Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
APHRODITE
I never expected my engagement party to be filled with Olympus Syndicate members, but here I was, surrounded by the faces of those who would soon be my family by marriage. The ring Hephaestus had given me felt like a chain around my finger, a constant reminder of the cage I was trapped in.
Ares’s absence was a gnawing ache in my chest. He had stopped his visits to my apartment, and every evening I would glance out the window, hoping for a glimpse of him. His place had become shrouded in darkness, its curtains perpetually drawn. The emptiness of his home mirrored the void he left in my heart.
Why was he avoiding me? Was he distancing himself because he couldn't bear to see me with Hephaestus? Or perhaps he was trying to protect me from the turmoil of our forbidden relationship, knowing that getting involved with him could bring even more danger into my life? It was equally possible that he was grappling with his own demons.
In the midst of this chaos, my focus had to shift. The days of shedding tears over unfulfilled romances were behind me. I needed to uncover the truth behind Titan’s murder and navigate the treacherous waters of my impending marriage. The weight of it all was heavy, and with every passing day, the urgency to find answers grew stronger.
Patting some perfume on my neck, I felt a thrill of confidence.
I slipped into my red dress, the fabric clinging to my curves and the plunging neckline revealing just enough to be daring yet sophisticated. The slits on either side of the dress allowed for a glimpse of my legs with each step, adding an element of sensuality to my appearance.
As I looked in the mirror, I saw the woman they wanted me to be—beautiful, poised, and ready to play the part. But beneath the surface of glamour and grace, I harbored a burning resolve. I would not surrender my heart or my will to these men who sought to control me. They would regret ever crossing paths with me.
My father had arranged for the engagement party to be held at Aetos manor, with the intent to unite our families in a grand display of power and alliance. The opulent halls and shadowy corridors of the estate were about to host a gathering of dangerous men, each harboring their own dark intentions.
It felt as though the manor itself was bracing for an inevitable showdown, with tension thickening the air and secrets lurking in every corner. My aim tonight was to access my father’s office covertly. After speaking with Hermes, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was any relevant information in Titan’s files regarding his so-called side businesses. All I had to do was ignore the noise in my head that somehow persisted and focus on my task at hand.
I left my bedroom and headed towards the kitchen. I saw Artie standing near the kitchen sink, wearing a sleek black dress with her hair pulled back. “Behold, the future bride!” she exclaimed. “I’m sorry I didn’t make you a penis cake for your engagement party. Maybe for the bachelorette?” Artie held her clutch to her side, her eyes settling on me and her lips turning into a wicked grin. “You look like you would eat up and spit out anyone that came near you.”
“So, my outfit gives the right vibe?” I winked as I closed my diamond encrusted clutch.
“My brother is going to tear out every man’s eyes tonight.”
“Hephaestus will have to behave?—”
“I wasn’t referring to him,” Artie said as a matter of fact, her expression devoid of emotion. Ares haunted my every thought, an intoxicating shadow that I couldn’t shake. But I wouldn’t let him distract me from what had to be done. No matter how his memory clawed at me, threatening to pull me under, I was determined. The ache he left behind, the desire that still burned within me—it would not control me. I couldn’t afford to let him sway me. Not now. I had my path, and nothing, not even him, would tear me from it.
“Let’s get going.”
The cold night air wrapped around me as I descended the stairs, my heels clicking against the metal. I could feel eyes on me—hungry, captivated. The red dress clung to every curve, the plunging neckline daring them to look. With each step I took, the men around the compound turned their heads to watch, their gazes lingering. They were drawn to me like moths to a flame, but they didn’t know they were about to get burned.
The sight of a black Range Rover parked up ahead caught my attention.
Hephaestus stood by the door of the vehicle, his eyes locking onto mine with a dark intensity that seemed to pierce straight through me. His rough hand rubbed at his bearded chin, and I found him more tempting than I had ever anticipated. His gaze alone flooded me with a wave of heat, but it was something deeper that sent goosebumps rippling across my skin—something dangerous in the air.
But then I saw him. A ghost lingering in the shadows. Ares, cigarette glowing between his fingers, watching me with that same unshaken indifference. He hadn’t changed. My foolish heart still clung to the hope that he cared, even though I knew better.
Hephaestus reached for my hand, his touch refocusing me as he lifted it to his lips. His kiss lingered over my engagement ring, a silent reminder of the chains binding me to him. Yet, as he did, my eyes couldn’t help but flicker back to Ares, as if he were the one holding the key to my freedom.
