CHAPTER 341: IT’S A PROPOSAL, NOT A DEBUT PARTY

Lola narrowed her eyes, munching on a snack while watching Atlas talk to someone on the phone outside on the patio.

"What? What? What?" Slater darted his eyes between her and his brother through the glass door. "What did he do to you, sis?"

She ignored him. She liked talking to him better in her imagination, anyway.

Slater squinted and moved closer, leaning against the counter beside her. He tilted his head toward her.

"Isn’t he perfect?" he teased solemnly. "Just look at him. That face... that body... wow, really. This is what they meant when they said God created us wonderfully."

He slid his gaze sideways, but Lola didn’t react. Instead, she popped another nut into her mouth and kept her narrowed eyes fixed on Atlas.

"Sis, in case you hear any news that he’s seeing someone—just so you know—that someone is you," he remarked, still getting no reaction. "What is it, huh?! Are we angry? Suspicious? Admiring him? What are we doing here exactly?"

This time, Lola flinched at his tone. She turned to him, brows furrowing as his nostrils flared.

"What’s wrong with you?" she muttered, only to flinch again when he harrumphed.

"Because I don’t know the mood—that’s what’s wrong!"

"..." Lola ran her tongue along her inner cheek as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Slater, were you not loved as a child?"

"What?"

"If so, you’re not the only one. That makes us two."

"Sis!"

Lola smacked her lips and cleared her throat, shaking her head as she looked away.

"Just tell me what it is!" he begged. "Come on!"

"Fine." She sighed, thinking about it. "Well."

"Well?" Slater straightened, raising his brows. "Well, what?"

"Nothing—"

"Nonsense!" he roared, making her nearly jump. "Sis, you wouldn’t be looking at him like he committed a sin—or like you’re plotting his downfall—if it were nothing!"

She rolled her eyes. "It’s not like that, okay?"

"Then what is it?"

"Goodness, you’re so pushy." She clicked her tongue, thinking of Silo—and how even Silo seemed reserved compared to Slater’s nosiness. "I’m just thinking about something."

Slater leaned closer. "Sis, don’t think by yourself, especially while looking at my brother."

"And why not?"

"Because you might realize he’s not as good-looking as I am."

Her face twitched. She gave him a look of pure dismay. "Slater, if I didn’t know your brother doesn’t look like you, I wouldn’t have dated him in the first place."

Slater gasped, clutching his chest. "How dare you?"

"Tsk." She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Atlas. Propping her cheek on her palm, Lola’s thoughts began to drift.

Should I really marry him? Or... will he really marry me?

He liked her enough to want to marry her, right? She had met Penny and her husband, their children, and now there was Slater. The twins adored her and already called her "Mommy."

Besides, Penny kept telling her that Atlas liked her more than she could imagine and that he’d proposed more times than Lola could count.

Although his "proposals" weren’t exactly traditional... I think he did propose at one point. I wonder when he’s going to pop the question again?

Deep down, she knew if Atlas asked again, she’d most likely say yes. Her heart felt ready. It wasn’t that she expected anything to change—what else could change? They were already living under the same roof, the twins saw her as their mother, Slater was too comfortable with her, and their nights together were already... passionate.

All that would change were their titles and maybe the papers that made it official.

"But what if he doesn’t ask again?" she murmured aloud without realizing it.

"Ask you what again?" Slater asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Her face soured as she looked at him. "Slater, can you move a bit?"

"No way!" he declared. "Sis, I want to know what’s going on!"

"Why?"

"I already told you!" He frowned. "You can’t just be thinking alone while staring at my brother! I can’t let you change your mind."

"I’m not changing my mind, okay?" she snapped. "Slater, whatever I’m thinking isn’t what you think it is. I’m simply not telling you because not telling you gives me more breathing room than when I do. You’re suffocating me."

His frown deepened, but she ignored him.

*****

Later that evening...

Atlas arched a brow, noticing Lola had been staring at him all night. He set his book down and turned his head toward her side of the bed.

"What?" he asked dryly. "What do you need?"

Lola pouted, hugging her pillow. "Do I need anything just to look at you?"

"Who knows?" he shrugged lazily. "We didn’t do it last night. Maybe you want tonight."

"..." She deadpanned. "Atlas, just in case you hadn’t realized it, I’m not the pervert here."

He tilted his head thoughtfully, recalling every time she’d seduced him—like breathing.

"I don’t need anything, alright?" She clarified with a hum. "I’m just looking."

"For?"

"For..." She trailed off, scrambling for an excuse. "Well, can’t I stare at you for no reason? I just want to admire you. Is it so hard to admire my boyfriend?"

Atlas studied her expression. He didn’t buy it, but he didn’t bother pointing it out.

"Alright, then."

For a while, the room was quiet. He picked up his book again, while Lola lay on her side, still staring at him.

After a few seconds, curiosity got the better of her.

"By the way, is there a problem?" she asked. "You were on a call earlier, and you looked very serious. Is there a problem in the Secret Society?"

"..."

Atlas often took his time answering questions. Sometimes, he wouldn’t answer at all. But right now, he seemed to be thinking longer than usual.

"Hmm?" She blinked. "There is?"

"Yes," he said finally. "But not like that."

"Then what is it?"

"Nothing."

"..."

Lola blinked again, studying his unreadable expression.

Without another word, Atlas grabbed the blanket and tossed it over her head. "Stop asking."

*****

[Earlier...]

"No. I don’t like that," Atlas said coldly into the phone. His tone was dry, his displeasure obvious. Everything he’d heard so far was wrong.

"Change it entirely. It’s a proposal, not a debut party."