Chapter177 – Atticus—wait!
Atticus smiled faintly—but there was no warmth in his eyes. They were cold, sharp, and glinted with something dangerous.
The next moment, his phone rang.
He had been expecting the call and answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“X! You blocked me.” It was A’s voice—furious and sarcastic.
Atticus’ tone was indifferent. “I’ve been traveling. I don’t like being disturbed by irrelevant people.”
“So you’re back from your little vacation now?”
“More or less.” Atticus leaned back, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Send me everything you have on the mafia in Country B..”
“What?”
Atticus’ voice turned lower, more dangerous. “I’ve changed my mind.”
Because without that bullet, Clarissa might never have admitted her feelings so quickly.
So yes—he owed Massimo something. A very special thank-you gift.
“We’ll be paying him a personal visit soon.”
After ending the call, he got up and unzipped his backpack. From it, he pulled out a peculiar plant—thin and long with six green leaves at the base and a bright crimson bloom at the tip.
Then he brought out two gray stones wrapped in a strange white cotton-like material.
Atticus had told Clarissa they were rare medicinal herbs—and she’d believed him without hesitation. He had, after all, followed Callum on herb-hunting trips before.
As he examined the contents now, a dark light flickered in his eyes.
He retrieved a box made from an unknown material and opened it. A wave of icy mist poured from inside.
Carefully, he placed the stones and the plant inside, then sealed the lid.
Only after everything was carefully packed away did Atticus close his suitcase.
Lying down on the bed, he tried to clear his mind, but Clarissa’s face kept intruding—her expressions, her laugh, the softness in her eyes. His heart thudded faster than he liked to admit.
He frowned, frustrated with the rush of emotion he couldn’t shake.
Not long after, a message notification chimed from his phone—it was from N. But he didn’t have his laptop with him and didn’t feel like dealing with it right away. He placed the phone on the nightstand and turned to lie flat.
Still, sleep didn’t come.
He tossed and turned, growing more irritated by the second.
And then—someone knocked at the door.
Atticus’s eyes narrowed instantly. His voice turned icy. “Who is it?”
“Atticus, may I come in?” It was Yuriko Nomiya.
His jaw tightened. What the hell was she doing here?
“I’m trying to sleep. Go away,” he said sharply.
But Yuriko didn’t give up. The knocking continued, more insistent. “Atticus, please—I really need to talk to you. It’s important.”
His patience snapped. His voice was razor-sharp through the door. “Get lost.”
Yuriko flinched visibly on the other side—and then came the crying.
Soft, pitiful, and persistent. Her sobs echoed faintly down the hallway.
Atticus ignored it. He just wanted to sleep.
He was just drifting off when another voice rang outside his door.
“Yuriko Nomiya? What are you doing here? Why are you crying?”
Clarissa.
Atticus’s eyes flew open. His expression turned cold, then dangerous.
A dark fire sparked in his gaze. He swung his legs off the bed and strode to the door.
Before Clarissa could even process what was happening, Atticus yanked the door open and pulled her into his arms.
“Atticus?”
She looked up at him, confused, but he wasn’t looking at her—his eyes were locked on Yuriko Nomiya, who was standing there like a drenched cat.
“What exactly are you trying to pull?” he said coldly, shielding Clarissa with his body.
Yuriko trembled. When she saw Atticus holding Clarissa so protectively, something dark and sharp flashed through her eyes—but she buried it quickly beneath a mask of tears.
Yuriko Nomiya bit her lip softly. “You’re leaving tomorrow, and I just… I wanted to say goodbye. Sorry for disturbing you.” Her voice trembled slightly, eyes shimmering with tears. With her delicate features and tear-stained face, she looked heartbreakingly beautiful.
She was a vision tonight—wrapped in a thin, silk kimono robe with the sash loosely tied, revealing the soft curves of her petite but shapely figure. Her long hair fell freely over her shoulders, with a fresh lily tucked above her ear. A faint floral fragrance lingered around her—sweet, light, and intentionally seductive.
Even Clarissa had to admit—Yuriko Nomiya was stunning.
But Atticus’s expression didn’t waver. His gaze remained cold, untouched by her beauty or her tears.
“You’ve seen us,” he said flatly. “So whatever you need to say, say it now. Then leave. Clarissa and I are going to bed.”
“Atticus!” Clarissa nudged him, slightly exasperated.
She’d always known Yuriko harbored feelings for Atticus. But she never made an issue of it—she simply pretended not to notice. Girls being drawn to Atticus was hardly surprising.
Now, looking at Yuriko—barely twenty and trembling like a frightened kitten—Clarissa couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
Atticus shot her a sharp glare, mentally cursing her soft-heartedness.
Still, his voice stayed harsh. “You have one minute. Say what you need to say and get out. We have a flight to catch tomorrow.”
Yuriko's lips trembled as she bit down harder. She had never experienced this kind of rejection from a man before—especially not after everything she’d done to prepare for tonight.
She’d even dusted herself in a rare perfume powder with aphrodisiac properties. Most men wouldn’t have lasted a minute in her presence.
But Atticus wasn’t like most men. His expression remained blank, eyes filled only with boredom and irritation.
Ironically, it was Clarissa who looked at her with a trace of concern.
Yuriko hadn’t expected this. She just wanted to test Atticus—but now, she had only made a fool of herself.
She adjusted her robe awkwardly, clutching the collar tighter as a breeze swept down the hallway. Her slender figure shivered slightly from the cold.
Clarissa noticed immediately.
She stepped forward, removing her shawl and gently draping it over Yuriko’s shoulders. “It’s chilly here. You should go back and rest.”
Yuriko blinked, then looked up hesitantly. “Will we… see each other again?”
“Of course,” Clarissa said gently.
Yuriko nodded, and finally turned to leave.
But just before she could walk away, Atticus’s voice rang out.
“Wait.”
She paused.
Atticus stepped forward, pulled the shawl off her shoulders, and handed it back to Clarissa. “That doesn’t belong to you.”
Then, without giving Yuriko another glance, he grabbed Clarissa’s hand and pulled her inside, slamming the door shut behind them.
Clarissa sighed. “Be nice. She’s just a kid.”
“Clarissa,” he said seriously, “none of the people around here are as simple as they look. You need to stay sharp.”
She was quiet for a moment, unable to argue.
“…Fine. I get it,” she said softly, reaching for the shawl in his hand. “Anyway, give that back. I’m going to bed.”
Atticus tossed the shawl onto the couch instead and, in one swift move, grabbed her wrist and tugged her into his arms.
“Sis,” he said, voice low and teasing, “you’ve already stepped in here. Why not just stay?”
Before she could react, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
“Atticus—wait!”
She barely had time to register what was happening before he laid her down and slid in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Her body stiffened, her heart racing like mad.
But Atticus didn’t move. He just held her quietly, pressing his face against her hair.
She turned to look at him, only to find that his eyes were closed. His long lashes cast delicate shadows across his face, and a content smile lingered on his lips.
As if sensing her gaze, Atticus chuckled softly without opening his eyes.
“Clarissa… if you stare at me like that, are you want me to do something about it?”
Her cheeks flushed. She turned away quickly. “N-No! I wasn’t…!”
She shut her eyes tightly.