Chapter 164“We have to do this,” Ivan said, following Vera into the living room.“No we do not, there has to be another way, I bet,” Vera said sitting down. “If there was, I would have told you,” Ivan said, crouching in front of her.“But why do we have to go?” Vera asked, “Why can't you come too?” Vera asked again.“Because it is very dangerous, and you are a mere mortal.” Ivan said, "*Vera, there is a lot you do not know.” “And many more I need to shield you from right now,” Ivan said, his voice begging her to listen to him.“Ivan, I want to be here.” Vera whined, “With you.” She added, cupping his face in her Palms.“I wish you could, but you can't Vera, you just can't,” Ivan said, gazing at her tiny bump.“I know it is because of him, or her,” Vera said, her gaze falling to her belly too and her hand wrapping protectively around it.“Yes, and because of you too, Vera.” Ivan said, "I would not forgive myself if I let you stay and something happens.”“But, what if nothing happens
Chapter 165“How could you?” Athena asked, barging into his office and marching towards him.Ares exhaled and rubbed his temple, he was not ready for this and definitely did not want to hear it.“Not today Athena,” Ares pleaded, “what do you want?” He asked when he noticed she just stood there staring at him.“You rejected the peace treaty?” She asked surprised. “Why?” She asked, determination etched on her face.“Because I did not want it, obviously.” He said, flipping through the pages of the file in front of him.“Is there not a way to think this through and come up with something other than this war?” Athena asked, to take a seat.“No, Athena.” Ares said, “I thought we had an understanding the last time.“We did, but Ares they sent a peace treaty, that has to be a sigh right?” Athena asked again. “Your refusal to accept the peace treaty will, out, jeopardize Harmony and calm that has existed for a while now.” She continued.Ares straightened In his seat, who had adapted to being
Chapter 166Ivan walked into the sect arena, they had yet another meeting to deliberate, but he had others to talk to Hermes first.His heart was heavy with worry, and he sought both counsel and support in this dire hour.“Hey,” Hermes called when he saw him.“Hey, where is Sara?” Ivan asked, looking around.“She should be here somewhere, what is it?”Hermes asked, “You sounded really serious on the phone”“I need to talk to you both,” Ivan said, sliding his hands into his pockets to hide the fact that he was visibly shaking.“Hey, Ivan, Hermes.” Sara greeted, panting a little out of breath.“I need to talk to you guys,” Ivan said, walking them to an office for some privacy.“Is everything okay?” Sara asked, looking between them.“I don't know,” Hermis said, “he said he wants to talk.” He said, gesturing towards him.“So you guys,” Ivan began, his voice tinged with urgency, “I need your help, both of you. Vera's well-being hangs by a thread as the looking war approaches.” “What do yo
Chapter 167Ares watched them match in the battle, it was the set day, and just like they had planned, they struck unaware without any notice to the old gods.He watched them fight back with surprise in their faces and laughed when he saw their number slowly decrease.They were yet to enter into the heart of the fight, and they had lost a significant number of their own already.His ears tinged with the noise and stirring of unrest that echoed through the realm.He watched with keen eyes from quite a distance, ancient deities, once revered and unchallenged, fought for themselves.The old gods who wielded more of classical might and elemental forces and ancient magic surged with power.Powers flew in the air just like he'd done, and his eyes roamed through the chaos for the one person he was interested in. The battle grew more intense, with swords slamming violently into each other, meeting with flesh and bones at intervals.Thunder clashed with the hum of lightning, and mystic wards
Chapter 168Ivan looked around at the bodies of his people splayed on the ground, his heart sank for them and his blood boiled with anger.“Ares!” He called. “Just the man I was hoping to see.” He said, smirking evilly as he walked towards me.“And why is that I wonder,” Ares asked, letting a smirk that matched his.Both men fought vigorously, Ivan felt the first blow and his head spun when he touched his side and felt the warm golden fluid that was his blood.Willing himself to stand, Ivan charges back at him, missing his arm by a margin.Ivan could tell he would lose, his arms were weak already and his knees felt like they would give way any moment.Applying pressure onto his side, he managed to get up on one knee, holding himself steady by digging the blade of his sword into the soft ground.His eyes opened wide in horror when he saw Ares charge towards him with a pained Expression, and his nose flared in anger.Unable to even move, Ivan closed his eyes and waited for the blow, bu
Chapter 169Ares stood outside the hospital room, Hermes had sent him away, but he was adamant, he had decided to wait outside until Hermes finally realized that.“You are still here?” Hermes said when he opened it to find Ares sitting just by it. He had probably asked one of the nurses for a chair or something.“Yes, I am still here.” Ares said, getting up to face him, “I really need to see him.” “Be quick!” Hermes said, a stern look on his face. “Thank you,” Ares said solemnly, walking past him and into the room.Ares approached Ivan's bed, his presence exuded a rare solemnity as he gazed upon Ivan, the man whose valor had clashed with his vicious self.With his gaze rendered on Ivan, his shoulders bowed under a cloak of humility.Ares sought to bridge the chasm between their groups that had been torn asunder, mainly by his selfishness.With slow, measured steps, Ares cleared his throat as he sat on the bedside chair that Hermes had occupied earlier.“Ivan” he called, his voice so
