All Chapters of WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal : Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
60 chapters
Chapter 31
Chapter 31Night slowly descended over the city. In Ares’s room, only the desk lamp was on, casting a yellowish glow over the stacks of paper and the graphic tablet in front of him. The screen displayed sketch after sketch—company building designs he worked on meticulously, firm lines blended with modern, functional concepts. Office buildings, integrated residential areas, and interconnected commercial centers. The proposal had to be finished tonight. There was no other choice.Ares slid his chair back and leaned forward. “This glass façade is too cold,” he murmured. He changed the texture, adding green elements to the sides of the building. “The property business isn’t just about grandeur… but about life inside it.”His hands moved quickly, writing down points of market analysis, initial funding strategies, and risk projections. He paused for a moment, staring at the page of numbers. Images of Max and Rachel crept back into his mind—cunning smiles, twisted figures, falsified proposal
Chapter 32
Chapter 32Outside the fence of the Cole residence, the man who had been thrown earlier regained consciousness faster than expected. As the footsteps of the guards drew closer and flashlight beams swept the ground around him, his survival instinct kicked in before the pain in his body. He grit his teeth, forced himself to stand despite his trembling knees, then staggered away into the darkness.“Hey! Stop!” one of the guards shouted.But the shadow had already disappeared behind the trees. The guards looked at each other, confused.“He got away?” another asked.“Yeah. Strange. He was unconscious earlier, and now he’s running,” his companion replied with a sigh. “Forget it. Probably just a madman.”They returned to their post, treating the incident as a minor disturbance. No one realized how close Elara’s life had come to danger that night.In another luxurious apartment in the city center, Rachel woke up with a sense of emptiness. The clock showed nearly midnight. Beside her, Max slep
Chapter 33
Chapter 33Ares stood in front of the twelve-story glass building and took a deep breath. He looked at his own reflection in the automatic doors—simple suit, proposal folder clutched tightly in his hand. There was no luxury, no big name backing him. Only determination and conviction, forced to stand firm.“Good morning, Sir. Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked with a formal smile.“No,” Ares answered honestly. “I want to submit a cooperation proposal.”The smile faded slightly. “Please leave it here. Our team will review it.”Two hours later, the answer came without pleasantries. It does not align with our company’s current focus. Ares nodded, said thank you, and walked out. The first rejection of the day.The second company was not much different. The marketing director did not even open the proposal.“We need partners with a proven track record,” he said coldly. “Not just good ideas.”Ares held his breath. “I understand.”The third rejection came even faster. The rec
Chapter 34
.Chapter 34Night had fully fallen when the black car entered the grounds of the Cole residence. The garden lights lined up, illuminating the pathway with a soft glow. Elara stepped out first, her high heels hovering half a centimeter above the ground before touching down, then she took a deep breath. A full day of meetings had left her shoulders stiff.Tom followed behind her. “Your schedule is quite packed tomorrow, Miss. But the Ethana project has entered a safe stage.”“Good,” Elara replied briefly. “Thank you, Tom.”As soon as the main door opened, Ares was already standing there. He had taken off his suit jacket, replacing the white shirt with a plain T-shirt. He looked tired, but his posture remained upright.“Good evening, Miss,” Ares greeted.Elara nodded. “Evening. Have you eaten?”“I have,” Ares answered quickly. “Have you?”“Later,” Elara said as she walked inside. She glanced back. “How was it? Today’s progress?”Ares hesitated for a fraction of a second. Tom stood to th
Chapter 35
Chapter 35Ares woke abruptly when the clock on the wall showed two in the morning. His throat was dry, rough like sandpaper. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbed his face, then took a long breath.“Thirsty,” he murmured.He stood up and stepped out of the room. The corridor of the Cole residence was silent, lit only by dim wall lamps. His footsteps were light, almost soundless, an old habit that had never truly faded.Downstairs, the kitchen was empty. Ares took a glass of water and drank it slowly. The cold sensation was calming, at least for a moment.As he turned to go back, a shadow appeared from the opposite direction.“Ah—!”Elara was startled. Her body lost balance, her step faltered.Ares reacted instinctively. His hand caught Elara’s waist, pulling her closer before she could truly fall.“Sorry,” Ares said quickly.Elara fell silent. Her face was only a few centimeters away from Ares’s. Their breaths met, warm, awkward.“It’s alright,” Elara replied softly.Several seconds
