Page 30 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

Bethan inhaled the salty air, suppressing her heartache about leaving the villa. No doubt Ares would have the rest of her things packed up and shipped over, but, like the last time she’d left for Athens, she’d not realised she wouldn’t return there. Impossibly, this time it felt more devastating because she knew for certain she wouldn’t ever go back.

They were almost over. Since that searing—utterly ruinous—time together yesterday, he’d not attempted to touch her. She vaguely remembered him carrying her to bed last night, but he’d not gotten in with her. She’d had to swim first thing to ease the yearning aches in her body and cool her simmering heat. To hide the bruise deepening on her heart. Here and now he looked stunning—his smile ready and easy—reminding her so much of those first few days together they’d had years ago.

So she stared at the horizon, drawing on the beauty of the water and the balm of the wind. They made good progress and she watched the crew set anchor in a sheltered bay for the night. Tried to maintain her smile for the terribly serious stewards as they presented a five-course silver-service dinner. But being surrounded by effervescent yet nervous young people was perfect. They were ideal chaperones, protecting her from making more mistakes.

She was debating whether it was safer to stay late on deck or risk her cabin and that dangerous closeness to Ares when one young steward appeared.

‘We’ve a surprise for you up on the top deck,’ she said.

‘Oh, how lovely.’ Bethan avoided meeting the amusement in Ares’s eyes. ‘We’ll come up shortly.’

She was slightly nervous about what the surprise could be. Dancers? Musicians?

But when she followed the steward to the deck her heart—and resistance—was torn. They’d set up a cosy nook on the deck with candles, cushions, soft blankets.

‘We thought you’d like to star bathe.’ The steward beamed.

Star bathe? Bethan nodded—of course, with a barely there waning moon, the sky was awash with millions of stars. They even had a telescope set up.

‘There’s hot cocoa, a chocolate fondue and you can toast marshmallows,’ the steward added.

‘This is beautiful, thank you,’ Bethan said softly.

It was also unbearably romantic.

‘Thanks, team,’ Ares added. ‘Once you’ve cleaned up below you can turn in for the night.’

Bethan couldn’t resist sinking into the soft cushions, tilting her head back to appreciate the infinite beauty of the night sky.

‘You don’t want them to fetch your knitting?’ he teased.

She didn’t have the focus to knit. She would drop stitches and ruin the pattern. ‘I don’t want to turn on any lights and ruin the starscape.’ She would keep conversation on the crew. It was safe. ‘I felt nervous for them but they’ve done such a great job. If I’d had to serve you at their age, I’d have been so terrified I’d have probably spilled soup in your lap.’

‘Am I an ogre?’ he asked dryly. ‘Or is it just the billionaire status?’

‘Neither of those things.’ She chuckled sadly. ‘You’re not scary, they just want to please you. They want your approval—not for the billions, you just have a potency about you.’

‘I’m not anyone special, Bethan.’

‘Ares—’

He moved jerkily. ‘I’m not. I already told you I was the son of no man and worth nothing.’ His eyes were barely visible in the low lamplight but still she saw the shadows.

‘You forget the Vasiliadis family are very good at keeping their shame hidden,’ he said.

‘You could never be anyone’s shame,’ she murmured.

‘Oh, but I am, Bethan.’ Bitterness bled through every word.

She turned her gaze to the sky above and whispered the question he’d probably never answer. ‘How?’

Sure enough there was silence. She guessed he was likely counting. And she regretted asking—he didn’t want any intimacy other than the physical with her. And it seemed he didn’t even want that now. She stared up at the stars—so beautiful, but cold.

‘My mother was a water witch,’ he said softly. ‘She grew up on a northern island. Was a strong swimmer, loved sailing. She wanted a career on the water—could have been a captain had she been given fair training, fair treatment.’

Bethan bit her lip, stopping herself interrupting, sensing his mother hadn’t gotten any of those things.

‘She worked locally for a while, then went to Athens, wanting to break into the bigger boat scene. Better tips. Better travel opportunities. She was adventurous. She got a job as a steward, serving the arrogant wealthy jerks you’re not so fond of, and one took what he wanted from her.’