Lara was so exhausted that night she slept past sunrise. Even when Shay climbed onto the bed and shook her shoulders with all her tiny strength, Lara did not stir.

After several failed attempts, Shay puffed her cheeks in frustration and stomped out toward the garden.

Morning sunlight spilled across the Zuvel estate, painting the trimmed hedges in pale gold. Near the fountain, Sandro and Midnight were already playing.

Midnight had grown frighteningly fast. What was once a small black wolf pup was now large enough to knock Sandro over whenever he leaped for the ball. His dark fur gleamed like polished obsidian beneath the sun, and his silver eyes followed Sandro with fierce loyalty. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Shay slowed to a stop.

Midnight liked Sandro too much.

The wolf barked excitedly as Sandro laughed and threw the ball again. Midnight sprinted after it instantly, tail swaying wildly.

Shay crossed her arms, jealousy bubbling inside her chest.

"Midnight likes you more," she muttered bitterly.

Sandro grinned proudly. "Of course he does. Spend more time with him and he will like you more."

Before Shay could argue, the peaceful atmosphere shifted.

Four figures appeared at the entrance of the garden.

Scarlet.

Layla.

Summer.

Lucas.

And standing directly in their path was Moira.

Her hands rested sharply on her hips, posture rigid and possessive, like a guard dog protecting territory that belonged to her alone. Her gaze locked onto Scarlet with open hostility, and the air between them turned cold enough to suffocate.

Because Moira knew exactly who Scarlet was.

Years ago, Scarlet had been the woman beside Ares. The woman who seemed to have Ares wrapped around her fingers that he only saw no one but her.

The woman who unknowingly stole every glance Moira desperately wanted for herself.

Even if she stripped in front of him, Ares never looked at him twice.

And judging from the fury burning in Moira’s eyes now, that wound had never healed.

"Why are you here?" Moira asked coldly.

Her tone carried the arrogance of a mistress receiving unwanted guests in her own home.

Scarlet’s ruby lips curved immediately into a flawless smile.

"Ah, Moira," she said sweetly. "It’s been such a long time."

Her voice dripped honey, but her eyes remained sharp and unreadable.

Moira did not return the greeting.

Scarlet’s smile widened slightly, as if amused by the hostility.

"I’m here to see Ares."

The name alone made Moira’s expression darken.

"And why," she asked slowly, "would you need to see him?"

The tension thickened instantly.

Even the children sensed it.

Layla quietly grabbed Summer’s sleeve while Lucas exhaled under his breath, already regretting agreeing to this visit.

Scarlet tilted her head elegantly, completely unbothered by Moira’s aggression.

"I don’t think that’s any of your business."

The sweetness in her voice only made the insult sharper.

Moira’s jaw tightened.

For a brief second, it looked like she might actually explode.

The garden fell silent except for the rustling wind through the trees.

Then Scarlet took a deliberate step forward.

"And besides," she continued softly, her eyes flicking over Moira with subtle disdain, "last I checked... you are not his wife."

The words struck like a blade.

Moira’s face paled before anger rushed back twice as fiercely.

Even Summer sucked in a sharp breath.

Lucas immediately looked away.

Everyone knew Moira’s feelings for Ares.

No one was reckless enough to say it aloud.

Except Scarlet.

And judging from the faint challenge hidden inside Scarlet’s smile, she had done it on purpose.

"But I am Shay’s biological mother." She said provocatively emphasizing the word biological mother.

Scarlet just raised an eyebrow. She disregarded Moira and walked the path toward the side entrance that would lead them to the living room.

Scarlet afterall had been to the mansion many times before and she knew every path and every place like the back of her hand.

"You... how dare you." Moira shouted in frustration.

Shay who was watching the entire scene frowned, the she took Sandro’s hand and she walked away, toward the flower garden behind the hedges.

...

Ares and Liam were inside the study, the atmosphere heavy with silence and unspoken thoughts.

The morning light that filtered through the glass windows barely softened the coldness of the room.

Logan had already left before dawn to catch his flight to continue his investigation regarding Lara’s disappearance years ago.

But even after he left, the tension remained. Because the real mystery was no longer Lara’s disappearance.

It was Lara herself.

Ares leaned back against his chair, fingers tapping lightly against the polished wooden desk as his sharp eyes settled on Liam.

"Do you have something to say about Lara... and the treasures?"

Liam’s gaze drifted toward the covered chests.

Last night, Lara had personally separated everything into three categories before finally collapsing from exhaustion.

The first chest contained gold bars and raw gold nuggets.

The second was filled with ancient jewelry—diamond necklaces and earrings, ruby rings, emerald-studded tiaras, and ornaments that looked valuable enough to buy entire cities.

And the third were artifacts. Relics from the era when the Kromwels still ruled.

Objects so old and historically valuable that should have belonged inside museums instead of hidden beneath the Zuvel estate.

Even now, thinking about it made Liam uneasy.

He had gone to Mount Ourea expecting a difficult treasure hunt.

Instead, Lara had walked through the forest as if she already knew where everything was buried.

Like someone returning to a place she had seen a hundred times before.

"All I can say is," Liam finally spoke, his voice low and thoughtful, "she knew the place too well."

Ares remained silent.

Liam continued, his brows tightening slightly.

"We didn’t hunt for treasure. We just followed her... and picked everything up."

Ares narrowed his eyes carefully, studying Liam’s expression for even the smallest trace of suspicion.

"So?" he asked.

Liam met his gaze calmly.

"She has secrets."

The words landed heavily.

"And she doesn’t want to tell us," Liam added, leaning back in his chair, "and I won’t force them out of her."

For a moment, Ares said nothing.

Then he exhaled slowly as the tried to organize thoughts even he could not fully understand.

"Perhaps," he muttered, "she found information about it online."

Even to his own ears, the excuse sounded weak.

Liam did not bother arguing.

Both of them knew the truth was far stranger than that.

Ares shifted his attention toward the covered chests.

"So what are you planning to do with those?" Liam asked.

Ares’ eyes darkened slightly.

"I’ll deposit the gold bars in the bank and convert them into cash." He paused briefly. "The jewelry and artifacts will go into my private—"

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The sudden interruption cut through the room sharply.

Ares frowned.

"...vault," he finished coldly after a brief pause.

His gaze lifted toward the door.

"Come in."

The door opened cautiously, and the butler stepped inside with an expression that looked strangely conflicted.

"Sir..." he began carefully. "There are women looking for you."

Ares’ brows furrowed immediately.

"Women?"

Liam slowly looked away and rubbed his temple.

For some reason...

He suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.