Chapter 83
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It’s crazy enough that I still demanded to be driven here to Ares‘ mansion today. All of this… all this humiliation, all this disaster, is simply because I wanted to speak to Ana. To ask her why she did it. Why she betrayed me so deeply. My brother Kashi was against it, but I insisted, pleaded even, until he finally gave in.
That was why Kashi was forced to order his personal assistant to drive me back to Ares‘ mansion. I alighted and whispered my thanks into the dark night before quietly walking toward the house. But right before the main door, my steps faltered.
Slowly, I looked up at the house, really looked, and bitterness crawled heavily through my chest.
The audacity that he thinks he can paint me as a crazy woman?
Really?
I lowered my gaze and walked in, taking careful steps through the silent hall and noting immediately that Ana did not come out to meet me as she usually does. I stepped into the living room, and the gentle sound of cutlery clicking drifted faintly from the dining area.
I walked further in, pausing when I saw her setting the table as if nothing in the world had shifted. As if she hadn’t driven a wedge between me and my eldest brother. As if she hadn’t nearly ruined my whole reputation.
“Why did you do it?” My voice broke the silence behind her. She paused, spine stiffening. She turned slightly, her gaze settling on me for just a second before she dropped her eyes instantly, refusing to look me in the face.
“You’re back, madam. I will… I will dish your meal out p>
“Why did you do it?!” I snapped, cutting her off sharply. But her eyes stayed glued to the floor, and I scoffed, almost laughing, almost breaking, because I couldn’t even grasp the reality of what she’d done. I couldn’t believe it.
“I am the fool for believing in you,” I murmured helplessly, my shoulders sagging. “The fool for thinking you would be truthful p>
She swallowed, still staring at her feet in guilty sence, but I wasn’t finished. Not even close.
“You will regret what you did one day, Ana. And when that day comes… I will never render a helping hand p>
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Chapter 83
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Silence swallowed the words, until the air shifted behind me. Heavy. Dark. A presence too familiar.
Ares.
I turned slowly and found him smirking, victorious, watching me as though he had just won a trophy with my pain.
“Ana won’t regret anything, Snow,” he said, voice smooth and venomous. “She is only being loyal. It’s not my fault you have no one by your side. No one who doesn’t knows the difference between right and wrong when it concerns you p>
He took a slow step forward, lowering his head until his lips hovered inches from mine.
“You have no one. Not a single soul. You can go down on your knees now and beg. Or perhaps you can pay me to be merciful… with your body p>
The instant those filthy words left his mouth, he leaned in to kiss me, but I shoved him back savagely before he could touch me. I would rather die than let him touch my lips.
I turned immediately to leave, but his hand fisted in my hair, yanking me back with sudden fury at my rejection. Ares launched me backward and shoved me cruelly to the ground, stunning me.
I stayed there for a heart–stopping moment, breath knocked out of me, my arm already swelling.
“You ungrateful bitch. What do you want from me? How dare you go to court because I fucked a secretary? Can’t you take it in like a woman and shut your mouth? Huh p>
“Take it in like a woman?” I muttered, lifting my face defiantly. “I should take your cheating like a woman? Say that in court, Ares. Be a man. Go stand there and repeat that sentence publicly p>
I was speaking fast, too fast, and I didn’t see his hand flash.
The slap cracked across my face, snapping my head violently to the side as I fell.
I went dazed for a second, Ana’s sharp gasp echoing distantly. She saw everything, but like
always, she pretended to be blind. Pretended to be deaf.
Pain wracked me as Ares marched toward me, fry burning off him in cruel waves.
“You bitch. How dare you threaten me? How dare you p>
I lifted my head slowly, feeling blood trickle down my lip where it had torn. When he saw my face, saw what he’d done, his eyes widened in shock.
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Chapter 83
This had never happened. He had never struck me this way.
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Ares was worse than anyone I’d ever known. I needed to leave before he truly ended me.
I scrambled to my feet and moved to pass him, but he grabbed my wrist.
“Snow, you’re hurt. Let’s p>
Whatever excuse he was about to offer died instantly when he saw my expression. I stared at him, empty, worn out, utterly done.
There was nothing he could say now that would undo what he did. Nothing that could fix what he’d broken.
“I curse the day I met you, Ares,” I whispered, turning away and walking out of his house, swallowing the tears burning in my eyes.
I felt Ana staring after me, but I didn’t turn back I walked into the quiet night, pulling out my cellphone with trembling fingers, scrolling down to call Dove. I couldn’t go to my father’s house like this. My brothers would kill Ares. Literally.
I was about to call my best friend when my phone began ringing, forcing me to stop, staring at the screen.
His name glowed bright.
Again.
Cupid.
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.