Chapter 203
The mansion loomed ahead, grand and immaculate, but lifeless. Even the breeze that stirred the tall palms felt reluctant, brushing past them like a whispered warning.
Something was wrong.
Her eyes landed first on Shay.
Beside her, the maid hovered anxiously, wringing her hands and glancing around as if waiting for something—or someone—to explode.
And then it stopped.
Beatrice.
What is she doing here?
A woman stood nearby—tall, slender, and striking in a way that demanded attention. Her straight black hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, framing a face that seemed practiced in elegance. She wore a pristine white tweed mini dress, sleeveless with a sharp square neckline. The fabric clung perfectly to her narrow waist, the hemline stopping mid-thigh, revealing long, pale legs that ended in matching white stilettos.
Lara arched a brow.
Then the woman saw them.
“Ares, darling!” she called, voice lilting with excitement as she opened her arms wide, fully expecting to be embraced.
Instead, he stepped aside.
The woman’s momentum betrayed her. She faltered, her heel catching slightly—just enough for her to lose balance.
For a brief moment, the three of them froze in an awkward triangle.
Ares’ expression didn’t soften. If anything, his features hardened further, his brows drawing together.
The words landed like ice.
Only then did she seem to fully register her presence.
Assessment.
And then, unmistakably—condescension.
Shay had been staring down at her clasped hands, her small face drawn and unnaturally solemn—too quiet for a child her age. The tension in the room pressed down on her like a weight.
She looked up.
In the next second, she was on her feet.
Her voice rang out, clear and trembling, cutting straight through the suffocating silence.
“Shay, come back here!” Beatrice’s voice snapped through the room—sharp, shrill, and laced with anger.
She didn’t even look back.
She sobbed.
Lara froze for a moment, caught completely off guard. Then instinct took over. She bent down, gently lifting Shay into her arms, cradling her against her chest as she murmured soft, wordless comfort. Her hand moved in slow circles on Shay’s back as she carried her to a nearby plush chair and sat down.
Behind them, heels clicked sharply against the floor.
Lara’s hand stilled for the briefest moment.
The realization settled in like a quiet storm.
She is back.
The words hung in the air.
Mommy… Lara.
Something in Lara’s chest shifted—something warm.
Moira’s composure shattered. She stormed across the room, her heels striking the floor with sharp, echoing force. Without hesitation, she reached out and yanked Shay away from Lara’s arms.
Her small hands grasped desperately at Lara’s clothes, clinging with everything she had. “No! Mommy p>
Lara didn’t raise her voice.
The command was quiet—controlled—but it cut through the chaos with undeniable force.
Something in Lara’s tone—something in her presence—made the air shift.
Moira’s grip faltered slightly as she looked at Lara, a flicker of unease crossing her face.
How could this woman—