“You’re my fucking goddess,” Hephaestus whispered, his voice filled with desire. With a subtle tug, he tried to pull me closer, but I stopped just inches away, feeling the tension build. The intensity in his eyes told me that a simple kiss wouldn’t satisfy him. He craved more, something far beyond what we’d already shared. And while I could feel that same heat pulsing through me, I wasn’t quite ready to cross that line. Not yet.
“Ready?” I grinned. “It’s time for our party.”
His hand released my hand. “It would be my pleasure to take you to our party,” he said, winking as he swung open the . Hephaestus helped me into the vehicle and closed the door behind me. Through the window, I saw Ares emerge from the shadows of the night, wearing a black helmet, a fitted suit, and a crisp white dress shirt.
The manor glowed. Even in the wake of his child's tragic death, my father expertly masked his grief behind an impeccable fa?ade of opulence. Guests ascended the grand staircase while a line of luxury vehicles awaited the valet’s attention. Gaia, ever the perfectionist, orchestrated every detail with ruthless precision, even for a daughter she never wanted.
The driver stopped and the valet opened my door to assist me in getting out. People watched us, but I remained focused on one thing—Titan. I wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of uncovering the truth about his death .
As we walked through the manor's halls, memories unfolded before my eyes, replaying like a movie in my head. Titan used to chase me down the grand staircase while Gaia’s voice echoed through the halls. Father would lock himself away in his office, a fortress of isolation.
I remembered the nights when Titan’s face bore the marks of our father’s fury, his cheek swollen and bruised, a painful reminder of the dark shadows that loomed over our family.
From a young age, it was clear that we were mere pawns in my father’s elaborate game of power and influence. Our roles, our lives, were nothing more than pieces to be moved and sacrificed at his whim. The realization that my worth was dictated by his ambitions weighed heavily on me, shaping my every decision and fear.
But now, standing on the precipice of my own choices, I refused to be controlled or defined by his schemes any longer. I was determined to reclaim my autonomy and break free from the chains of his manipulation.
No one owned me.
Gaia’s jaw tightened conspicuously at the sight of me. She regarded me with disdain.
“You should change.” she sneered.
I wrapped my arms around Hephaestus, trying to step into the role of devoted fiancé. A faint blush crept over my skin as his rough hand settled at the small of my back. Instead of feeling uneasy, his touch brought an unexpected sense of comfort.
My thoughts swirled, knowing this seemingly small gesture carried weight. Hephaestus pressed a tender kiss to my temple, and I closed my eyes, feeling my heartbeat quicken with a mixture of tenderness and turmoil.
“I think she looks stunning,” he said.
Gaia raised her champagne flute and drank the remainder of its contents. Her face was grief stricken. She seemed like she was fading away, mind and body. I couldn’t imagine the extent of her despair. While my affection for my brother was deep, it was nothing compared to a mother’s love.
“There’s my daughter,” Ouranos's voice boomed through the grand hall as he appeared at the top of the stairs. He made his way down, extending his hand to Hephaestus. “And my future son-in-law. Welcome to the family.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Hephaestus replied, his irritation barely masked behind a calm facade. They exchanged a brief, tense glance before Ouranos’s attention turned to me. His smile was charming yet carried a predatory gleam, his eyes lingering on me with unsettling intensity.
“Daughter,” Ouranos said, his voice carrying a mix of formality and disdain. He glanced past me, noting something—or someone—behind me. “Zeus, I’m pleased you could gather your crew for this.” With that, he brushed past me, leaving a charged silence in his wake.
Zeus’s voice cut through the stillness, laced with derision. “Is this what you call a party?” Hephaestus handed me a flute of champagne
The dimly lit hall, illuminated only by the flickering glow of a grand chandelier, exuded the eerie charm of a lavish haunted house. Blood-red flowers tumbled in a dramatic cascade down the ornate staircase, their dark hues adding a macabre elegance to the scene.
The room shimmered with golden light, the haunting strains of violins filling the air with a tense, gothic melody. As I stood there, it felt as though the room had transported me back in time, to the harrowing moment of my brother's execution.
My heart pounded with a desperate intensity as I struggled to maintain my composure. This wasn't a celebration; it was a masquerade of mourning, a funeral cloaked in the guise of a party. “I need some air.” I murmured, struggling to breathe under the weight of the guests' piercing gazes.
The atmosphere grew even more charged when Atlas and his son, Hermes arrived. Rivals and allies mingled in this charged space. If there was an occasion to take someone out, this would be it .
“I’ll come with you.” Hephaestus rubbed my shoulder, “You’re so tense.”
“Give me a second, please.”
