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Ares had barely slept. The hours in the hospital felt like they stretched into eternity, his mind turning over everything that had happened his body’s fragility, the betrayals, and the eerie calm that had taken root in Selene’s eyes. Every time she entered the room, it felt like he was in the presence of someone who knew too much.
The door creaked open and Selene stepped inside, carrying a file with a neat black cover. Her footsteps were deliberate, her expression neutral, but Ares could sense a change in the air as she moved toward him.
“I’ve been thinking about your recovery plan,” she said, placing the file on the table in front of him. “I know this isn’t easy, but we have to take action now if you want to rebuild.”
Ares frowned, his gaze flickering to the folder, then back to her face. “Rebuild?” His voice was hoarse, almost mocking. “My company is falling apart, Selene. My body’s broken. I don’t see how anything can be rebuilt.”
She didn’t flinch at his bitterness. Instead, she regarded him quietly, with the same calm, calculated expression that had become so familiar. “That’s why I’m here. You’ve lost control, Ares, but you can take it back. There’s still a chance to turn things around, but it’ll require more than just physical therapy.”
He couldn’t stop the bitterness that surged inside him. “More? What could you possibly offer me?” His voice cut through the tension in the room like a blade. “I’m not a fool, Selene. This isn’t just about my recovery. What’s your angle?”
Selene met his gaze with a stillness that unsettled him. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, the kind that stretched out between two people who both knew too much. Finally, she spoke, her words deliberate.
“I’m offering you a partnership, Ares,” she said softly. “You need someone who understands the business, who knows the power dynamics at play. If you want to recover both physically and financially, you have to trust me.”
Ares‘ heart raced. Her words were smooth, convincing, and yet they left a bitter taste in his mouth. Was this genuine? Or was this another
calculated move to control him?
He leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the bed as his mind spun. “A partnership? And what exactly does that mean for me?
What do you want in return?”
Her expression remained steady, but there was a flicker in her eyes, one he couldn’t quite place. “I want you to succeed, Ares. That’s all. But I can’t help you if you don’t trust me.”
Ares stared at her for a long moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. She was offering him something a chance to rebuild but at what cost? What was Selene hiding? And, most importantly, could he trust her?
“I’ll think about it,” he said, his voice quieter now, the anger replaced by uncertainty.
Selene nodded, her expression unreadable. “I understand. But remember, time is running out. This is your chance, Ares. Don’t waste it.”
As she turned to leave, Ares watched her, his mind swirling with questions and doubts. But one thing was clear he had no choice but to trust someone, and the weight of that decision threatened to crush him.
The next few days were a blur of conversations, decisions, and attempts at recovering what he had lost. Ares found himself relying on Selene more and more as the weight of his helplessness grew heavier. The woman who had once been a mere caretaker now held the keys
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Chapter 9
to his future and it terrified him.
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Every plan she presented, every strategy she outlined, made perfect sense. She was intelligent, resourceful, and driven. But as much as he recognized her capabilities, Ares couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that there was more to her than she was letting on. He couldn’t tell if it was the lingering mystery of her past or the way her gaze sometimes held a hidden knowledge something she wasn’t sharing but the suspicion never left him.
Still, he had no choice. His empire was crumbling, his body was broken, and the people he had trusted had betrayed him. If there was even a chance to regain control, to claw his way back to power, he needed her.
The soft tap of footsteps broke Ares from his thoughts, and he turned to see Selene entering the room, a folder in hand. She placed it on the table beside him, her movements calm, precise.
“This is the new strategy,” she said, her voice as smooth as ever. “It’s time to take action.”
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