The Obsession of ARES

A sharp knock roused Amara from her sleep. The morning light streamed faintly through her curtains, too bright for how heavy her eyes still felt. She pushed the blanket off and dragged herself toward the door.

One of the servants stood there, bowing slightly. "Young Miss, Master Gregory requests your presence at the breakfast table."

Amara's expression didn't shift. Her amber eyes, cool and distant, flickered briefly before she muttered, "Alright." The door shut with a soft thud, silencing the world outside.

She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and let her fingers glide through her golden hair until it shone like strands of sunlight. By the time she descended the grand staircase, the chatter from the dining hall dimmed.

Every pair of eyes turned toward her.

The golden-haired girl walking down the steps looked almost unearthly, like she had stepped out of a dream. Her delicate features were calm, but her amber eyes carried a quiet sharpness that made it hard to look away.

Kael, seated at the far end of the long table, froze. His hand tightened around his cup without realizing it. For a moment, he was struck dumb.

The girl he once dismissed, reduced to nothing in his eyes, stood now with a beauty that seemed to eclipse the room.

Damn it... she's even more stunning than before.

A flicker of something sharp pressed against his chest-regret, perhaps. But Kael shoved it down ruthlessly. His lips curved into a faint, mocking smirk as he tore his gaze away.

What use is beauty without power? Without wealth?

He reminded himself of the truth: Amara was a fallen star, stripped of her status, left with nothing but a pretty face. A woman like that could only be admired from afar, not relied on. Melissa, her cousin, was the smarter choice-his ticket upward. His engagement to her was proof of his cunning, not weakness.

Even so... his hand tightened on the knife beside his plate. Because no matter how fiercely he justified it, Amara's quiet, untouchable grace made Melissa feel like little more than a substitute.

Amara walked over and sat down at the table, sliding into the empty chair as if nothing in the world could bother her. She didn't so much as glance at the faces around her. Instead, she picked up her fork and began to eat, each graceful movement unhurried, almost lazy.

It was as though she hadn't nearly ruined an engagement party the night before. As though she didn't owe anyone an explanation.

Melissa's jaw tightened, her nails digging into her palm beneath the table. Jealousy ate at her like poison, the sight of Amara's calm face only making it worse. How dare she sit there so calmly... as though nothing has happened?

Cassandra sat quietly, her gaze flicking toward Amara with a pang of bitterness she dared not reveal. She lowered her eyes quickly, hiding the envy that churned inside her chest.

Liam slouched in his seat, his phone in hand, swiping at the screen with disinterest.

Gregory couldn't hide the way his eyes lingered. He stared longer than he should have, caught off guard by how ethereal Amara looked that morning. Her golden hair caught the light, her amber eyes seeming to glow against her calm face. It was a quiet beauty, the kind that unsettled without trying.

Clarissa noticed his expression.

Her stomach twisted painfully, dragging up memories she had buried long ago, memories she could never allow to resurface. Her hands curled tightly in her lap until the sting in her palms reminded her to stay composed. She lifted her head, arranging her lips into a practiced smile.

"Amara," she said softly, her tone warm, almost too warm. "Where did you run off to last night? We searched everywhere for you. In the end, we had to go on with the banquet without you."

Her words dripped with concern, but the sharp edge beneath them could not be missed.

Amara's fork paused mid-air. For a moment, her amber eyes flicked lazily toward Clarissa, then back down to her plate. A faint, mocking curve tugged at her lips.

"Do you really need me there?" she asked bluntly, her voice soft yet cutting, carrying a derisive note that made Melissa's face flush red.

The table went still.

Gregory, who had been staring at her with an expression he thought no one noticed, jolted out of his reverie. His expression hardened immediately, as though caught committing a sin. He cleared his throat, his tone growing sharp.

"Nonsense! It was your sister's engagement ceremony-you were supposed to be present!" he barked.

But Amara didn't even lift her head. She continued eating as if his words were nothing more than air, the clink of her fork against the porcelain plate filling the silence.

Gregory's jaw tightened. Her indifference made him feel as though he had swallowed a fly-disgust rising in his throat but with Kael sitting there as a guest, he forced himself to restrain his temper.

He drew in a breath, smoothing his expression before speaking again. "I'll get straight to the point," he said coldly.

He folded his hands on the table, his voice carrying weight. "There will be a grand dinner celebration in the coming days. Our company has finalized a collaboration with one of the subsidiaries of Blackwood Enterprises."

The moment he said it, even Melissa and Cassandra's eyes lit up in awe.

Blackwood Enterprises.

The name itself was enough to shake boardrooms around the world. A conglomerate spanning industries from technology to global trade, with whispers of unseen influence in places even governments dared not tread. Collaborating with just one of their subsidiaries was equivalent to opening a door into untouchable power.

Gregory's chest swelled with pride as he spoke, his words laced with self-importance. "It is an opportunity most companies could only dream of. Not only that-our family business will also be expanding branches internationally. Naturally, such triumph deserves celebration."

He leaned back, his gaze coldly appraising Amara. "Which brings me to the reason I called you. I want you to attend the dinner."

Amara, who had finally taken a sip of water, set the glass down and arched a brow, her amber eyes glittering with dry amusement. "That's your point?" she cut him off flatly, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Gregory's face darkened instantly. He felt the blood rising in his throat, his fists clenching beneath the table, but with Kael's presence, he forced it down.

He steadied his breath, a thin smile curling on his lips though his eyes burned with suppressed rage. "Yes. You will attend, Amara. There will be... a surprise waiting for you."