Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
APHRODITE
T he air was thick with the warmth from our bodies, and I covered my nakedness with silk sheets, an arm draped over my stomach. I had laid awake all night as the scent of the forest that surrounded the manor wafted in through the open window.
Once I left Ares’s side last night, I returned to a nightmare.
Hephaestus had spiraled into a reckless frenzy, the alcohol dulling his senses but not his desires. His eyes were glazed, his breath heavy with the stench of liquor, yet none of it stopped him from asserting his so-called marital rights.
My heart had raced as he cornered me, his touch clumsy and unfeeling, a stark contrast to the tender warmth I had shared with Ares. I closed my eyes, desperately trying to escape into the sanctuary of my mind, recalling every stolen moment with Ares—his hands, his lips, the way he made me feel alive.
But no matter how hard I tried to hold onto those memories, Hephaestus's hands on me shattered every illusion. His body was on mine, heavy and cold, and all I felt was a hollow disgust as he claimed me like a possession, a prize he had won .
Each movement felt mechanical, devoid of intimacy. He was oblivious to my despair, too lost in his own intoxicated haze. The seconds dragged on, feeling like an eternity of humiliation.
He didn’t last long before collapsing beside me, his breathing slow and labored as he succumbed to the alcohol, passing out without a word.
When I was sure he was asleep, I had bolted from the bed, my skin crawling with the remnants of his touch. I rushed to the ensuite, trembling as I turned on the faucet, scrubbing my skin raw in a futile attempt to wash away the shame that clung to me.
The weight of everything—the wedding, the betrayal, the lies—pressed down on me like a vice, tightening around my chest until I could hardly breathe.
I stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror, feeling utterly broken. My eyes were red, my body numb, and the profound sadness threatened to swallow me whole.
As I returned to the room after my shower, Hephaestus let out a small groan. The light peaking through the curtains illuminated his olive skin.
He was undeniably beautiful, but his charm ended at his looks—beneath that striking exterior, his personality was utterly repulsive. I understood why women admired him, but they were unaware of his darker side beneath his charming facade. His eyes flashed open, revealing his deep blue irises.
“Good morning,” he greeted, his lips curving into that familiar crooked smile, one that never quite reached his eyes.
“Good morning,” I echoed, mirroring his expression despite the tightness in my chest. Our gazes locked, and for a moment, the silence between us felt like a battlefield. What was he thinking? Was he aware of the turmoil beneath my calm facade?
Hephaestus pushed back the covers and approached me, the movement deliberate, calculated. Standing before me, he reached out and gently tucked a curl behind my ear. His touch was soft, but it felt like a chain tightening around me. I swallowed hard, willing myself not to cry. The weight of everything that had happened, everything that I’d been forced to endure, pressed down on me like a suffocating fog.
“You’re so beautiful, Aphrodite,” he whispered, his voice low and possessive, laced with a strange mixture of reverence and control. His fingers lingered on my skin, sending a cold shiver down my spine. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
His words were meant to sound tender, but all I heard was ownership.
The possessiveness in his tone was unmistakable, and the tension in the room thickened, suffocating. His gaze lingered on me, as if he was admiring his prize, the woman he had won. I felt like a possession, something to be kept and controlled, rather than loved. And the worst part was that he believed it—that I belonged to him now.
“What's on the agenda for today?” I asked, my words were more a distraction than a genuine inquiry. I clutched the towel around me, seeking a shield against his gaze.
“I’ve got some business with Zeus,” he replied casually, though the lack of honeymoon plans struck me as peculiar. I nodded, silently welcoming his departure. I was grateful for the respite from my wifely duties.
“Don’t worry, I won't be gone long. Get ready, I'll drop you off at the clubhouse,” he said, turning to head towards the ensuite without another word.
Later that evening, as I descended the grand staircase, I observed the manor’s servants, busy and efficient as they stripped away the remnants of last night’s revelry. The sound of their work echoed through the opulent halls. My eyes trailed over the glittering decorations they carried, now nothing more than hollow symbols of the life I was forced to play a part in.
At the base of the stairs, Ouranos stood in his usual commanding stance, talking animatedly with one of the staff members. His presence was impossible to ignore, but I made a conscious effort not to meet his gaze. I didn’t owe him my attention—or my respect. Not after everything.
He noticed me lingering on the landing, his sharp eyes cutting through the distance, but I refused to acknowledge him. A real father wouldn’t manipulate his daughter into becoming a pawn for his own gain. A real father would stand by her side, protect her from the ugliness of the world, and shield her from the cruelty that came with it. But that wasn’t the reality I was given.