Chapter 36
Chapter 36Morning at the Cole residence felt awkward.Elara stepped out of her room with slow strides. She wore a simple work outfit, her hair neatly tied, her face calm—at least on the surface. As she turned at the end of the corridor, she saw Ares coming from the opposite direction.They both stopped almost at the same time.“Good morning,” Elara spoke first, her voice slightly softer than usual.“Morning, Miss,” Ares replied briefly.Their gazes met for a moment, then both quickly looked away. The memory of last night surfaced uninvited. Elara swallowed, her heart pounding unnecessarily. Ares looked stiff, his shoulders slightly tense.They walked side by side toward the stairs without speaking. The sound of their footsteps felt too clear in the quiet corridor.As they stepped down the last stair, Elara’s foot caught the edge of the carpet.“Ouch—!”Her body tipped forward. She nearly fell.Ares moved reflexively. His arm wrapped around Elara’s waist, holding her before she truly
Chapter 37
Chapter 37The midday sky was bright—too bright to match what was going on inside Ares’s head.He stood in front of a twenty-story office building, staring at the company’s nameplate with a slight tightness in his chest. His hand gripped the proposal folder—papers he had read, revised, and rearranged countless times.“Areskael,” he murmured softly. “Calm down.”He stepped inside.The company lobby was clean and modern. Glass walls reflected the light, the floors gleamed. Ares walked toward the reception desk, keeping his steps steady even though his stomach churned.“Good afternoon,” the receptionist greeted him with a professional smile.“Afternoon,” Ares replied. “I have an appointment to present a proposal.”The receptionist typed quickly. “Company name?”“Areskael Development,” Ares answered, his voice slightly restrained, as if he was not yet fully confident in the name.The receptionist nodded. “Please have a seat. The CEO’s assistant will meet you.”Ares sat in the waiting chai
Chapter 38
Chapter 38The lights at the Cole residence were still shining brightly even though the wall clock had already passed ten at night. The atmosphere in the large house was quiet, with only the hum of the air conditioning and the occasional soft sound of paper being shifted.Ares had just come in, taking off his shoes carefully. His thin suit was still neat, the proposal secured inside a black folder he had been holding since getting out of the car. His chest felt slightly tight, not from exhaustion—but from the memory of that morning that he still could not fully push away.In the living room, Elara sat on the long sofa with her legs crossed, a tablet and several sheets of reports spread out on the table. Her hair was tied low, her expression focused, as if the world around her did not exist.Ares cleared his throat softly.“Miss… you’re not asleep yet?”Elara looked up. For a brief moment, surprise flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly concealed.“Not yet. There’s still something I
Chapter 39
Chapter 39Morning in the city began with a busy rhythm. Vehicles moved back and forth, horns echoed in response to one another, and tall buildings reflected the rising sunlight. The black car belonging to the Cole family drove smoothly into the company’s parking area.Ares got out first, instinctively scanning the surroundings before opening the door for Elara.“Thank you,” Elara said briefly.“You’re welcome, Miss,” Ares replied. His tone had returned to being professional, as if the awkward moments of the past few days had never happened.They walked side by side toward the lobby. Elara’s steps were calm and graceful, while Ares stayed slightly behind her, his gaze alert, watching everyone who passed.“Elara,” a voice called casually, carrying a deliberately familiar tone.Elara turned her head. “Hm?”“How about the construction land?” he asked while pressing the elevator button. “Have you found it yet?”Ares answered first. “Not yet, Miss.”Elara glanced at him briefly. “Not yet?”
Chapter 40
Chapter 40The door to the CEO’s office closed tightly after Max and Rachel left. Silence hung in the air for several seconds, long enough for the hum of the air conditioner to be heard clearly. Ares was still standing where he was, his gaze sharp, as if he could still see the shadows of those two cunning people sitting in front of him.“Miss,” Ares finally spoke, his voice low but serious. “I want to ask one more time.”Elara, who was closing a report folder, lifted her head. “What is it?”“Are you truly sure you want to continue this cooperation?” Ares looked straight at her. “My instincts tell me they’re dangerous.”Elara didn’t answer immediately. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. Her gaze was calm, almost cold.“I’m very sure,” she said firmly. “Precisely because they’re dangerous, I can’t be reckless. If I refuse without evidence, they’ll just play behind the scenes.”Ares nodded slowly. “I understand.”Elara smiled faintly. “You’re too protective,