Chapter 170Vera sighed when they finally landed, she could feel the jet lag begin to kick in and her feet hurt so much she wanted to kick off her shoes and walk barefeet.“Hermes.” She greeted them when she spotted him among the sea of people that thronged the airport.“Vera, welcome.” Hermit greeted her with a smile, “You look tired, but happy to be back.” Hermes noticed.“I am exhausted but at the same time happy to be back,” Vera admitted.“Where is Ivan?” Vera asked, looking around. “Uhm…yeah about that,” Hermes said his time changing.“What is wrong with him?” Vera asked in a panicked tone. “Where is he?” She asked again.“Okay, calm down,” Hermes said, taking her hand and urging her on.“He is fine, a little battered, but he is alright,” Hermes said.“What do you mean when you say he is a little battered?” Vera asked. “Do not let it get to your head, he is fine and waiting for you at home,” Hermes said as they walked into the waiting car.Ivan lay on the couch, his heart and
Chapter 171Ares snuck into the hospital room when he saw Hermes drive off. He has been a pain in the ass for quite some time now.Keeping Ares as far from Sara as he could, but this was his chance. So when the opportunity had presented itself, Ares had snuck in to see her.“Ares” She called weakly from the bed when her eyes met his.Ares' mouth fell open when he saw her, his guilt was renewed when he realized he had caused this, he was the reason she was laying there strapped to so many machines.“Sara,” Ares called back, slowly approaching the bed, his feet heavy with the weight of battle waged and the toll it has exerted.Sara's eyes were trained on him, her spirit just as resilient as her body was frail and fragile.Her eyes bore the weariness of a thousand battles when she had just been in one, she looked up at Ares, who was now sitting at her side.“You know, the doctor said I might not get out of her, they would be too deep and had affected some vital organs,” Sara told him, no
Chapter 190Ivan peeked at the back from where her seat every two seconds, he was a nervous wreck but tried his best to conceal that fact.His bride was yet to come, and with each passing minute, he wondered if she had changed her mind.Hermes patted his shoulders in reassurance, but his mind still was not settled.Ivan turned to look at the door again, this time his eyes met with Ares, who was beside his fiancé, Sara.Ares gave him a curt nod and a smile, while Sara waved enthusiastically.Ivan returned the item Ave and a nod before turning to face the judge.He and Vera had decided on a simple court wedding with close friends and loved ones. She had adamantly refused to have a big wedding as according to her, she was already too heavy, and organizing one would drain her.She was a perfectionist, so organizing a big event would mean going all out, and she was already too heavy for that.Ivan understood her more than anyone, they were expecting their little one anytime now, as Vera w
Chapter 189Sara sighed in relief when they all walked out of the Hamilton's house and headed for the car.This was the happiest she had been in a long time, it seemed like she had found a missing piece of herself in that little girl.They looked alike in so many aspects, and Sara would be lying if she said she did not see fragments of herself In that little girl.Her eyes, just like hers are big, brown, and Beautiful. Ushering on win into its beautiful depths.Holding so much emotion even for someone as young as her, and Sara felt like she had the trophy when she held her in her arms.When she had let Sara hug her, Sara had sobbed holding her in her arms, she smelt like heaven, felt like paradise and when she smiled, Sara compared the brightness on her face to the stars in the Galaxy.And although Sara had not told her who she was, she felt Aria could sense it, from how much they looked so alike to each other and something deeper The girl had her eyes trained on Sara the whole time
Chapter 188Catherine was glad that she was able to convince Marilyn, otherwise. The other woman, while she may seem like a softie, was a hard nut to crack.But Catherine had done it all, all by herself. Slowly, Marilyn was becoming her usual cheerful and outgoing self.Catherine could remember when Marilyn had started therapy a few days ago and had told her she had an idea.Her genius idea was to reopen the case of Steve Anderson's death and the missing of her husband.Catherine had stopped in her tracks while staring at Marilyn with surprise.This was the same woman who had argued with her when she recommended taking the case further.Catherine had disagreed the very minute the words had left Marilyn's mouth.She could not let her friends go ahead with a plan, a very dangerous one that could endanger her.What if whoever killed Steve was out there, what if they watched her take them internationally, and then she became their new target?She was unable to let it, and will not let it