I kissed his cheek and gently brushed his hair from his eyes. It was a small gesture, yet it stirred something deep within me. Subconsciously, I resisted the space he was carving in my heart, though I recognized its presence.
It offered a welcome diversion from the thoughts of Ares.
“Okay.” His hooded eyes darkened with a slight smile, as he rubbed my engagement ring, “If you need me, I’ll be here.”
I nodded and said, “I’ll be right back.” Making my way past him, I headed towards a hallway that the staff utilized and exited on the other side of the manor.
Stepping onto the terrace, I caught sight of my father’s fountain, the haunting silhouette a grim reminder of my place in this world. Taking a deep breath, I covered my face with my hands, letting out a shuddering exhale.
As I lifted my head, I caught sight of a flicker of movement near the edge of the forest. The shadows seem to part as he emerged from the darkness. The man who had taken me to the compound, the man I had once entrusted with my heart and soul, now stood at the forest’s edge.
Ares strode toward me, his figure silhouetted against the low-hanging moon. The sharp, steady rhythm of his boots striking the stone pathway echoed through the still night, each step tightening the knot in my stomach. His eyes locked onto mine, piercing through the darkness with an intensity that made my skin prickle. The air around us thickened as his lips twisted into a devilish smirk, a predator closing in on its prey.
I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, my palms slick with sweat. He was like a shadow, haunting and inevitable, and I could barely breathe under the weight of his gaze.
“What do you want, Ares?” My voice trembled despite my efforts to sound steady. The night air was chilled, yet his presence sent a warmth through me that I couldn’t ignore. I took a step back, instinctively trying to create space between us, but it was futile. He ascended each step with a deliberate, almost predatory grace, closing the distance between us.
“I don’t like seeing him touch you,” Ares growled, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. In the dim light, his eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, a striking blend of gold and brown that seemed to pierce through the shadows.
He stood with an unshakable confidence, his sleeves rolled up as if prepared for a fight. As he slowly licked his bottom lip, my breath caught in my throat. “I’m losing control,” he murmured, his voice dark and urgent. “I want all of you, Aphrodite. I can’t stand seeing you with him.” His words hung heavily in the air, charged with a dangerous desperation.
“Don’t,” I said, shaking my head in frustration. His presence grated on me, his anger unsettling. How dare he act like the scorned lover when he had vanished without a trace? I had bared my soul to him, trusted him with my deepest pain, and all he had given me was empty promises and false hope about finding Titan’s murderer.
Stupid girl , I berated myself.
The anger that had been simmering inside me was boiling over. I felt a fierce heat rising in my chest, my frustration finally breaking free. How could he just disappear without a trace, leaving me to face everything alone? Each unanswered call, each ignored message was a cruel reminder of his absence, and it all fueled the fire burning within me.
“I’m done, Ares,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face as my voice wavered with emotion. “I needed you,” I cried out, my voice breaking the silence of the night. “After I bared my soul to you, you turned away. I gave you everything—my body, my very essence. I was terrified for you, but you didn’t reach out, didn’t even call.” My words hung heavy, tinged with betrayal and frustration.
“I’m sorry, Aphrodite—Please, let me explain,” Ares's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, filled with frustration as he appeared in front of me. His hair was disheveled, his gaze intense. I saw the turmoil in his eyes—fear, regret, and an aching vulnerability. It chipped away at my resolve despite the hollow ache his unexplained absence had left in my heart. But this wasn’t just about us anymore. It was a matter of life or death.
“I’m terrified, okay?” Ares continued, his voice rising, almost frantic. “I’m scared of what you make me feel, of how deep this could go. I don’t know how to handle it—I don’t know how to handle you. But I can’t stay away, and it’s driving me insane!” His confession hung in the air, raw and vulnerable, making the distance between us feel like an impossible chasm.
If Hephaestus were to discover our affair, his rage would go far beyond punishing his brother. He'd come for both of us, unleashing a storm that would drown us in its wake, turning our forbidden love into a dangerous game we might not survive.
I looked at Ares, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow.
“You're fortunate, Ares. You live freely while I’m trapped in a cage, treated like nothing but an object to barter with. I was auctioned off to the highest bidder. I’ve always been a pawn in my father’s cruel game, and nothing has changed. My feelings, my very existence—they don’t mean anything to anyone.” The words spilled out, laden with the bitterness of being used and being disregarded. I felt as though I were nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard being played by forces beyond my control.
Ares crossed his arms tightly against his chest, his eyes narrowing at me as he spoke.
