Chapter 3 You're Not the Victim, Ares

Ares stormed down the hallway like a man possessed, shoving open the drawing room door as Tessa followed slowly behind, arms crossed over her chest, cradling her still tender body.

"Marry you?" he scoffed, pacing. "My father has finally lost it. A wedding? To a stranger who faked a baby story with me in a hospital hallway?"

Tessa didn't respond. She was still processing the whirlwind that had hijacked her life.

"Don't look at me like that," he snapped, turning to her. "You started this too. You could've said no."

She blinked, her eyes rimmed red with exhaustion. "I just gave birth to four babies. I couldn't even stand up straight, and you threw a million dollars in my face. What was I supposed to do?"

"You were supposed to keep it simple!" he barked. "Play pretend, help me dodge a damn ticket, and disappear!"

Her lip trembled, but she held it together. Barely. "And now I'm being pulled into a billionaire family with news reporters asking me what kind of push playlist we used while I screamed through contractions alone!"

Ares rolled his eyes. "God, you're so dramatic."

"I have stitches."

"Well, I have stakes! My future, my company, my entire life is hanging on this circus!"

She went quiet, pressing her hand over her abdomen. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Your life? You think you're the victim here?"

Ares scoffed. "What do you know about my life?"

"I don't. But you barged into mine like a bulldozer."

A tense silence fell between them.

***

Downstairs, Bianca Langford was already planning a luxury wedding with crystal chandeliers and designer baby tuxedos. Upstairs, Ares was silently imploding.

His phone buzzed.

Julian texted: Bro, what the hell? You're trending. Hard.

Ares opened the link. His stomach dropped.

Langford Heir or Master Manipulator?

Sources close to the family question if Ares Langford is really the father of the mystery quadruplets. One nurse claims she saw him asking for "abandoned babies."

"Shit."

Tessa sat on the edge of the sofa, wincing slightly as she tried to adjust. "Something wrong?"

"Someone's leaking info. The story's blowing up. This... this could get ugly."

She looked down at her lap. "Then maybe we should just tell the truth."

He turned sharply. "What?"

She hesitated. "We end it before it gets worse."

"No," he snapped. "You don't get to suggest that. You don't get to walk out now. You're in this as deep as I am."

She met his gaze, tired but clear. "But I didn't lie to the world, Ares. You did."

He laughed bitterly. "You think my father cares about the truth? It's about optics. Reputation. Perception. You start a lie? You stick to it. If he knows I lied, it's over for me."

She stayed quiet, the heavy silence filling the room.

Ares paced again, then pulled out his phone. "Fine. You want out? Name your price."

"I already did."

"Double it. No, triple. Five million, final offer."

Her chin trembled, but she shook her head. "I don't want your money anymore."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I just want to survive this. To make sure my babies are safe. That's it."

"You think you can do that without me?"

"I don't know. But I'm not doing this your way anymore."

Ares stepped closer, looming. "You forget who you're talking to. You're in my house. My name is on those babies."

Tessa looked up at him, eyes glassy. She was still afraid. Still unsure. She had nowhere to go, no money, no insurance, no one to call, no house. No plan.

"Then what's the way forward?" she asked softly.

He didn't answer.

The door opened abruptly. Bianca waltzed in with a team of stylists.

"Darling! We need to talk wedding dresses. Tessa, you'll look divine in Vera Wang. Oh...and we're holding the engagement press conference tomorrow at noon!"

Tessa nearly fainted.

Ares stepped back, his heart pounding.

This was spiraling too fast, too far...too real.

And for the first time in his charmed life, his life was falling apart. His dream was to travel the world clubbing with different kinds of women.

He was supposed to be planning a trip with Julian to Byron Bay, Australia...to relax in the laid back coastal town with stunning beaches and naked women...

Not planning a wedding with stranger!