Chapter 83
A-Ares?
That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I saw his full, thick, inky dark hair and icy blue eyes. I mean, I figured the genes were strong with the Kings after I saw Elias, but he looked exactly like Ares.
A younger version I never thought I would ever set my eyes on.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said to us. “Pleased to meet you p>
Tori stared at me with the same expression I had on, surprise, and speechlessness.
“Catherine, this is my son. Adrian p>
“S-Son p>
She smiled. “Yes. It comes as a shock to most people when I say it.” She ran her hand delicately through his hair. “Elias and I never expected we’d be raising a son at our age, but he’s a miracle p>
The media should have taken this with speed, or maybe they were trying to keep it private.
“I heard some bloggers talking about this one time, but with no concrete proof, it was bogus most of the time,” Tori whispered to me.
“He has a great future ahead of him,” she said, eyes blazing with pride. “And I’ll be there every step of the way p>
“S-So the use of A in naming,” I began, hoping to clear the chilly silence in the air.
“It’s family tradition she said with a shifty tone.
“Right p>
“Aunty,” Adrian said, attempting to walk to Athena, but Agatha stopped him already on her feet.
“If you’d excuse us. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.” She held her son by hand and walked to the door, but I caught a quick exchange.
Athena raised her glasses, pulling her eyelid down, and stuck out her tongue in a funny way, and Adrian mirrored her action.
“Athena, is he really your brother?” Tori asked the instant they were gone.
“Yes p>
“Wow! And he looks just like Ares p>
“You should have seen Daddy in his youth p>
I cleared my throat, going back to eating, but the appetite wasn’t really there anymore. I have only taken a small bite. The table was spread with enough breakfast to feed the entire community. Overkill much?
“So how about we do something for fun p>
“I’ll pass,” I said.
Athena pulled down her glasses, and I noticed there were dark circles under them. “Are you still mad at me p>
“Can you tell p>
“I think fun is a great idea!” Tori cut in. “Besides, we’re stuck in this house anyway. My boss will definitely give me an earful, but I don’t think I’ll be jobless anytime soon p>
“I’m sorry, this is my fault. You wouldn’t have been trapped here if p>
“Trapped? Isn’t that far stretched p>
If only she knew, but I don’t want her to. I don’t wanna pull her more into my mess.
“You’re right p>
“But it is really weird being here… I mean, I have read assumptions about what the King’s mansion would be like. Who knew I’d live long enough to tell the tale p>
I snorted. “What are you, some archaeologist? This is not ancient Rome p>
“I might as well be. Where are my tools? We have more grounds to cover and tell history p>
I laughed, feeling better after all the messy situations.
“Let’s check out the farm!” Athena suggested out of the blue.
Farm? They had one here?
Oink! Oink! Oink!
The pigs crowded the pigpen.
“They are so adorable!” I said, watching the pink cuties.
“Are you sure?” Athena grimaced.
For someone who dragged us out here to see the farm, she didn’t look comfortable.
“Cat loves anything, even if they’re chubby and snort all the time,” Tori commented.
I rolled my eyes.
“What’s that?” Tori pointed to the red smeared on the dirt.
“Feed,” Nico replied, grinning for no reason at all.
“Why is it that color?” I asked, knowing there was no way feeds were red.
“Kitchen scraps. We have a lot of the leftovers from the ball last night. They love their red sauce p>
I looked at the stain then back at Nico, who doesn’t even blink. Shaking my head, I pushed off the fence and saw Reed standing under a tree.
Adjusting my glasses, I approached him, and I noticed his lips lit in a smile.
“Hey p>
“Mrs. King p>
“Catherine,” I corrected. “I just wanna say thank you for looking out for Tori. I was more relaxed knowing you were with her p>
He was about to speak, but I didn’t let him.
“I was just doing my job, I know p>
He smiled. “Actually, I was gonna say that I knew it would put you more at ease, so I made a request to Mr. King about guarding her p>
A warm feeling enclosed my chest. “You did p>
“Yeah p>
“Thank you, Reed,” I said softly.
“You’re welcome,” he murmured. “Catherine p>
I grinned broadly when he said my name, and he just pinned his gaze on me, staying longer as if he couldn’t get enough of seeing that smile.
“Um, there’s something I wanna ask you, and I want you to be very honest with me p>
“What is it p>
“My accident… was it just that, or was there something more to it. Please don’t lie to me and brush me off or p>
“It wasn’t an accident p>
I was shocked at his honesty. “It wasn’t p>
“Yes p>
A cold chill brushed through me.
“But we’re investigating it. You’ve got nothing to worry about p>
“Investigating? Sounds like Ares. You guys sure like taking matters into your hands. The cops should be involved p>
“The cops already ruled it out as an accident. Whoever did this made sure it looked like one. Reopening the investigation will get it caught up with the media and he paused as if realizing he had too much.
“And?” I urged, hoping he wouldn’t stop there, and when I saw the reluctance in his eyes, I gave him a pleading look. “Don’t do that. Don’t keep me in the dark,” I said softly.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this p>
“No one has to know. I-I almost died. We almost died. The only amount of closure I’m gonna get is if I know what the fuck is going on p>
I didn’t mean to sound angry, but I’m at my limit here.
He sighed in defeat. “Remember how you said that at that split second I took the wheel p>
“Yes?” I said, my heart pounding in my eardrums.
“I saw the driver’s face p>
I rasped as I thought back to that moment. When Reed shouted at me to look out. I turned to the speeding van, freezing, and felt his hands on the wheels. But at that instant, I saw the driver.
“I did too I said as goosebumps rose on my skin.
The face of the driver wasn’t someone scared or trying to stop the car in a panic. There was a dark look in his eyes as if he were on a mission.
I didn’t think too much about it then because everything was too painful and linked to my parents, but now that I do… it was a gnawing realization.
I got distracted from my thoughts when Reed pulled out his phone to show me something.
“Is this the man you saw p>
I took his phone and saw it was a picture of the driver in the morgue.
I drew sharply on my breath. “N-No p>