“Aphrodite, I’m the only one fighting for you,” Ares said, his voice thick with a mix of frustration and desperation. “While I’ve been gone, I’ve been out there risking everything—my position, my life, my loyalty to the Syndicate—all to uncover the truth about Titan’s death. No one else is doing that for you. Every time I leave, I’m putting a target on my back just by asking the wrong questions, by pushing people who don’t want to be pushed. I’ve been trying to protect you, even from a distance.”
His eyes, burning with a mix of fear and anger, bore into mine. “But you—going down this road with Hephaestus—you don’t see what you’re stepping into. And when you finally find out who killed Titan, what are you going to do? Are you ready to take a life?” His words hit like a knife, challenging and almost accusing, revealing more than just concern. “I don’t believe you could lay a hand on anyone, and I don’t think you realize the blood you’ll spill if you try.”
His tone softened, but the tension between us only thickened, his absence now filled with reasons I hadn’t expected, yet still not enough to ease the anger and betrayal I felt. I didn’t have to explain anything to him. Justice for Titan was the only thing that mattered, not his excuses or empty promises.
I turned sharply, ready to storm back toward the doorway, but before I could take another step, Ares’s hand gripped my waist, pulling me back into him. His touch sent a shock through me, a cruel reminder of the connection I tried so hard to sever.
“I can’t stand the thought of you facing those demons out there,” Ares said, his voice rough with emotion. “You know what you mean to me, Aphrodite. You’re my greatest weakness, the one thing that could destroy me.” His hand lingered on my waist, the tension between us sparking like fire, his touch sending a wave of heat through me.
My lips quivered. “Ares,” I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady. I lifted my hand to his face, my fingers brushing against the stubble on his cheek, feeling the warmth of his breath as it mingled with mine. “In another world, another life... I would be yours, completely.”
I paused, the truth of our situation sinking in like a dagger. “But we live in this world,” I continued, my voice trembling with bitter resignation. “A world where I’m betrothed to your brother, where I’m expected to marry him while pretending this— us —never happened.” The weight of it pressed on my chest, suffocating me. “A world where we have to keep our feelings buried beneath lies and duty. And in this reality, what I need from you, Ares, is to help me avenge my brother’s death.”
The words tasted bitter on my tongue, each one a reminder of the chains that bound us to a life we didn’t choose, where love was a dangerous luxury and loyalty to bloodlines came first.
I searched his eyes, filled with a sadness and desperation that mirrored my own. “I know you cared for Titan,” I added softly, the weight of what I was asking hanging between us. “I can't do this without you.”
I stepped away and he dropped his hands from my waist. I immediately felt cold and alone without the warmth of his touch.
“I’m going to search my father’s office,” I murmured, my voice edged with determination. “I need to know if Titan owed money, or if there’s something deeper they’ve been keeping from us.” The urgency in my tone betrayed the weight of the secrets lurking behind our family’s polished exterior—secrets that, once uncovered, could bring everything crashing down.
Ares ran a hand through his hair, avoiding eye contact. “I’ll come with you,” he said.
I nodded. There were a lot of people here with prying eyes, and I needed someone to keep an eye on things while I looked around.
“When the first dinner course is served, I’ll excuse myself,” I said, my voice firm but low. “You should wait ten minutes before following me. Any sooner, and people might get suspicious.”
Ares nodded, the resolve in his eyes matching my own before he turned to leave.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the rapid drumming of my heart. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, and I felt my eyes begin to burn.
My father had made it clear that Hephaestus and I needed to present a united front. He encouraged us to engage with every guest as a couple, reinforcing the importance of our union.
This marriage wasn’t just a personal matter—it was a strategic alliance that cemented the alliance between the Olympus Syndicate and the Aetos Family. The strength of our union would ensure that both families were not just allies but a formidable force, commanding respect and fear throughout the city.
“Overwhelmed?” I whispered to Hephaestus, his cologne—an intoxicating blend of musk and spice—enveloping me as it drifted on the air.
He intertwined his fingers with mine, his touch both warm and reassuring. “Not at all. You have a way of making me feel calm, even in the midst of this chaos.”
“Really?” I chuckled softly, the sound hollow as I tried to mask my unease. “You don’t know me well enough for that.” I cast a fleeting glance around the room, doing my best to maintain a mask of composure. Yet, despite my efforts, a shiver ran down my spine as I felt the weight of two distinct sets of eyes upon me.
Hephaestus’s gaze was intense and magnetic, radiating heat and searing into my skin. His charisma was almost tangible, a smoldering presence that demanded attention.
But it was the other gaze that tore at my insides. Ares, lurking in the shadows, watched me with a haunting intensity.