Atlas was already walking away before I could find my voice. I tried to follow him but a few guards held me back.

Tears blinded my vision and I crumbled to the ground, a sob building at the back of my throat.

“Mom,” Louis crouched in front of me. “We’ll make him realize it’s you, we promise.”

“Papa’s just hurting because he thinks Mommy is dead, but you can’t give up now.”

“Yes, mommy. We can find another way, I—”

I glanced at them, my children, my pride. This wasn’t just about me. It was for them too. Atlas was blinded by grief, he mourned me for five years and...