The grand wedding had ended in chaos. What was meant to be a night of endless champagne, laughter, and celebration had been tainted by Tessa's sudden arrival. The guests were still whispering long after they left the venue, their faces pale with shock. Chloe, dressed in her dazzling white gown, had forced a smile through the tears in her eyes. Ares had not spoken a single word. Not even during the ride back home.
The mansion was quiet now. Too quiet for a house that had just hosted the wedding of the year. The lights in the hallway were dim, and the golden chandeliers swayed slightly as if even the walls were holding their breath.
But upstairs in the nursery, Ares had shut himself away.
The nursery wasn't just a room. It was practically an entire wing of the house. The ceiling stretched high with clouds painted across it. Stars glowed in the dark, tiny bulbs flickering like constellations. The walls were lined with shelves stacked with toys, children's books, and soft dolls. A giant rocking chair sat near the corner, carved from mahogany, cushioned with velvet blue fabric.
The quadruplets lay in their individual cribs, four angels wrapped in golden blankets. Their breathing was soft and rhythmic, their small fists twitching occasionally in sleep.
Ares sat in the rocking chair with a book in his hand. His voice was low, steady, and unusually gentle for a man known for his fire and dominance.
"—and the little bird flew beyond the mountains, never looking back, because it knew home was where the heart belonged," Ares finished softly, closing the fairytale book.
He watched the children's eyelids flutter shut completely. A wave of calmness washed over him as he leaned forward and kissed each of their foreheads. One by one, he tucked the blankets tighter around their tiny forms.
It was his wedding night. And yet here he was sitting in the nursery instead of on a private jet with his new wife.
A faint sound of heels clicking against marble reached him before the door creaked open.
Chloe stepped in, her gown now replaced with a silk robe. Diamonds still glittered against her neck, and her makeup, though smudged, didn't dull the fire in her sharp eyes. She stood by the door watching him for a while, her arms folded tightly against her chest.
"Ares," she said finally, her voice clipped. "What are you doing here? It's past midnight. This is not where you're supposed to be."
Ares didn't look at her. He was still staring at the children. His jaw clenched slightly, but his silence only fueled Chloe's anger.
"Did you hear me?" she pressed, walking closer. "This…" she waved around the nursery, her voice rising "…isn't where you should be on your wedding night."
Still, he said nothing.
Chloe exhaled sharply. "Fine. If you won't answer here, then get up. We need to talk."
Finally, Ares looked at her. His eyes were darker than usual, shadowed by something Chloe couldn't quite name. He closed the book, rose from the rocking chair, and without another word, brushed past her.
They walked in silence down the corridor, their footsteps echoing against the marble floor. He led her to his bedroom.
The master suite was massive, with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the city. The curtains were drawn back, letting the moonlight spill in, making the room look almost silver. The king sized bed was untouched, neatly made, waiting for them.
But Ares didn't move toward it. He went instead to the balcony doors, opening them just slightly to let the cold night air in.
Chloe stayed by the bed, glaring at him. "So, this is how it's going to be? You're going to shut me out even tonight?"
"Not here," Ares said simply, his voice low.
"Not here?" Chloe repeated, scoffing. "You've been saying that all night. Not here in front of the guests. Not here in the car. And now not here in front of the children. So tell me, Ares—where exactly do you want to talk? Or are you just planning to never answer me?"
He finally turned around. His eyes locked onto hers, intense and unflinching. "What do you want me to say?"
Chloe's chest tightened. "Say why, Ares. Say why you cancelled our flight to Miami. Say why you abandoned me at the reception. Say why you've been silent since Tessa showed up!"
Her voice cracked at the name, but she held her ground.
Ares didn't speak immediately. His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw set hard. "Because tonight wasn't supposed to happen this way," he muttered.
"What does that mean?" Chloe snapped. "Are you telling me you now suddenly care about her? After everything? After the pain she put us through?"
His silence was louder than any confession.
Chloe's stomach twisted. She moved closer to him, her hands trembling as she grabbed his arm. "Ares, look at me! I'm your wife now. Me. Chloe. Not her." Her voice broke. "She's gone. She was gone for years. She showed up today with plans to stop the wedding. Of all days to herself, today? You heard her, she stalked me and your mother! That woman is crazy!"
Ares finally yanked his arm free, his eyes blazing. "You think it's that simple for me tonight?"
"Yes!" Chloe cried. "Yes, it is that simple! You love who you choose to love, Ares. You married me, not her."
He turned away, gripping the edge of the balcony railing until his knuckles whitened. His chest rose and fell heavily, the memory of Tessa's face burned into his mind.
Chloe stood in silence for a moment, then whispered, "Why didn't you arrest her?"
Ares froze.
Chloe's words sliced through the air like a knife. "She barged into our wedding, humiliated us in front of everyone, tried to destroy everything you've built. And you—you had every right, every power to throw her in jail. But you didn't. Why?"
He still didn't answer.
"Why, Ares?" she pressed again, tears streaming down her cheeks now. "Why didn't you have her dragged away in handcuffs? Why didn't you end her once and for all? I thought you hate her…so much…"
Ares turned sharply, his eyes locking onto hers. His voice, when it came, was dangerously low. "I don't want to talk about this again."
Chloe stumbled back as if she'd been slapped.
The truth hung heavy between them. He probably cared about her.
She shook her head, laughing bitterly through her tears. "Unbelievable. On our wedding night. You admit it—you feel something for her."
Ares didn't move to deny it.
Chloe wiped at her face furiously, her diamond bracelet clinking as her hand trembled. "Do you even realize what you're doing to me? To us? To these children?"
Ares' gaze softened for a split second when she mentioned the kids, but the fire in his eyes quickly returned. "This isn't about you, Chloe. This is bigger than you."
"No," she snapped. "This is about you refusing to let go of the past. You married me, Ares. You made vows to me. Or did those mean nothing the moment she walked through that door?"
He stared at her, his chest rising and falling heavily, but he couldn't find the words.
Chloe let out a broken sob. She turned away, pacing across the room, her robe flowing behind her. "Do you know what hurts the most?" she whispered. "Not that she came back. Not that you looked at her. What hurts is that you looked at her the way you used to look at me."
Ares' heart clenched, but he didn't reach for her. He couldn't.
Chloe wiped her tears, forcing her voice steady. "You need to decide, Ares. Because I won't stand here and let Tessa destroy me. I won't let her destroy us."
The clock on the wall ticked loudly, filling the silence that stretched between them.
Finally, Chloe turned toward the bed, climbing onto it with trembling hands. She sat there, her back straight, her face pale but determined. "This is our wedding night," she said softly but firmly. "And whether you like it or not, I am your wife."
Her words hung in the air, sharp and heavy.
Ares didn't move toward her. He stood by the balcony, staring out into the night as if searching for answers in the stars.