Mabel looked on, feeling a bit amused and helpless, "Never mind, let me do it. Bend over a bit." she said.

So, he obediently bent over, his gaze almost level with hers.

Mabel took a spray bottle she carried with her out of her bag and gave Atlas Shaw’s unruly hair a few spritzes. Once his hair was slightly damp, she used her fingers to adjust it. After a while, she was finally satisfied with her handiwork.

"All done." Mabel smiled. As she was pulling her hand back, it was suddenly caught by Atlas. In the next moment, his other hand cradled her face, his face moving even closer to hers. From a certain angle, it almost seemed like a displaced kiss.

"Do you know? If I wanted to kiss you right now, it would be very easy." he said.

"Would you?" she calmly retorted, seeming unfazed by the unexpectedly intimate posture.

No. Atlas had already answered in his heart. If he really kissed her, then it would likely be difficult for him to remain by her side as a friend in the future.

"Even if I wanted to kiss you, at the very least, you’d need to be willing, wouldn’t you?" he said, "I’m just curious, do you really find me so lacking in charm?"

"No, you’re very charming, whether it’s your appearance, personality, or talent, you’re very attractive to women. As for me, it’s just..." she said.

"It’s just that in your heart, there’s still that person, isn’t there?" his low voice drifted into her ears, causing her body to tremble.

"Not anymore. To me, that person no longer exists." she said, only feeling her lips become somewhat dry.

His eyes subtly shifted, "Is it because that person once hurt you?"

She startled, looking at him with some surprise.

He gave a gentle smile, "Although I haven’t asked over the years, and you haven’t mentioned it, that doesn’t mean I can’t figure it out. You were alone, pregnant, fell into the sea, and after regaining consciousness, you didn’t plan to contact your family but chose to live alone in a strange city. You told Ivy that her daddy passed away, but that’s not true, is it?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Mabel was shocked, and seeing her expression, he knew his guess was correct.

"Are you still thinking about reconciling with that man?" he asked.

A glimmer of sadness flashed across Mabel’s eyes, "It’s impossible between him and me. I never thought of reconciling or anything like that." Long ago, when she decided to raise the child alone, she had already resolved to cut all ties with Kyle Kinston.

Atlas’s eyes darkened. Did she mean it was impossible because that man hurt her too deeply?

When you love deeply, being hurt hurts all the more deeply.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of man she fell in love with back then.

"Sorry for bringing up something that might make you unhappy, but I believe that man would surely regret losing you." Atlas said.

Mabel shook her head slightly, as if in mockery. Someone like Kyle Kinston, how could he possibly feel regret? Once he made a decision, he wouldn’t regret it, right?

What puzzled her was that she didn’t expect that after so many years, upon meeting again, he had forgotten everything about her.

But, perhaps that’s for the best.

Atlas hailed a taxi and left. Mabel checked the time; it was just about time to head to her daughter’s kindergarten to pick her up, so she walked towards where she had parked her car.