Inside the luxurious living room of Ares' mansion, the atmosphere was warm on the surface yet quietly suffocating underneath.
Early afternoon sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the elegant black-and-gold interior. Expensive chandeliers glimmered overhead while the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.
Seated elegantly on one of the black leather couches, Gary Vice crossed his legs neatly while holding his coffee cup with effortless flair. His movements were animated, expressive, and impossible to ignore as he chatted enthusiastically with Scarlet.
Across from him, Scarlet laughed softly, clearly enjoying the nostalgia.
The two of them were deeply immersed in memories from their college days, laughing over stories that sounded harmless to them—but to others in the room, every word felt like another needle pressing into old wounds.
Especially for Layla.
