I lowered the barbell to my chest, controlling my breathing and staying there for a while before I pushed upwards, repeating the action.
"Ares!"
I moved my gaze when Athena stepped into the gym, glaring at like she was gonna kill .
I went back to my workout, hoping I could ignore her. The plates clinked softly as I pressed the bar upward and downward.
"Hellooo... sister here... the one you literally shared a womb with. I have been texting you, but you’re not responding. Why?"
"I’m busy."
"Busy? Is this busy?"
I released a sharp breath and set the barbell on the iron behind , sitting up.
"Yes..." I grabbed a white towel and placed it on top of my head.
"I hate to break it to you, but there’s no ti to be busy. I have been trying to warn you, but it’s too late now."
"Warn about what?"
She folded her arms. "Grandmother."
I snapped my gaze to her.
"Yes, grandmother."
I pushed to my feet. "She swore she didn’t want anything to do with us or Midnight."
"Yes, even during daddy’s funeral, she was a no-show, but here she is... I wonder what she wants."
Wonder. That doesn’t seem like sothing I can work with, but there was no choice in the matter.
I walked past Athena.
"Where are you going?"
"To get ready for a family reunion."
~☆~
I eyed the family picture, broad and frad. Elias and Agatha sat side by side. I stood by his side while Athena was at Agatha’s. We were both fifteen years old when this picture was taken.
I walked to my left and eyed another picture. My mother’s. She had short, straight dark hair and grey eyes; she was almost angelic. I rember her that way, too, just a little, since we were very young when she passed away.
"Uncle."
I turned, but a body drove into the next minute, hands wrapping around my waist in an embrace. When I didn’t return his hug, he pulled away, looking up to with bright blue eyes.
"I’m glad you’re here. I was really looking forward to it." He dipped his gaze. "I wish you could co around more."
"Adrian!" Agatha ca into view, pausing when she saw . "Co here, sweetheart."
Adrian didn’t look like he wanted to leave, so I did him a favor, brushing past him.
"Would it kill you to show any form of affection?" she whispered to the mont I got close.
"He has no father figure except you. He knows who you are to him, and he has accepted you. All he needs to know is that you are here for him."
I dragged my gaze to her, not hiding the hostility. "Already feeding him with nonsense."
"Nonsense? You’re his father."
I spared a look over my shoulder and then back at her.
"He’s no son of mine."
She was about to speak, but I didn’t let her utter another word. I walked straight to the dining room, knowing that was where this was gonna play out.
I wasn’t counting on this reunion, but situations like this are looked forward to even when you don’t realise it.
The door was open, and I stepped through.
An elderly woman with hair turned completely white was seated at the head of the table, waiting. Her hand was resting on a cane, her gaze to the window, but hearing my footsteps, she looked in my direction.
Her blue eyes were faded, but lit up when she saw . She pushed to stand, using the cane to guide her; it wasn’t anything about age; she had a good posture. The cane was simply fashioned for whatever reason she had.
She embraced , but I didn’t return it. She didn’t seem to mind either.
Pulling back, she eyed from head to toe, not in pride but abhorrence. "You look so much like your father. I see him in you, but the worst of him."
"Grandmother," I acknowledge.
I don’t rember much about her. She left Midnight after Elias remarried, but her attitude didn’t co with a shock. I was counting on it.
She snickered, patting my cheek briefly. "I have been waiting for two hours. Is punctuality a cri in our family? Where is your sister?"
She sat down, hands resting on her cane, reminding of Elias.
"Well?"
"She prefers to be fashionably late."
"Ah..."
The doors open, and Agatha walked in with Adrian. He smiled at , but I didn’t return it.
"Agatha..."
"Constance."
"Co, child, let see you..." She said to Adrian, and he looked to Agatha as if for permission.
"God, did you raise a wuss for a child? When I say co, you either do as I say, or you don’t."
Adrian was about to move, but Agatha stopped him, resting her hands on his shoulder to keep him still.
Grandmother raised an eyebrow. "He’s my only great-grandchild, yet you raised him in a bubble. He’s a King."
Agatha clenched her teeth. "He’s twelve years old, and you have never been his grandmother, so you don’t get the right to talk about him."
"Present or not, I’m his family, and now that I’m here, I’ll ensure the next heir is efficient enough..." She looked to . "And you? You’re Don, this mansion is yours, yet you took a drive here. Why?"
"..."
"My son is dead, may that soul never rest in peace. What’s stopping you from taking your rightful place and perhaps doing so refurbishnt to this place? I insist, really... it feels like your Father’s ghost is watching ."
"I have my ho," I replied. "You can do with the place as you see fit."
"Is that so?"
"Why are you here after all this ti?" I cut to the chase.
"Finally... soone’s asking the right questions..." She used the teaspoon to stir her tea. "I thought it’s about ti I ca back ho. Your father is gone, and the empire is–"
"In good hands..." I interjected. "As it has been for the last five years."
A slow smirk crept on her lips. "Let’s hope it is..."
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