WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ares returned to the restaurant about ten minutes later. His steps were calm, his expression controlled, as if nothing had happened. The restaurant lights were the same, the crowd was still lively, and the atmosphere remained warm. Nothing had changed—except him.

He saw Elara sitting at a table near the center of the room. The woman was opening a thin folder containing client documents, but it was clear she was not truly focused. Several times, her gaze flicked toward the entrance.

Ares approached.

“Miss Elara.”

Elara turned quickly. Her brows lifted slightly. “Where have you been?”

Ares pulled out a chair and sat down. “Sorry. Nature suddenly called, so I rushed to the restroom.”

Elara looked at him for a few seconds, as if weighing something. “You disappeared just like that.”

“I panicked, so I didn’t have time to say anything,” Ares replied calmly.

Elara let out a small breath, then nodded. “Our associate is still on the way. He said he’ll be a little late because of traffic.”

“Understood,” Ares replied.

He lowered his gaze, pretending to study the menu on the table. Yet from the corner of his eye, he could still see the table near the window.

Rachel Corriere was still sitting there with Maxim Wilson.

Rachel looked elegant in a simple cream-colored dress. Her face appeared relaxed, but her smile was not entirely sincere. Max sat beside her, one hand still resting on the back of Rachel’s chair—a deliberately possessive posture.

A moment later, Rachel turned her head unintentionally.

Their gazes met.

Rachel’s smile faded for a fraction of a second before returning. This time it was thinner, colder. She leaned slightly toward Max.

“Max,” she said softly but clearly. “He’s here.”

Max followed the direction of her gaze. When he saw Ares, the corner of his lips lifted.

“Oh,” he said casually. “There he is.”

Rachel snorted softly. “Why is he still with Miss Elara?”

Max smiled lightly. “Probably work. He’s her subordinate now, right?”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “I don’t like seeing him.”

Max turned to her. “Why? Jealous?”

Rachel shot him a sharp look. “It’s not like that. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Max raised both hands. “Relax. I was just guessing.”

Rachel crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I just don’t want him to feel superior to me. You know what he was like before.”

“A man with nothing,” Max replied lightly.

“Exactly,” Rachel said. “If he feels secure now, he could become arrogant. I don’t want that.”

Max leaned forward. “So what do you want?”

Rachel glanced briefly at Elara, then looked back at Max. “Do something. Make sure he gets discarded by Miss Elara.”

Max fell silent for a moment. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t want to see him wandering around my life anymore,” Rachel replied coldly. “I don’t want him to feel like he has a foothold.”

Max smiled faintly. “Alright. I understand.”

Rachel nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”

At another table, Elara closed the folder. “Ares, you look pale. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing,” Ares replied.

Elara looked at him doubtfully. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Elara was about to say something else when her phone vibrated. She checked the screen. “Our client is almost here.”

“Alright,” Ares replied.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged man arrived and shook hands with Elara. The discussion began—formal and focused. Ares mostly remained silent, only occasionally giving his input when asked.

Yet beneath his calm demeanor, his senses remained alert. He could feel that something was not right. The seal within him had closed again, but it was not entirely stable. Every time Rachel laughed or Max touched the woman’s stomach, a small pulse tried to rise. Ares suppressed it in silence.

As the meeting was nearing its end, Max stood up from his table. He gently patted Rachel’s shoulder.

“I’m going to the restroom for a bit,” he said.

Rachel nodded. “Don’t take too long.”

Max walked off, but not toward the restroom. Instead, he stopped not far from Elara’s table.

“How are you, Miss Elara?” Max greeted her pleasantly.

Elara turned to him. “I’m fine. What is it? Is there something I can help you with?”

Max chuckled softly. “No. Just wanted to say hello. We happened to run into each other.”

Elara nodded politely. “Please.”

Max glanced at Ares. “You work for Miss Elara now?”

Ares looked at him flatly. “Yes.”

Max nodded slowly. “Interesting.”

Elara narrowed her eyes slightly. “Do you have a particular intention?”

Max smiled wider. “Not at all. I’m just curious.”

“In that case, I think this conversation is enough,” Elara said coldly.

“Of course,” Max replied casually. “Sorry to disturb you.”

He left and returned to Rachel’s table.

The meeting finally ended. The client excused himself first. Elara closed the folder and stood up.

“We’re heading back to the office,” she said.

Ares stood and followed.

As they walked toward the exit, Rachel stood up and cut off Elara’s path.

“Miss Elara,” Rachel greeted sweetly.

Elara stopped. “Yes?”

Rachel smiled. “I just wanted to say, be careful when choosing the people you trust.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Rachel glanced briefly at Ares. “Not everyone is as clean as they appear.”

Ares stared straight ahead, his expression blank.

Elara smiled faintly. “Thank you for the advice. But I trust my own judgment.”

Rachel’s smile stiffened. “Oh, very well then.”

Elara walked away, giving no further room.

Ares followed behind her.

Elsewhere, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Inside a spacious office with dark wooden walls, Hendri stood rigidly in front of a large desk. Behind the desk sat Hoiric, Elara’s stepfather. The man’s face was dark, his jaw clenched.

“Report,” Hoiric said coldly.

Hendri swallowed. “Miss Elara successfully resolved the Ethana Project issue, Sir.”

Hoiric slammed a folder onto the desk. “What?”

“The audit went smoothly. There were no major findings. Investors are calm again,” Hendri continued quickly.

“Damn it!” Hoiric stood up. “Why is she always one step ahead?”

Hendri lowered his head. “Miss Elara acted quickly. She—”

“Enough!” Hoiric cut him off. “I’ve heard enough of her name.”

He paced back and forth. “I thought she would fall this time. But she came out clean instead.”

Hendri hesitated. “Perhaps… we need to shift our focus to the people around her.”

Hoiric stopped. “What do you mean?”

“The people she trusts,” Hendri replied. “If they waver, Miss Elara will be affected as well.”

Hoiric smiled thinly, with no warmth in it. “Find the weakness.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Hoiric stared out the window. “Elara is too clever. But everyone has a weak point.”

Outside the building, Elara and Ares walked toward the car.

Elara stopped briefly. “Ares.”

“Yes?”

“You heard that earlier, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t mind it,” Elara said firmly. “I judge based on performance, not people’s words.”

Ares nodded. “Thank you, Young Miss Elara.”