The threat hung in the air, and I could feel the heavy gaze from the others waiting to go in. It was almost as if everything went still at every instant.
"H-Honey, it’s okay. It’s just protocol," I said, hoping to ease the tension, but it did nothing.
The guard was frozen in place at Ares’ sharpened gaze.
Shit!
"Earl, if you want to live, step back," A man came forward. "Master Ares."
Earl’s eyes widened as he looked back at Ares, and recognition flashed on his face. Like a mouse, he retreated, overpowered even though he was bulkier.
I guess this was what Granny meant when she told me that power doesn’t come from size.
Finally, Ares’ attention was pulled to the middle-aged man who had addressed him earlier. He wasn’t wearing a mask, but he was swathed smartly in his suit, his hands concealed in white gloves.
"Forgive him, he’s unintelligent."
"Henry."
"It’s been a long time, but I can recognize you anywhere." The age lines formed when he smiled. "And you must be the master’s wife, pleased to meet you." He showed me his palm.
"Likewise," I said as I gave my hand, and he kissed my knuckles.
"Shall we? We have caused a crowd here." He walked back in, and we followed suit.
We stepped into a foyer, followed by a long hallway, before the event came into view.
It felt like a scene out of a castle. Everything glittered, and everyone dressed like people you only see in a fantasy theme. The aesthetics were breathtaking.
Ares’ hand moved smoothly to my waist and held me close. The crowd was simple, so automatically all eyes flew to us.
Having this many stares from high-class society made me nervous, but I did my best to put up a confident composure, and with Ares beside me, I felt I could handle anything.
I gulped when we neared a couple that stood out from everyone, like they were the stars of the event.
A man was seated, hand rubbing his sharpened jaw as if observing us closely. I assumed he was Ares’ dad just by a glimpse.
Elias King. I only know him by name.
He had silver hair from age and a stubble beard, too. His eye was identical to Ares’s, having that icy intensity. He was a much older version of Ares.
A woman standing beside him was magnificent in her black gown that looked like it was tailored by the best designers the world has ever seen. Her hands up to her arms were shrouded in gloves, and she held a Venetian stick mask made of feathers that matched her attire.
Her eyes...
When she lowered the mask, I sucked in breath. It was the same woman from the boutique who talked about shoes with me.
What the—!
My mouth hung in shock, but I shut it close before I made a fool of myself. She came to us, soft and bewitching in her steps, in a way that she could dominate a runway.
"Welcome home." She embraced Ares in a motherly gesture, but she did something that troubled me, something only I could catch in that split second.
She took a whiff of Ares’ neck, closing her eyes briefly in bliss.
I blinked, and it was almost as if it didn’t happen.
When she pulled away, a smile pressed on her black painted lips before she glanced my way, and I noted she struggled to keep it fixed.
"And you must be...?"
She’s acting as if she doesn’t know me.
"You look familiar," I stated, and Ares’ gaze snapped to me.
"How so? I don’t believe we have met."
Seriously?
"Just a feeling..." I ended it there, for now.
"Agatha King." She introduced. "And you are the wife we have heard so much about. I finally got to see who he chose."
I didn’t bother to introduce myself, seeing it as pointless in this situation.
"I heard about the accident. It’s such a shame you suffered such an ordeal. I’m glad to see you’re all in good health."
"I guess it wasn’t my time yet. From where I come from, we’re tough as nails."
Agatha laughed softly, but it was a forced sound. She walked back to her husband, and I realized he hadn’t moved or said a word.
"I didn’t think you would come... given nowadays your ways shock me." He finally spoke, veering his eyes to me, and I froze.
They were cold, cold.
"You brought her here."
"Because she’s my wife," Ares replied. "And you invited us."
"A wife without my blessing."
"My love..." Agatha cooed. "We shouldn’t wash our dirty clothes in front of others." She snapped her fingers, and the music continued.
I just realized that the crowd had been attentive the entire time. Too late, the dirty clothes were already seen.
Elias pushed to his feet, using his cane for support. "Unfortunately, I cannot recognise you as a woman of this house. You look like someone who doesn’t know better. Whatever trick this is won’t work."
"There’s none. I love your son."
He sneered. "Love?"
Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have said that because it made my mouth taste foul.
"Yes, love."
"How much?"
"Excuse me?"
"How much did he pay you to say that?"
"That’s—"
"Enough." Ares’ calm yet deadly tone sliced through the air.
Dark silence stretched between the two, and it seemed like they were having a contest of annihilating stares.
Okay, tonight’s discovery... Ares doesn’t like his dad.
"The ball is going to waste, let’s leave the talk for later. My love, we have many guests to greet. We shouldn’t keep them waiting." She stroked his back.
Ares led me away without waiting to be excused.
"That was awkward and intense. I have a feeling this isn’t over," I whispered to him. "I’m meant to make them like me?"
That’d certainly end in ruins before it even started.
Ares halted his steps. "Doesn’t say so in the contract."
"But the sole purpose of the contract was because of your family, wasn’t it?"
"Yes."
"Is there another reason?"