Atticus’s Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1420  Cold Night

[A.N:

Hello everyone. A quick note before you read this chapter. I know many of you dislike Zoey, but remember that Atticus isn’t you. He genuinely cares about her, and she’s one of his ‘loved ones’. With that in mind, I believe his reaction here is justified. Happy reading.]

“….”

Atticus dropped silent. After a long breath, he finally spoke.

“New dangerous enemies are showing up, and they threaten to destroy everything. I need to get stronger. To do that, I need to focus completely on—”

“No.”

Zoey lifted her bloodshot eyes toward him.

“Don’t do that. Don’t lie. You owe me, at least you owe me the truth. Tell me the truth.”

Atticus stared into her eyes, one filled with pain that he’d caused. His hands slowly curled into fists.

“I kissed another girl.”

Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating Zoey’s horrified face.

“You… kissed another girl?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Zoey’s lips trembled. She looked down, and a cracked laugh escaped her throat as tears streamed freely down her cheeks.

“So… what do you want now?” she asked quietly.

“…I want us to take a break.”

“Then what?”

“What do you mean?”

“After the break, what happens then?” Her voice quivered, “We get back together like everything’s okay?”

“Zoey…”

“Then why don’t you say your mind and fucking end this!” she shouted, “You want a break? Do you think you can just hit pause on my emotions?”

Her bloodshot eyes locked onto his troubled gaze.

“You’re a god. You’ve always been braver than this, Atticus. Be direct. Don’t be cruel and give me false hope.”

She took in a large gulp.

“Tell me… do you still love me?”

Atticus froze.

“I…”

He hesitated. And that hesitation was all Zoey needed.

She exhaled shakily, her eyes dimming.

“I see.”

“Wait, Zoey—”

But before he could move, she turned and ran off into the night.

Atticus found himself rooted in place, arm half extended, watching her shrinking silhouette disappear into the night.

He was god here. A single thought, and she would appear right in front of him.

However, he did nothing. As he lowered his arm, Atticus shut his eyes.

‘What did I just do?’

Atticus had never had a problem with being direct with anyone. However, this was an exception. Here, he was the one in the wrong. The one doing the hurt. And it wasn’t anyone, but a loved one.

‘I caused her pain.’

He felt a surge of guilt overwhelm him. He continued to replay the horrified look on her face when he told her what he’d done. He caused that pain.

‘Shit.’

Thunder rumbled through the skies as clouds gathered. As though mirroring his current emotions, rain started falling.

Atticus just stood there, allowing the rain to wash over him.

“Atticus!”

A voice echoed through the rain and he turned to see Anastasia running towards him with a worried look.

“What happened? I just saw Zoey crying—”

“Mom…”

Anastasia froze the moment she saw Atticus’s face.

‘Tears?’

It was an occurrence that shouldn’t surprise any mother. After all, what mother hadn’t witnessed their child cry before.

But this was Atticus. Atticus Ravenstein. The same child that didn’t cry even when he had just been born.

Even when she’d punished him for disobedience, Atticus had never cried. The only time she’d ever witnessed it was during the tragic death of Freya.

But right now, that same child was weeping…

‘Why?’ Anastasia felt a flare of rage. Who had made her baby cry? Then she suddenly realized.

‘Zoey…’

She had also seen her crying. Now she understood, it was a delicate situation involving matters of the heart.

“Oh baby.”

Anastasia closed the distance and pulled Atticus into a deep hug. Due to their height difference, Atticus towered over her, still, he melted in her arms.

“Mom… I hurt her. I hurt her…”

“It’s alright baby. It’s alright. Let it all out.”

Anastasia gently brushed his hair, holding him close.

And that was exactly what he did. Under the seemingly endless rain, Anastasia comforted her son.

After some time, the rain stopped, and Atticus and Anastasia sat on a bench at the top of the hill.

Anastasia gently caressed his head that was resting on top of her lap.

“So, tell me what happened.”

Atticus allowed a few moments to pass before he spoke.

“I kissed another girl.”

“Who?”

“Anorah.” He said, “she was the one who trained me. The god of Asterra.”

“Were you and Zoey in a relationship?”

“Kind of.”

A slap landed on his head.

“Ouch!” Atticus tried to sit up, but was held down by Anastasia.

“What was that for?”

Anastasia had just whacked his head. He was at a level where such things shouldn’t even tickle him. But somehow, his mother’s slap had stung.

“That’s for betraying her trust. I did not raise a man who breaks women’s hearts.”

“But—”

“But nothing. No matter what excuse you give, you’re in the wrong.”

Atticus slowly clenched his fists. “I know…”

“Good.” Anastasia gently rubbed his head with a tender smile, “so make sure you properly apologize to her later, okay? Make it right.”

“Okay mom.”

Anastasia nodded approvingly. How glad she was that her son had turned out to be such a good boy!

“So,” she said, “what will you do?”

“About what?”

“You kissed a new girl. Does this mean you’re breaking up with Zoey?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Hmm.” Anastasia frowned, “what about this new girl, Anorah. Do you love her?”

Atticus shut his eyes. “…I don’t know.”

“The heck? Tell me baby, what do you know?”

As Atticus fell silent, Anastasia shook her head with a small smile.

“You’re great at a lot of things, baby,” she said, “but you’re terrible at matters of the heart.”

Atticus coughed. “I know.”

Anastasia burst into laughter the next moment, causing Atticus to scowl.

“You’re laughing? Why are you laughing?”

“Haha, I’m sorry baby,” she said between chuckles, “you’re just so… cute and clueless sometimes, it’s too funny.”

Atticus stared at her with a betrayed look. “You’re making fun of me at my lowest.”

And then Anastasia laughed even more, her voice echoing into the night.

A tragedy had occurred tonight, but somehow, she felt happy. Despite his overwhelming divine power, Anastasia was still glad to see that her son was still a kid. Well, in matters of the heart.

“…I’ll tell dad!”

Finally, Anastasia was forced to stop in the face of the threat.

The night was cold.