“Congratulations, Aphrodite.” Ouranos’s voice dripped with smugness as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. The smugness in his tone sent a wave of fury through me, as if every syllable was designed to mock my misery. He stood there, tall and unbothered, the architect of this twisted fate he’d thrust upon me.
I took a breath, my heart pounding as the anger bubbled up, threatening to consume me.
“You are dead to me.” My voice was low but full of venom, every word laced with a deep, simmering rage. I could see his lips curl into an almost amused smirk, as if my defiance was just another piece of entertainment for him.
“Oh, my dear,” he said, unfazed. “Don’t be so dramatic. This is your future. You should be grateful for what I’ve given you.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to scream.
“Grateful?” I hissed, my chest heaving with the force of my anger. “For what? For selling me off like some object? For forcing me to marry a man who only sees me as a tool? Is that what you think I should be thankful for?”
Ouranos narrowed his eyes, stepping closer, his expression hardening. “You think you’re the only one who has to make sacrifices? This is how the world works, Aphrodite. Power doesn’t come without a price. You’ve done your part. Now, live with it.”
I stood my ground, my gaze unwavering. “You may have chained me to Hephaestus, but you’ll never break me, Ouranos. You’ll never have the power to control me completely.” I glanced away for a moment, swallowing down the sadness that crept into my throat. “Titan would be proud of me if he were here,” I whispered, though my voice cracked slightly.
Ouranos’s expression darkened at the mention of my brother’s name. His smugness faltered for a split second, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes.
“You think Titan would approve of your defiance?” His voice turned cold. “He’s gone. Dead. And no amount of rebellion will bring him back.”
The pain of Titan’s loss stabbed through my chest. “His death happened over a month ago, and I still don’t know what really happened that night,” I said, my voice trembling with both grief and rage. “But I will find out, Ouranos. And when I do, I swear you’ll regret every moment you’ve tried to manipulate me.”
Ouranos’s face twisted into a sneer. “You’re digging in dangerous territory, Aphrodite.”
I stepped closer to him, standing tall and unflinching. “I don’t fear the truth. And I don’t fear you.”
I turned to leave, only to see Hephaestus stalking down the hallway towards us.
“There you are.” he said to me as he exchanged a glance with Ouranos. “Are you ready?” He reached for my hand.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I replied, not looking back in Ouranos’s direction.
As we made our way towards the exit, I told myself that this would be the last time I ever stepped foot in this place.
Marrying into the Olympus Syndicate was a dark twist of fate, one that thrust me into the arms of those I once considered adversaries. I struggled to accept their world, caught between loyalty and survival. I hadn’t fully embraced their way of life, but I was attempting to accept that this was my reality for now. At least until I find a way to escape this marriage.
The sound of the motorcycle’s engine reverberated through the night as we pulled up to the main building of the compound. Without a word, he turned off the engine and headed into the clubhouse.
I slipped in quietly behind Hephaestus, my eyes scanning the room as I spotted Artie making her way down the stairs. Off to the side, Hades and Apollo were deep in conversation, their low voices blending into the background.
Out of nowhere, Hephaestus smacked my ass. The sound of it echoed in my ears, and a wave of nausea rolled through me, a sickening reminder of the power he wielded.
“Come along, wife,” he ordered, his voice laced with smug authority. He gripped my wrist, yanking me toward the cold metal staircase that spiraled upward.
We walked along the catwalk and towards a door at the end of the walkway—a heavy, imposing metal frame that seemed like a boundary between two worlds.
With a swift motion, Hephaestus swung it open, revealing a secret sanctuary within. My breath caught as I stepped inside, realizing this room had been created specifically for me.
Books lined the walls, their spines nestled between cascading vines that softened the otherwise industrial environment of the compound. Expansive windows bathed the space in natural light, creating an unexpected tranquility.
Hephaestus slid open a pair of glass-paneled doors, revealing our bedroom beyond—a canopy bed draped in rich fabrics that matched my tastes perfectly. My wardrobe was already filled, my personal items meticulously placed in the ensuite.
I turned and saw him leaning casually against the brick wall, watching me closely with those icy-blue eyes, his hands tucked behind his back, his expression unreadable.
“How did you…?” I trailed off, still processing the effort behind this space.
“It’s just a small gift,” Hephaestus said, his voice low and measured. There was something disarming in the way he spoke, a vulnerability I didn’t expect. “I wanted to make this place feel like yours.”
