Summer remained silent, quietly enjoying the chaos unfolding before her. It was good that she only liked Liam. And her rival Emily, was someone she could defeat easily.

Scarlet’s chest rose sharply.

This stupid woman dared compare herself to her?

Layla crossed her arms. "Besides, even if Lara disappeared, do you honestly think Ares would choose you?"

Scarlet’s eyes darkened instantly.

"What did you say?"

Layla lifted her chin arrogantly despite the fear creeping into her spine. "Did I lie? Ares barely looks at women."

Scarlet stood abruptly.

"So now you think you’re more qualified than me? I am Ares’ first love. You should know it right? You just did not want to acknowledge it. "

Layla stood as well.

"What are you so being proud of? The first love who abandoned him back then?" Layla asked in a voice that sounded like venom.

"At least I’m not throwing myself at him shamelessly."

The room became deathly silent.

Even Summer finally put her cup down.

Scarlet’s nails dug deeply into her palms as rage exploded inside her mind.

This bitch.

Layla’s breathing quickened, but she refused to back down.

For years, she had feelings for Ares and has been very vocal about it. Yet Ares rejected her time and time again.

Back then, she knew about Scarlet. Because she was the reason of her being rejected. God knew how happy she was when Ares and Scarlet broke up.

But Ares never had shown interest in any woman after that until Lara came.

And now Scarlet is back and dared challenge her too?

No. She would never allow it.

Neither Scarlet nor Lara deserved him.

The two women glared at each other fiercely, neither willing to retreat.

Meanwhile, Summer lowered her eyes to hide the satisfied smile forming on her lips.

Perfect.

The fire had finally started. But she should steer the situation where she wanted it to be. Back to Larrisa Reyes.

...

Summer slowly crossed her arms over her chest, her movements graceful and unhurried, as though she had not just witnessed two women nearly claw each other apart. A faint smile lingered on her lips—soft, elegant, harmless.

At least, that was how she appeared on the surface.

"Larissa Reyes has changed a lot," she said lightly, her tone smooth as silk as she attempted to ease the suffocating tension hanging in the room. "She’s definitely not as simple as she pretends to be."

Her words drifted through the air like poison wrapped in velvet.

Then Summer’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

A dangerous gleam flickered within them.

"Do you think..." she began slowly, deliberately watching their reactions, "Ares has already slept with her? Larrisa does not look innocent and pure at all. She looked like a temptress."

The room froze.

Even the air itself seemed to stiffen.

"Is that why she’s acting so arrogantly?"

Silence crashed heavily between them.

Scarlet nearly cursed aloud.

Her head snapped toward Summer, disbelief flashing across her face.

For a moment, Scarlet simply stared.

She was trying to read her. Who would have thought that beneath Summer’s gentle smiles and angelic face hid someone this malicious?

That seemingly innocent sentence had struck directly at the ugliest insecurities in their hearts.

Summer lowered her lashes modestly, looking almost apologetic.

But inside, satisfaction bloomed quietly.

She had hit the mark.

Layla’s eyes widened in shock before dark emotions rapidly consumed them. Her delicate face twisted with fury, and her fingernails dug so deeply into her palms that angry crescent marks appeared against her skin.

"How dare she?!" Layla’s voice rose sharply, shrill with outrage and jealousy.

The image of Lara in Ares’ arms flashed uncontrollably through her mind.

Ares touching Lara.

Kissing her.

Ares and Lara entangled in the sheets and naked. Holding her close with those cold eyes softened only for her.

Layla suddenly felt like she could barely breathe.

Why her? Why did it have to be that woman?

Scarlet’s expression darkened as she watched Layla lose control.

Her gaze turned colder by the second. Like Layla, she was also losing control.

Here is yet another person standing in my way.

Summer tilted her head slightly, her expression gentle and harmless, as though she had spoken without any hidden intent. "I’m only speculating," she said softly.

But her words had already done their damage.

Jealousy took root instantly inside Scarlet and Layla, festering like a slow poison before surging violently through their veins.

Layla’s chest tightened.

The mere thought of Larissa Reyes sharing Ares’ bed made disgust and fury churn wildly inside her stomach.

A mere nanny. An orphan with neither status nor background.

How could someone like her possibly stand beside a man like Ares Reyes?

Layla unconsciously wrapped her arms tighter around herself, nails digging into her sleeves. Beneath her refined upbringing and elegant appearance lived an immense pride she had carried all her life. Women like her were born into privilege, raised among elites, taught from childhood what it meant to be worthy.

And yet Lara—a woman beneath her in every possible way—was slowly taking everything Layla desired most.

The thought felt like a brutal slap across her face.

Meanwhile, Scarlet lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the storm raging behind her eyes.

Her thoughts spiraled into darker territory.

She remembered the way Ares had looked at Lara earlier.

Calm. Patient. Indulgent.

Scarlet’s fingers curled tightly against her lap.

That gaze...

It used to belong to her.

Back then, Ares had been gentle with her too. Protective. Tolerant. He indulged her little tempers and quietly gave in to her demands. Even when he looked cold toward everyone else, Scarlet always believed she was different.

Special.

But now...

Another woman was enjoying the tenderness that should have belonged only to her.

The realization stabbed viciously into Scarlet’s chest.

Jealousy twisted and rotted inside her until it slowly began turning into hatred.

And the more she thought about Lara, the uglier that hatred became.

Only I am worthy of standing beside Ares.

No one else deserves that position. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Not Layla.

Not Moira.

And certainly not Larissa Reyes.