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

eyes land on me, the bags underneath his eyes identical to mine.
Ares’s eyes trail down to my exposed chest, and pure rage settles in his eyes. He walks toward
me and slips out of his jacket, his stride confident yet rushed. “Raven,” he says, my name sounding
like a warning as he wraps his jacket around my shoulders and pulls me toward him.
He glances at John and grits his teeth. “Excuse us, please. I need a moment with my wife.”
John looks at me, and I nod. He hesitates for a moment, but then he walks away, the door falling
closed behind him.
“Raven,” he repeats, his tone softer now. “What was that? Why are you… you’re half-naked in
front of him. Is there something going on between you two?”
I look into his eyes, my heart heavy. I’ve loved him for as long as I can remember, yet even though
I’m married to him, my sister is still standing between us. “Does it matter?”
His gaze hardens, and he pulls me closer. “Of course it does. We promised each other fidelity
when we got married, Raven.”
I put my arms around his shoulder, his jacket falling to the floor in the process, leaving me
standing in front of him in nothing but an open robe. “I didn’t cheat on you, Ares. I’d never do that.
I’m not that kind of person.”
He looks into my eyes as though he’s trying to ascertain my truthfulness. “Do you two have
history?”
I look away and huff involuntarily. “Nothing like what you share with Hannah.”
His hands move around my waist, and he tightens his grip. “Rave,” he whispers, his forehead
falling to mine. Ares inhales shakily and my heart wavers. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I really am.”
I push away from him, but he refuses to let me go. “Listen to me,” he pleads. “You’ve been
ignoring my calls all day. I can’t take this, baby. This is not what I want our marriage to be like, okay?
Didn’t we promise to communicate? Our situation is already so unconventional… the last thing I want
to do is complicate it any further. Listen to me, please.”
I nod at him. “Fine,” I whisper, uncertain anything he has to say will diminish my pain.
“She never should have come to our home, and I never should’ve said what I did. I don’t feel
trapped, Raven. Not with you. The situation is tricky, and I feel like I’m either hurting Hannah or I’m
hurting you. That’s all I meant. I didn’t for a single second mean that I feel trapped in this marriage
with you, you hear me? I’ve never been happier, Rave. I just know that hurting Hannah will put
additional strain on your relationship with her, too. I don’t want to be the reason you argue with your
sister, baby. I just… I just want you to be happy.”
I nod, unsure what to make of his words. “I get it, Ares. I’m just not sure that it matters. What are
we even doing?”
“You told me you want happiness of your own, and I swear that I’ll try my best to give you that, if
you’ll give me a chance. Will you, Raven? Will you give me a chance?”
My heart skips a beat as my eyes find his, nothing but sincerity in his gaze. “What does that mean,
Ares?”
He cups my face, his thumb brushing over my lip gently. “It means that I want more than just your
body. I want a chance to prove that I truly do want it all with you, the past be damned. I want a chance
to win your heart,” he whispers. “Because with each passing day, you’re stealing a little bit more of
mine.”