I frowned, glancing at the room again, unsettled. “How did you know my favorite colors… the books I love?” I wasn’t sure if I should be grateful or unnerved. It felt too personal for a man who kept himself so distant.
He straightened, his eyes softening as he approached me. “I watch. I notice things.” There was a pause, and then he added, his voice quieter, almost pained, “I know I don’t show it, but I’ve tried to understand you.”
His confession hung in the air, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t trust his intentions, yet I could feel the weight of his words. Hephaestus was like a puzzle—pieces of him revealing themselves slowly, yet none of them fitting together.
“I don’t understand you,” I whispered, shaking my head slightly, more confused than before.
“I don’t expect you to,” he said, stepping closer, his presence both commanding and oddly intimate. “I’m not easy to figure out. But I’ve always thought you were out of my league, Aphrodite.”
His admission startled me, stirring something I hadn’t anticipated. For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, I felt a pang of sympathy. Maybe it was the fact we were tied together now, or that we had been intimate with each other, but something in his expression made me soften.
“Don’t say that,” I murmured. Without thinking, I reached up, gently pushing the hair back from his face. His tension eased under my touch, and for a brief second, I saw a glimpse of the man beneath the armor .
“Let’s have dinner tonight,” he said, his tone shifting into something warmer. He leaned in, brushing a kiss against my cheek—so unexpected, it sent a shock through my body.
“I can cook,” I replied, forcing a smile as I played the role I was now expected to fill. The perfect wife.
Hephaestus smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I look forward to it, Aphrodite.”
As I smiled back, a hollow feeling settled in my chest. No matter how much effort he put into building this space, I still felt like a stranger here. And despite the facade of warmth between us, the truth was much colder.
As I was adjusting to my new surroundings, Hephaestus had to head out for a meeting with Zeus. He gave me a quick, lingering kiss goodbye, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of warmth amid the chaos.
After he left, I decided to explore a bit more and get myself ready for the evening. I made my way downstairs, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy and, ideally, some company.
In the kitchen, Artie was busy preparing a drink, her movements practiced and smooth.
“Hello, newlywed,” she greeted with a knowing grin, sliding a glass towards me.
I took a seat on one of the stools, feeling a bit more at ease with her presence. “Hey, sister-in-law,” I replied with a smile. Artie was the one good thing in this whole situation, and I was glad to have her around.
She leaned against the counter, using her hand as a headrest, and passed me a drink.
“I like the sound of that. You saw the apartment?” she asked.
I nodded, “I can’t believe he went through the trouble of all of that for me.” I said, squeezing my lime and stirring the straw in the liquor.
“He asked me to help him. He was very insistent. It seems like he’s trying to make this work between the two of you,” She gave me a serious look and whispered, “What about Ares?” Artie’s eyes searched mine.
I sighed, pressing my hands to my forehead. “I haven’t forgotten him, Artie. It’s just... everything’s been a mess lately. I don’t know how to handle it all.”
“Well, what are you going to do?” Artie asked, her gaze steady.
“I honestly don’t know, Artie. This is all too much,” I admitted.
“Well…” Artie hesitated, waiting for me to meet her eyes. “I suppose it might be worth giving Hephaestus a chance. You’re married now, after all.” She studied my face and continued, “But it’s probably best if you keep whatever’s happened between you and Ares under wraps. If Hephaestus finds out, it won’t end well.”
I swallowed my pride, acknowledging the truth in Artie’s words. A tear slipped down my cheek as I confessed, “I love Ares, Artie. I tried to keep my distance, but I couldn’t help falling for him.”
Artie placed her hands over mine, her touch a small comfort amid the storm of my emotions. I struggled to find my voice, the weight of my feelings making it hard to speak.
“I know it feels like you’re lost at sea right now,” Artie said quietly. “But you need to remember why you’re here and hold onto that purpose. It might help you get through this.”
“Thank you for being a refuge in all this chaos,” I said, dabbing at the tears on my face.
Artie’s expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I’m here for you, Aphrodite,” she said gently. “You’re not alone in this.”
I took a shaky breath, grateful for her presence. “I don’t know what I would do without you,” I admitted, my voice quivering.
Artie gave me a reassuring smile. “Oh, and just so you know, Ares isn’t coming to the clubhouse today. He’s staying at Pandora. He doesn’t want?—”
I folded my arms, feeling a pang of understanding. Ares didn’t want to witness the reality of my marriage to Hephaestus. I knew seeing us together would be too painful for him.
“He doesn’t want to see this,” Artie continued, her voice tinged with sadness. “It’s too difficult for him, given how much he still cares for you.”