Dear Immortal Tyrant

When Lina boarded the car home, she didn't even look out the window. She kept her eyes forward and focused. Through the rearview mirror, she saw her grandfather's silhouette growing smaller. When Lina was a young girl, she thought her grandfather was the most powerful man in the world. He was old, but still held more authority than all his sons combined.

Lina reminisced of the days she sat in his lap, watching and learning chess from him. She recalled the gentle caress on her head when she won. She remembered his deep frown when she lost. Then, she remembered nearly falling out of his lap when he stood up out of anger and disappointment. Back then, it never hit Lina that she was groomed to become Chairwoman. Now, the truth dawned on her, sending goosebumps down her arms.

Lina did believe the Yang family loved her in their own, twisted little ways. The love they showed her wasn't healthy. Their love was the reason why the redder the flag, the greener it appeared. And maybe, that was why she fell into Kaden's arms, never to get back up.

"Madam, we've arrived…" the driver drearily said, his black sunglasses lowering in disbelief.

At this tone, Lina turned her head. She saw a commotion at the front entrance of her house. The servants were all lined up and outside, but Theodore stood at the doors. His expression was pleasant, with a polite smile, but one could tell from his furrowed brows that he was unhappy.

"Is that…"

Lina didn't finish her sentence. A middle-aged maid rushed forward to open the door. The maid didn't even shake in her shoes, despite Atlantis' frightening presence. Then, Lina's attention swept to the newly hired and younger servants. They were afraid. Their eyes were trembling like newborns. She didn't blame them.

Atlantis' eerily calm expression was enough to scare everyone. That, and his private vans of men armed with an assortment of weapons. Lina even saw tattoos creeping out of the bodyguards' suits. These were no ordinary men.

They were members of the Medeor Triad.

"Like I said previously, your Boss can't be granted entry without prior reservation or notice from our Master or Madame. Regardless of the threats you make, a no is a no," Theodore humbly explained to the assistant.

"What's going on?" Lina instantly asked, strolling past her people and straight towards Atlantis.

What caught her eye wasn't the quick change of his expression. In his hand was something she was certain she'd never see. Before she could react, Atlantis stormed up to her, his eyes wide and furious. She jutted her chin and glanced up at him, refusing to back down.

Atlantis and Kaden were freakishly tall. Lina was in heels, but they still towered over her. No matter what. She hated that.

"What is the meaning of this?" Atlantis calmly asked, his nostrils flaring in disbelief. His eyes grew a fraction, until she could see the whites around his pupils.

"A piece of paper," Lina nonchalantly responded.

"A piece of paper?" Atlantis sharply repeated.

"Yes, are you deaf?" Lina returned, tilting her head in confusion.

Atlantis breathed through his nose. Then, he let out a breath, followed by choked laughter. At the heartbreaking sound, Lina glanced anywhere, but at him.

"A piece of paper, you say," Atlantis murmured. The hard paper wrinkled under his tight grasp. He gritted his teeth, his jaw ticking at her nonchalant expression.

How could she be so heartless? He was never the kind of man to ask for payment. He wasn't the "nice guy" waiting for compliments after displaying basic decency like holding the door.

"It's funny how a little slip of paper can make or break a marriage. It could be the wedding certificate, or it could be the divorce papers," Atlantis harshly said.

Lina pretended not to hear. Instead, she turned on her heels and spoke to Theodore.

"Prepare chamomile tea for our guest, he's losing his mind," Lina said.

Lina didn't want this conversation to happen in public. Before anyone could respond, she was already walking into the house. Atlantis chased her relentlessly, his leather shoes clicking on the ground.

Lina guided them into a living room, where she took a seat in the newly-arrived cream couches. Meanwhile, Atlantis remained standing over her. Whether it was to intimidate her or not, she was unbothered.

"What happened to you?" Atlantis asked her like she had changed so drastically, he didn't recognize her. "You're never this apathetic."

Lina raised her head and peered up at him, tired from today's chaos. She didn't expect another curveball to be tossed at her. Life was irritating.

"Next time, you need to make a reservation to see me at my house," Lina said. "I might not be here."

"Friends do not make reservations with each other. Friends are there for each other, regardless of the time!" Atlantis roared, waving the thick piece of paper in front of her face,

Lina turned her head and saw that they were the only ones occupying the living room. She guessed his bodyguards had chosen to wait outside. How generous of them. They would've been gunned down if they tried to enter the house with weapons.

"Friends also don't go after friends who are clearly taken and married," Lina said, crossing her legs over each other and resting her hands on her knees. Her ruby ring glistened under the abstract lights.

Atlantis immediately stepped closer, blocking the light, and dimming the ruby's glimmer. The sight of the red gem infuriated him more than he'd ever admit. He wished to smash the wretched jewel.

"If I had come back a year earlier," Atlantis harshly breathed out. "If I had secured my family heirloom faster."

Lina's face faltered. What the hell was he saying?

Atlantis dropped to one knee. Her breath came to a halt.

"Stop it—"

"Lina—"

"Stop—"

"Please, hear me out—"

"I never invited you," Lina seethed, her eyes flashing with irritation. "I never invited you to my wedding."

Lina glared at the paper in his hands. Green symbolized envy. Such a color was dangerous in the hands of the man who lost her favor.

Atlantis staggered, blinking in disbelief. He was initially going to reach into his breast pocket, but that was too late now. Her words stunned him to the core. She wouldn't even let him see her in her happiest moment? She wouldn't let him see her in a white wedding dress?

"Why?" Atlantis asked in a soft whisper.

Perhaps that was what broke Lina the most. His wrath was never violent—with her. Instead of being furious, he was always devastated. She couldn't tell what hurt the most—his anguished expression or the defeat in his eyes.

Truthfully, Atlantis did nothing wrong. His only sin was arriving too late. His only fault was the face he shared with Atlan. This man killed for her as much as Kaden did. This man held back his fury when no one ever did. He never lashed out. He never gripped her with the intent to hurt her.

"Why?" Atlantis managed to gasp out, the wedding invite trembling in his fingers.

Atlantis had so many questions to ask. Why wasn't he invited? Why was their relationship ruined? Why did he come so late? But only one question left his mouth.

"Why couldn't it be me?"