The Wrong Bride: Ares and Raven’s Story (The Windsors)

My heart skips a beat when I see Ares leaning against his car as he waits for me in front of my office building.

I pause for a moment and take him in. His dark hair, that sharp jaw, those green eyes that are identical to Sierra’s. It isn’t fair that he continues to get more handsome the older we get. Each time I see him, he feels a little more out of reach. Ares looks up and straightens when he notices me standing by the entrance, a smile transforming his face.

“Hi!” I tell him as he holds the door open for me. Ares grins at me, and I smile back at him. There’s a good chance I’ll regret giving into him later, but until then, I’m going to enjoy every second of it.

“Where are we going?” I ask when he gets in beside me, his hands wrapping around the steering wheel.

Ares leans back against the headrest and tilts his face toward me. “Raven,” he says, sounding petulant. I can’t help the way my heart races when he says my name like that, and I involuntarily turn toward him, facing him. “Why don’t I ever see you anymore?”

Ares genuinely looks distraught, as though he really has missed me, and that fire I keep trying to douse reignites once more.

“I’ve just been busy.” My voice is weak, soft, as though I can’t make myself lie to him with authority. “I’m working really insane hours. I’ve got so many modeling contracts, and I’m trying to grow my fashion brand at the same time. Honestly, some days I barely have time to eat or sleep.”

He nods and drags his gaze away, a hint of concern in his expression as he starts the car. “Don’t overwork yourself, Rave. Remember to take care of yourself, okay? You can’t always be working. You need to have a social life too. When was the last time you saw your parents?”

I force a smile onto my face and cross my arms. The older I get, the less I see my parents. Their entire world revolves around Hannah, and I hate going where I’m not welcome. I shouldn’t feel excluded in my own home, but I do. “Sierra was actually just in my office,” I tell him. “I do have friends, you know.”

He glances at me the way he does sometimes, as though he can see straight through my lies and deception, but he nods nonetheless.

“What are you thinking of buying this year?” I ask him, my tone light and friendly.

He glances back at me with a smile on his face. “What do you think of some jewelry, maybe?”

I nod. “A new statement piece, perhaps?”

Ares looks at me with such a blank expression that I burst out laughing, and that just makes him smile in return. “I haven’t heard you laugh in so long, Raven. I missed it.”

My smile melts away and I look down at my lap, my heart aching. I wish he wouldn’t say things like that. He sees me as an old friend and his future sister-in-law, but when he tells me he missed me, it becomes hard to remember that. I tighten my grip on my handbag and inhale deeply. “A statement piece is basically just the opposite of a dainty piece of jewelry.”

Ares grins at me. “How about I just let you pick?”

I throw a pointed look his way. “Like you do every year?”

He smirks at me as he parks at one of the Windsor malls, pretty much jumping out of the car to rush around it so he can open the door for me. He offers me his hand, and I take it as I step out of his car, my eyes on his.

A flash of light startles both of us, and I turn to my side to find a paparazzo that has been trailing me lately smirking at me. I grit my teeth and take a step toward him, but he takes off running before I can even say a word.

Ares places his hand on the small of my back, and I look up at him. “I should’ve known taking you to such a public place would’ve resulted in this. I’m sorry, Raven. I’ll handle it. That picture will never see the light of day.”

I shake my head and take a step toward the mall. “It’s fine. I’m used to this. I can’t stop living my life just because I know I could be photographed at any time. It used to scare me, you know? Public opinion. Now it’s just an inconvenience that I’ve accepted as part of my job.”

Ares is quiet as we walk into the mall together. “Maybe I should get you some bodyguards.” His tone carries a hint of anger, and I look up in surprise.

“Absolutely not. I’m never in any danger, Ares. I already don’t have as much privacy as I wish I had. The last thing I need is someone in my personal space at all times.”

He looks at me as though he wants to argue with me, but thankfully he remains quiet as we walk into one of Hannah’s favorite jewelry stores.

