atlas got the message, and quickly wrapped his strong arms around her.

Reaching down, he kissed the top of her head.

"We're done here now, sunshine. Let's go home." He slipped his hand right through hers, and purposely lifted both their hands up.

The diamond stones on the ring reflected so brightly, the eyes of everyone watching stung.

"Oh my God!" Laura gasped on recognizing the man hugging Aveline. "It's Atlas Sinclair!"