Page 16 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8
‘You know the answer to that already. I have the best lawyers—can you even afford a lawyer?’ He jeered. ‘I can create doubt. They’ll believe me.’
‘Because you’ll shamelessly lie?’
‘In this particular instance, I’ll do whatever it takes.’
‘To get what you want.’ She shook her head.
Healwaysgot what he wanted. And he had no qualms about lying. Apparently it was effortless for him.
‘Youreallywant me at this party?’ she asked after another pregnant moment.
‘Yes.’
Clearly she was missing something. Ares needed no one’s support or approval—ever.
‘Why is this one so important?’ she asked.
‘If you stay, then, the second the gala is over, I won’t contest the divorce. In fact I’ll ensure the process is expedited. We will go to the notary first thing, the morning after.’
It was so incredibly important, he’d just completely avoided answering. And she was utterly intrigued.
She considered her options. ‘I want it in writing that this one week won’t delay our divorce at all.’
His tension eased. ‘Sure. We can even itemise what can and cannot happen between us in this next week.’
‘Nothingelse is going to happen between us.’ But she couldn’t suppress an inner flare of anticipation. At the very least she would spar with him for the next week. Hell, she wanted to win one over him.
‘Nothing you don’t want to happen, no.’ He smiled as if he knew. ‘But you’re lying to yourself. We both know something will happen again. It’s always been like this with us and maybe it will remain like this unless we do something to get rid of it. Maybe we should be realistic about what happens when we get near to each other.’
‘Maybe we should admit that’s more reason to get apart quickly andstayapart.’
‘You’ll still ache for me,’ he said.
Bethan looked at him. Quiet. Compelling.Correct.Maybe she would always ache for him but that moment in his office tonight had scalded her in a way she wasn’t sure she could survive a second time. It wasn’t about denying him. It was about saving herself.
His gaze narrowed. ‘Just to make it clear, you won’t be going on any other dates this week.’
‘Just to make it clear, the same applies to you.’
‘As I’ve already said, I’ve been utterly faithful to you this entire time.’
She sent him a sceptical look. ‘I thought you were just being dramatic.’
He stretched out, apparently calm, but she knew he was more tense than he was trying to appear. Her rebellion built the longer he didn’t respond. He’d said some, but not enough and still she ached. Whyhim? Why only ever him?
‘What is it about this particular event that’s so special?’ She was determined to find out and so twisted the one blade she had. ‘Or is it just a tragic excuse to force me to spend more time with you this week because you want your last bit of me?’
His eyes bored into hers—a flicker of fire.
‘Because that isn’t going to happen,’ she added. Far too late.
His smile appeared—infuriatingly knowing. ‘Whatever you say.’
Blood rushed, burning the back of her neck. ‘Isn’t it better for me to know so I can ensure to behave accordingly?’
‘I’m sure you’ll behave perfectly adequately.’
‘Wow. Faint praise.’ She swallowed. ‘You said I didn’t trust you and maybe there’s some truth to that but, given you won’t tell me, you don’t trust me either. You never have—you didn’t trust me before I walked out.’
