Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Everyone looks my way. She's so loud that it is hard to have another conversation in the room with her raging at me. I'm not even on speakerphone but you wouldn't know that by how loudly she is screaming.

Quickly I rush to my bedroom and close the door. Nobody needs to hear her berate me.

"What is it this time, Mother?" I am truly exhausted by all of hoo

what I do I cannot do anything right.

recent dramatics. It seems that no matter

"Angelica is having a meltdown and it is all your fault," she accuses. "You need to let her get on with her life. You're done with Atlas Steele. You're pregnant and engaged to his brother! Why can't you let Angelica have her happiness?"

I want to shout at her about how wrong she is. I want to ask why she doesn't love me as much as she loves her. But what would be the point? She only hears what she wants to.

"Mother, I cannot control Atlas any more than I can control you," I explain. "Besides, we have more important things to worry about."

"What could be more important than your sister's mental health?" She retorts. "She had to be sedated because she is convinced that she should be married to Atlas and doesn't understand why she can't go back home. And then that Sydney girl was on the TV making all those horrible accusations and she couldn't handle it."

I know none of this is my fault, but I can't help but feel a little guilty. I did let Atlas get closer to me even though I knew he needed to be with Angelica to help her heal. But then Angelica did all of those nasty things and said all of those nasty words.

*Are you sure she's really sick?" I ask my mom something I've been wondering for a while. "Because she seems to have these 'attacks' at convenient times and..."

"I had forgotten how cold and heartless you are," she cuts me down to shreds, her old, familiar insults clinging to my skin, digging their barbs into my flesh. "Give the phone to Atlas. I know he's there. I can tell there is no use talking to you."

I open the door to find Atlas waiting just outside, his face drawn with worry. "Cordelia."

"She wants to talk to you," I hand him the phone, holding back my tears. I don't want him to see how much she affects me.

"Do you want me to put her on speakerphone," he asks as he pulls me in for another hug.

"No," I bury my head in his chest. He smells so good. I just want to wrap myself up in his scent. "Just tell me what you decide. I need to rest."

Feeling defeated, I slowly saunter to the main room where Clark and Tilly are quietly holding one another. She has her head resting on his shoulder while he gently strokes her arm. I am glad the secret is out now. It is so soothing to see these two show their affection so openly. They are two of the most caring people I know, and now they have people to care for them too.

I take a seat next to them. Clark opens his other arm for me to snuggle in and Lappreciate the warmth of

his brotherly embrace.

This has been a long morning.

"What did your mother want?" Tilly asks cautiously,

"To blame me for everything," I sigh. "The usual,"

"I have an idea to help us clear this up quickly," Clark announces in his usual bubbly manner. "I'll wait until Atlas is done because we'll need to make quite a splash to draw attention away from Sydney's gossip." Tilly's eyes light up. She's behind whatever this is, I can tell.

Looking up at Clark, I wonder what it is that he has thought of that could make all of this disappear.

Atlas comes back out into the main room. Even though he was only talking to her for a few minutes, he looked drained.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

My mother has that effect on people.

Without prompting, I stand and wrap my arms around him. "I'm so sorry," I apologize, even though I don't know what I am apologizing for.

"I am too," Atlas looks concerned. "Angelica has taken a turn for the worse. I've called in the new doctor, but in the meantime, they recommend she not receive any more shocks until we work out her treatment plan." He sighs. "But I do have some good news," he continues, although the way he says it makes me tense.

"Good news?"

"Yes," he grimaces. "Your parents have agreed to go on camera and say that you had no involvement in the EPA scandal. "But under one condition."

He tells us the condition and I almost faint. He can't be serious.

My parents want him to marry Angelica. 1