The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

regard for my wishes and dreams. Do you have any idea how used and manipulated I feel? You’re my
big sister, Han. You’re the one person in this world that’s supposed to look out for me, yet you never
did. Never.”
“Raven, you know that isn’t true. Wasn’t I the one who got you your first modeling gig?”
I look her in the eye and smile in disbelief. “No, Hannah. All you did was bring me with you to
one of your premieres. I was scouted and signed without any endorsements from you.”
She sighs and waves her hand. “You wouldn’t have been there without me, but forget it. That isn’t
the point. I’m just trying to say that I do try to look out for you in my own way.”
I shake my head. “Not everything can always be your way, Han. You don’t get to decide whether I
feel like you’re there for me.”
“So you are mad at me.” Her tone is accusatory, and I shake my head in defeat. Why do I even
bother?
“Why are you here, Hannah?”
She looks around my office and smiles. “The last time I was here, I was trying on my wedding
dress. I didn’t even get to wear it in the end.”
I grit my teeth and look away. Just thinking about her dress is bittersweet to me. I put so much love
and work into her wedding gown, yet wearing it brought me so much pain.
Hannah looks at me with an insincere smile on her face. “I bet it looked beautiful on you, though.”
I stare at the design in front of me, unsure how to even reply to that. Just seeing her makes me feel
conflicted. It reminds me that every moment I share with Ares should’ve been hers.
“Is he nice to you, Rave? Does he treat you well?”
I look up, hesitating for a moment as I think back to the way he touched me last night. Guilt unlike
anything I’ve ever felt before hits me hard, and I look away, suddenly feeling sick.
“I’m worried about you. He’s a good man, but I’m worried he’ll take his anger at me out on you.”
I cross my arms and lean back in my seat. “Ares and I have always been friends,” I tell her, my
voice soft. “That hasn’t changed. He’s still as nice to me as he’s always been.”
Something flashes in Hannah’s eyes, but it’s gone before I can identify it. “That’s good. I’m glad.”
She looks away, both of us falling silent for a moment. There’s so much left unsaid between us,
but neither of us has the courage to ask the questions that need to be voiced.
“I know that the Windsors value marriage above almost everything else,” she says cautiously.
“Ares is no different. There’s nothing he won’t do out of loyalty, regardless of his feelings.”
I frown, unsure what she’s trying to say.
“I know he still loves me, and he always will, but he’s hurting so badly right now that he’s
pushing me away. I think that, in part, it’s because he feels like he has to distance himself from me
simply because he’s married now. I know he needs me, yet he refuses to let me in because it goes
against his beliefs about marriage. I don’t want to see him hurting, Rave. I know he’s mad at me, and I
know I caused a great deal of pain. I want to make up for it, but he won’t even take my calls.”
I entwine my fingers and squeeze tightly in an attempt to stay calm, even though my thoughts are
racing.
“Please, Rave. Tell him to talk to me. I know my request sounds ridiculous, especially because
your marriage isn’t real. You said it yourself, the two of you are just friends, and considering how
much he loves me, it’ll never be more than that, but he just… he has such a strong sense of loyalty.
Remind him that it’s misplaced.”
I stare at her for a moment as a wave of disappointment and sorrow washes over me. “You aren’t
here to apologize for what you did to me, are you? You’re here because you need me to talk to Ares