Chapter 187Ares smiled into the mirror as he buttoned the last part of had shirt, carefully tucking it into his pants.He had been smiling since he left Sara's, it was like that one kiss with Sara had brought back the spark in his life back to him.His eyes were not so dull, his skin looked revived, and the bags under his eyes were less visible.Running his fingers in his hair to smoothen it down, Ares picked up his key and dashed out of the room.Ares drove out of the driveway with a new-found hope, meeting with Sara had given him a strength he never knew he lacked.They had agreed to meet Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton again, but this time with Sara in their company.He hoped she would keep the same energy as she had before they parted ways last night.Parking the car, he walked into the house you get Sara, they were already running late, and he still had to fetch Anna before they left.“Hey, I am here for Sara.” Ares said when he saw Hermes stepping out of the house just as he went in to k
Chapter 186Sara sighed as she looked around the hospital room one last time. As much as she hated it here, she would miss these walls.These blank white walls that she had stared at all those nights when she could not sleep from all the pain that coursed through her, body and soul.Tuning to a waiting Hermes, she gave him a curt nod to signify she was ready to leave.Hermes patted her shoulders in reassurance, guiding the wheelchair out of the room and into the Hallway.Sara smiled and waved at the few patients whose faces she could remember, she would miss them.Not so much, though, but they had contributed one way or the other to her journey of recovery.As they wheeled out of the hospital, she sighed in satisfaction as fresh air hit her face, greeting her and the sunlight cast its warm glow on her skin.The fresh air she felt was a giant contrast to the sterile air inside the hospital, one she had slowly grown accustomed to but was now leaving behind.The scent of fresh air mingle
Eve stared into the evening sky, smiling as she gazed at the stars that glittered in the distant galaxies.She felt she had every reason to smile, things had surprisingly been working out for her and Gede.They finally moved into their place all with the blessing of his family, and she had made peace with her friends.Carmen had not taken her decision to settle in Bali very lightly, threatening to come get her every day.But Eve knew that they knew not to come and get her, she liked it here, scratch that, she loved it here.Oliver, on the other hand, had been the last person to forgive her. Eve could not blame her, she loved her more than anyone else in the friend group.Of course, she was the most hurt, it broke Eve's heart when she thought about what she did to her or how she might have felt.But what had been done had already been done, she had made the mistake, and it could not be taken back.Kira, sweet old Kira was the least disturbed, she had just shrugged and said she knew and
Chapter 184Keeping her little family private was not exactly a choice that Athena had chosen for herself, but it was what seemed to be right at the time.She had made a family, a small, beautiful one with a mortal whom she had bared herself to.Alex was the one man who had seen beyond her mortality, and even more understood her when she explained who she was.They had met downtown when Ares had sent her on an errand. They had bumped into each other while she was trying to cover her tracks.Something had clicked between them ever since, and Athena could not resist it.Of course, they had met again, and again, and again. By the third time they met, they were stumbling into his little apartment.Lips locked, hands all over each other, and clothes flying off their bodies. Stumbling and quickly, they had found the bed and Athena was unable to remember a more passionate night for her.They had made sweet love, with his hands and mouth on every inch of her body.Athena knew then that she wo
Chapter 183The rest of the ride was quiet, and soon they were there, parked in front of the house, with Ares too skeptical to walk up to the door.“You know we can't just sit here in the car and stare at the door all day,” Anna said, sighing in frustration.“Yeah, I know, it's just… I don't know Anna.” Ares said, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly, Ares exhaled a long breath.“Ares, we should go.” Anna urged him, “Let's go, come on.” Anna said, stepping out of the car and peeking in to give him a stern look.“Come on Ares,” Anna said as she walked towards the door.It was evening already, and Anna hoped with everything in her that they were in and would be willing to let them see the child.Ares finally gathered enough courage to step outside the car and all towards the door.Anna had already rang the bell, so she stood aside and waited for the door to open.Walking over to stand behind her, Anna turned to give him a reassuring look before ringing the bell again.This ti
Athena sighed as she rolled over in bed, it was one of those days when she would rather not in bed than get up for any reason But she had plans, and with the company being her sole responsibility now since Ares embarked on the journey of finding his child, she needed to be at the office.Rubbing her eyes for a few minutes, Athena finally rolled out, sitting at the edge of the bed and contemplating if all this was really worth it.Or perhaps she could ditch work and everything else for the day, fall back into her bed, and pretend none of it even existed.Scolding herself, she pushed off the bed and headed for the bathroom to get ready.Getting right into it, she did her morning business. Brushing her teeth lazily as she sat on the toilet bowl.Tearing her pajamas off her body when she was done, she trudged into the shower Putting on and letting the cold shower cascade down her back. Exhaling sharply as the cold cut through her skin, giving her goosebumps. It was precisely what she n