Past Mistakes
Chapter Sixteen
I woke up alone on the bed. The pillows that separated me and Ares were gone. It was place neatly on the couch.
I turned to the bedside table to check the time. I was surprised to see a beautiful red rose on top of a note.
I took the rose and smelled its fresh sweet fragrance. It seemed like it was freshly picked from the garden, then I read the note.
Rachel,
I’m going to the airport to fetch someone. I’ll see you later.
It was nine o’clock already. I must be so tired for waking up late.
I took a bath and changed into a long summer dress. I didn’t have any shoes except for the black stilettos. My feet were sore already. I decided to go barefoot.
I had a breakfast, alone.
I was surprised to see the chocolate cupcakes on the table. It was exactly the same as yesterday, at the mansion in New York. Fresh and super moist. Just like the way I loved it.
I thought Genevieve made it. Well, I guessed the baker came with us yesterday on our way here.
After breakfast, I went to Mr. Niarchos room. Tiffany was there with a nurse. She looked more stunning today. More like a Victoria Secret model than a physician.
“Good morning.” Tiffany said without looking at me. She was auscultating the heart sounds of Mr. Niarchos. “Did you sleep well?”
“Good morning. Yeah, I did.” I answered.
Tiffany looked at me then laughed. “Oh… I’m not talking to you. Anyways, it’s good to hear that you slept well dear.”
I felt embarrassed. The nurse beside her also laughed a little.
“Um… I’ll just come back.” I said and went out of the room.
I was in the garden looking at the beautiful flowers when Tiffany appeared.
“Hi.”
I looked at her then shifted my head sideways to make sure she was talking to me. I didn’t want to be embarrassed again.
“Hi. Can I see him now?” I asked her.
“Yeah. But, I would like to talk to you for a while.”
“Sure. About what?”
“About Ares.”
My heart started to race faster. “What about?”
“Rachel, I want you to know something and I want you to understand.” She paused then heaved a long sigh. “I love Ares.”
Shock. Speechless.
“Ares doesn’t love you. The only reason Ares wants you back is because of his grandfather.” She smiled like she was just talking about the weather. “He wanted his grandfather’s forgiveness, so badly. He can have that, only if you’re back together.”
“I know that. You don’t have to remind me.” I figured it out yesterday the moment we entered Mr. Niarchos’ room yesterday. Tiffany didn’t have to spell it out for me.
“So you know also about the money?”
“What money?”
She laughed. “About the Niarchos’ billions of dollars deposited in Swiss bank. Ares can have all of that money if he stays married with you or else it will go to his nearest relative. That’s the term of Mr. John Niarchos’ will.”
I felt like I was splashed with cold water. So that was the real reason why Ares did not want a divorce. What a greedy b@stard!
“So, what does it has to do with you?”
“Nothing. I’m just telling you that you can’t have his heart. What a pity!”
I rose one eyebrow and faced her squarely. “Don’t pity me. I married the guy. Yeah, I may not have his heart, but I have his whole body. And you? You love him… and you’ve got nothing of him. So who do you think is more pitiful between us?”
Tiffany’s eyes were blazing angrily. She immediately spun around and left the house.
I was inside Mr. John Niarchos’ room the whole morning. Reading to him the latest world news in the internet, singing the songs I usually sang for him before and just merely talking to him about anything. He nodded his head and his eyes smiled. I knew he appreciated what I was doing. And I enjoyed doing it for him.
My mind kept on thinking about what Tiffany said. There was no chance that Ares would sign the divorce paper. He would want to get his grandfather’s money – billions of dollars.
Ares was extremely rich already. He was managing their family businesses, but still… he wanted more money. That’s greedy! Money is not everything. It is the root of all evil.
I felt disappointed of Ares. I thought of what he said… He didn’t want a divorce. He didn’t want his marriage to end up like his parents. He wanted our marriage to work. He wanted us to start all over again.
He had me believed that he was really sorry for what he did on our wedding night. And the accident, was so heartbreaking… knowing that he followed me to Dallas made me think that he really cared.
But all were lies…
Everything was a lie. All he thinks is MONEY.
Oh God. I was on the edge of melting… and ready to forgive him… but knowing this made me feel so bad…
I tried to assess the situation and think on his point of view. Yeah, he had the right to all of that money because it belongs to his grandfather. But the stake was me! He had to stay married to me – forever?!
That’s unfair on my part. What about my life? What do I get from this? Money? Living in a gilded cage?
I don’t need money. I don’t need luxury. I just want to be happy and be with someone I love… Drew.
Drew. Drew. Drew.
I’m thinking of Drew but Ares’ image keeps on popping in my head. His eyes and smile, his n@ked body – well-defined abdominal muscles and v line. I shook my head to erase the image. I’m obviously attracted to him. Very. I can’t deny that anymore.
At twelve noon, I was hungry, ready to go out and have lunch when the bedroom door opened.
It was Ares.
With him was an equally handsome guy with ash-blond hair. Both of them were tall, lean and strikingly gorgeous. It seemed like they were of the same age.
Ares was walking towards me. “Rachel.” He said and k!ssed my cheek. I turned to him and his lips landed on mine.
Lips to lips. It was the first time after seven years!
My lips froze, and his also. We stayed like that for seconds. I closed my eyes, waiting… for his lips to move.
It didn’t. Then I felt it left mine.
“Rachel, I want you to meet my cousin, Kane Pallis.” Ares said, drawing me closer to his body. His right arm encircled my body and his hand settled on my waist. The sudden contact made my body jerked up like I was suddenly struck with lightning.
Kane Pallis straightened after he greeted his grandfather with a k!ss on the forehead. “Hello, Rachel.”
“Hello, Kane. Nice meeting you.” I extended my hand. But I was surprised when Kane hugged me and gave me k!sses on both cheeks.
“Nice meeting you too. At last, I finally meet you. I heard so much about you from pappoús.” He smiled, and it was a very infectious smile. His eyes even glistened and it was hard not to be mesmerised – he was handsome, warm and friendly.
“Really… I hope everything is nice.”
“I assure you, everything is nice.” He winked at me. “He’s right, you’re very pretty.”
I giggled. “Oh, thank you. And you’re a very handsome…”
My sentence was cut off when I felt Ares hand suddenly squeezed my shoulder. I looked at him and saw his face in glowering mask of rage.
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