The store manager tenses and rushes over as soon as he spots Ares, a nervous smile on his face. He’s an older man, and his graying hair looks charming on him. If not for his obvious nerves, he’d exude the kind of elegance that suits this store. “Mr. Windsor,” he says, before turning toward me with wide eyes. “Raven.” His eyes roam over my body the way men’s eyes always do. It used to disgust me, knowing they were likely thinking about one of my lingerie campaigns, but I’ve gotten used to it now. “Raven, wow. It’s such an honor to meet you. My name is Andy, and I’ll be assisting you today.”

Ares tenses and wraps his hand around my shoulder. I glance up at him in surprise, only to find him looking at the store manager with barely concealed annoyance. “We’ll ask for your assistance when we need it,” he says, his tone harsh.

He pulls me toward the glass display counters, his body tense. “What’s wrong?” I ask the moment we’re out of earshot.

Ares pulls his hand away and shakes his head. “He’s unprofessional. The way he looked at you just now? What was that? First, we get photographed the second we step out of the car, and now this?”

A soft chuckle escapes my lips as I lean back against the counter and look up at him. “Ares,” I murmur. “I’m not the little girl you used to know anymore. I was named this year’s highest paid model, and I’m a brand ambassador for many of the products sold in this mall. It’s not surprising that he’d recognize me. If anything, his response was really quite mild. I’m pretty sure my face is on a large banner advertising this mall.”

“Mild?” Ares snaps. “Mild? He practically leered at you.”

I wrap my hand around his upper arm and smile up at him. “How do you deal with being around Hannah? I might be well known, but I’m pretty sure Hannah is even more famous. Models generally aren’t as popular as A-list actresses. How do you deal with the attention she gets if this annoys you?”

Ares sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I think you underestimate your popularity. Besides, your sister has bodyguards around at all times, so I don’t need to worry about her. You, on the other hand? You’re a stubborn one.”

I huff and turn back around to check out the jewelry on display, my eyes trailing over the engagement rings. The mere thought of me ever getting engaged seems so inconceivable. I can’t imagine ever wanting to marry anyone other than Ares. There’s one ring that catches my eye, and for a single moment I let myself imagine what it’d look like on my finger.

I sigh and pull Ares toward the section where the necklaces are displayed, my gaze settling on a diamond choker necklace. “How about something like that?”

Ares calls Andy over, and he hands the necklace to me before pointing to the mirror behind me. I hold the choker up against my neck, wanting to check what it’ll look like, and Ares gently lifts my hair for me, wrapping it over my shoulder and out of the way.

“Try it on,” he tells me.

I shake my head. “Oh no, I can’t. This is for Hannah. I can tell she’d love it without trying it on.”

Ares shakes his head and reaches around me, putting the necklace on me. The way his fingers graze over my skin sends a shiver running down my spine, and he doesn’t even realize it.

“If you like it, I’ll buy it for you, Raven. We can find something else for Hannah.”

My eyes widen, and he smiles at me through the mirror. “Your birthday is coming up soon as well, remember?”

“It’s too much,” I tell him, my fingers curling around the clasp at the back. “But thank you. She’ll love it. You should definitely buy her this.”

Ares nods and takes the necklace from me, his gaze lingering on my face. “Hey,” he says, his voice soft. “Are we okay, Rave? I feel like you’ve been avoiding me lately, you know? Is it the pressure Hannah has put on you with the wedding? I know you’ve been doing a lot of the prep that she was supposed to do. Just tell me if it’s too much, okay? You know I hate it when you suddenly go quiet.”

I wrap my hand around his arm and smile at him. “We’re fine, Ares. I’ve just been really busy, that’s all.”

His expression tells me that he knows I’m lying, but thankfully he lets it go. How do I tell him that the mere thought of him marrying Hannah makes everything feel so final? I’m truly losing him now, every last bit of hope going up in smoke. How do I tell him that my heart is breaking in a way it never has before, and I’m not sure the pieces can ever be recovered?