Page 14 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

He clenched his jaw. ‘We’re going to my place.’

‘No.’ She stiffened. ‘I’m not going back to that compound. Ever.’

Her vehemence surprised him—yet resonated. The Vasiliadis compound was a palatial residence in the wealthiest suburb in Athens with additional residences either side. It had everything, from home cinema, to tennis court,twopools, and more. Of course Bethan would disapprove of the over-the-top consumerist consumption. While it was filled with riches it was empty of anything warm. It was also full of bad memories—she’d spent three days there but he’d endured it from the age of thirteen. Move-in day had been the loneliest moment of his life. Cut off from contacting his mother, he’d been too hurt, too proud, too stubborn to break that rule. Gia hadn’t wanted anything to do with him of course. He’d been isolated, ignored other than to be instructed. He’d been brought there to learn everything necessary to be the worthy heir. Despite the fact a bunch of distant cousins lived onsite, he’d been isolated and relentlessly schooled. And it was wherethey’dargued. Where she’d walked out and boarded the first flight back to Britain. Ares hated the place and sure as hell didn’t live there any more.

‘Bethan.’ He inhaled sharply, shutting down those memories. ‘Your “loving wife” act just now changed everything. We need to keep our issues discreet. I am trying to protect—’

‘I don’t need your protection.’

‘This time it’s not aboutyou,’ he shouted.

And he didnotwant to hear her declare yet again that she needed or wanted nothing from him.

‘We’ll talk when we get to my place and it is not the compound,’ he growled.

They needed privacy and space and he was barely able to contain the energy firing around him. Because he would win this.

Gia, Dion and the other board members bowed to his opinions, given how well the company was doing under his command, but his ‘little charitable endeavour’, as they’d called it, was deeply personal. They loathed the fact, but the Vasiliadis family would be forced to acknowledge his mother’s existence. Ares would remind them all not just of his illegitimacy but of his authority. There wasnothingthey could do to stop him doing this now. Because for years he’d not been allowed to mention her, he’d not evenseenher—not gaining the strength until it was too late. But now her name would literally be in lights and in future he wouldn’t allow anyone to be treated the way his mother had been treated by them. Their ‘dirty little secret’ would be dragged from the shadows.

He needed to do this—needed something to ease his guilt because he’d left her—left it all—too late. So he would have nothing taint the moment he finally, publicly honoured Melina and if that meant having to have Bethan by his side for the evening, so be it. The thought actually made him feel slightly better about the whole thing. Probably because she was his side order of seduction and yeah, he was still a selfish jerk.

Fifteen minutes later he watched her pace about his lounge, her face a picture of displeasure.

‘Why don’t you live at the compound?’ she asked irritably.

‘This is closer to work,’ he muttered shortly.

True enough but not the real reason. He’d bought a penthouse in the city after Bethan had walked out and, honestly, he didn’t like her here. He’d never associated this place with her presence but now it was marked forever. He made a mental note to get his agent to put it on the market next week.

‘I’m not staying with you, Ares. You can’t keep me here. I’m calling a—’

He barred her headlong exit with his body. He was so very tired of her defiance already. ‘Just don’t, Bethan.’

She glared up into his eyes, clearly spoiling for a fight. He was too. Their unstoppable chemistry still burned out of control. And if it wasn’t lust, it was anger. But he would resist.

He made himself step back, holding up his hands. ‘You’ll have your own room. Surely you can compromise?’

‘No.’

Ah, there was the rejection again and he was so tempted to prove just howwillinghe could get her in about three minutes flat. ‘You’re the one who started this, Bethan. I just wanted you here to get the paperwork done with the notary.’

‘Right, that’s why you launched on me the second you got me alone.’

‘Oh, so in your world,I’mthe one who started it? I get to be the bad guy who took advantage.’

‘Again. Yes.’

‘Because you somehow lost the ability to say no? You’re so good at lying to yourself. I didn’t do anything you didn’t beg for. In fact I’m pretty sure you were begging me to do even more.’

She pressed her lips together tightly and quite obviously counted to three.

‘Then what is ityouwant?’ she finally muttered. ‘Why have you dragged me here?’

Well, she’d hardly been kicking and screaming. He couldn’t help smirking—actually shehadbeen screaming his name less than an hour ago. ‘Your ill-judged decision not to make our lack of relationship clear to my business associates has ramifications that you’re going to have to endure for a little while longer.’

‘Your business associates? Wasn’t that your stepmother?’

‘Gia is no kind of mother to me and never has been.’