WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 7

At exactly eight in the morning, the atmosphere in the Cole mansion began to feel alive. Sunlight streamed through the large windows of the living room as Ares stood awkwardly near the sofa. He had been awake since dawn, but he did not know what to do other than wait.

The main door opened.

Elara entered with calm steps, wearing a simple yet neat outfit. A long-sleeved white blouse paired with dark slacks, her hair tied low.

Ares straightened his posture instinctively.

“Good morning, Miss Elara.”

Elara turned her head. “Morning, Ares.”

She stopped a few steps in front of him and glanced at Ares briefly, then frowned.

“Where are you going dressed like that?” she asked flatly.

Ares reflexively looked down at the T-shirt and pants he was wearing. “To the civil registry office.”

Elara raised an eyebrow. “The civil registry office?”

Ares nodded. “Yes. To take care of the divorce certificate.”

Elara fell silent for a moment. “In clothes like that?”

Her tone was not mocking, yet it made Ares feel even more awkward.

“I thought… appearance wasn’t important,” Ares answered honestly. “It’s just handling a divorce certificate anyway.”

Elara snorted softly. “For you, it may just be a signature. But you need to look impressive so your ex-wife feels at least a little regret.”

Ares looked at her, confused. “Is that necessary?”

Elara stepped closer. “Of course it is! You’re meeting your ex-wife. Of course you have to look impressive, right?”

Ares fell silent.

“I won’t change my appearance,” he finally said.

Elara looked straight at him. “For me, you have to change it.”

She grabbed Ares’s wrist without further words.

“Come with me.”

“Miss Elara?” Ares startled.

Elara had already pulled him down the hallway toward her room.

“What—”

“I didn’t ask for your protest,” Elara cut him off briefly.

When the bedroom door opened, Ares was rendered speechless again. On the small sofa, a complete set of men’s clothing had been neatly arranged: a suit, shirt, trousers, tie, and even shoes.

Elara set down her bag and pointed at the clothes.

“Wear that.”

Ares stared in disbelief. “This… is for me?”

“Yes,” Elara replied shortly. “I prepared it.”

Ares swallowed. “Why did you go to such trouble?”

Elara turned to him. “Because you are now someone who works for me. And I will not allow my people to be humiliated.”

Ares remained silent for quite a while.

“This is just my divorce, Miss.”

Elara stepped one pace closer. “That’s exactly why.”

She pointed at the clothes. “Change. Now.”

Ares finally nodded. “Alright.”

A few minutes later, Ares stood in front of a large mirror. The white shirt fit his body perfectly. The black suit made his posture look firmer. He barely recognized his own reflection.

“Strange…” he muttered.

The door opened.

Elara entered and stopped right behind him. She stared at Ares’s reflection in the mirror without saying anything for several seconds.

“You look handsome,” she finally said.

Ares smiled faintly. “I don’t remember the last time someone said that.”

Elara reached for the tie around Ares’s neck that was still slightly crooked.

“Stay still.”

She straightened it with quick, professional movements.

“Listen carefully,” Elara said as she adjusted his collar. “You don’t need to respond to your ex-wife’s words. No need to get angry. No need to explain anything.”

Ares met her eyes through the mirror. “Then what should I do?”

“Stand straight,” Elara replied. “Sign, then leave.”

Ares nodded slowly. “I understand.”

He took a deep breath. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Elara.”

Elara withdrew her hands. “I did it out of pity for you being insulted, mocked, and called trash.”

“I know,” Ares said with a faint smile. “But that is indeed the truth. I really am useless.”

They left the room together. Tom was already waiting in the living room.

When he saw Ares, Tom stopped walking.

“A big change.”

Ares chuckled softly. “I’m surprised too.”

Elara picked up her bag. “Let’s go.”

Inside the car, Ares sat upright, staring at the road slowly moving away.

“Nervous?” Elara asked without looking at him.

“A little,” Ares answered honestly.

Elara glanced at him briefly. “Change always starts with how you stand.”

Ares smiled faintly.

The car continued toward the civil registry office.

Before long, the car stopped in front of the civil registry office. The building was not very large, but it was quite busy. Several couples went in and out.

Ares got out first. Once standing, he took a deep breath.

“Calm down,” Elara said from beside him.

Without much talk, Elara took Ares’s hand. Her grip was not strong, but firm.

Ares reflexively turned his head. “Miss Elara…”

Elara did not let go. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m not used to it,” Ares answered honestly.

“Relax. Just think that for today, I’m not your superior, but your partner.”

Ares nodded slowly. Gradually, he adjusted his steps to Elara’s.

As soon as they stepped inside, the atmosphere in the lobby immediately changed.

Rachel and Max had arrived earlier.

Rachel wore an elegant cream-colored dress, her makeup flawless. Max stood beside her in an expensive suit with a confident expression.

However, the smile on Max’s face disappeared instantly when he saw Ares.

More precisely—when he saw the current Ares.

“What the hell is this?” Max narrowed his eyes. “That’s Ares, right?”

Rachel also fell silent. Her gaze lingered longer than she expected. There was something weighing on her chest, but she quickly covered it with a cold expression.

Max chuckled mockingly. “Miss Elara, is that right?” he said while glancing at their clasped hands. “Are you sure you want to escort a useless piece of trash like him?”

Ares stopped walking.

Instead, Elara stepped half a step forward. She did not release Ares’s hand.

“To you,” Elara said flatly, “he may be trash.”

She turned to Max and Rachel, her gaze cold.

“But to me, he is a diamond.”

Max was stunned. “What?”

Elara smiled faintly. “Is there something wrong with that?”

Rachel clenched her fingers. For some reason, she really disliked seeing her ex-husband being escorted by a woman of noble lineage.

Ares stared straight ahead. His face was calm, but his jaw tightened.

“If you’re done talking,” Ares said coldly, “we can go in.”

Rachel quickly turned toward him. There was a flash of emotion in her eyes, mixed with discomfort she refused to acknowledge.

“You’re getting arrogant,” she said sarcastically. “Just because a rich woman picked you up, you’re suddenly acting confident.”

Ares did not respond.

Elara gently pressed the back of Ares’s hand, signaling him to stay calm.

The clerk called their number. Ares and Rachel entered the administration room. Elara sat on the bench outside, right across from the glass door. Her eyes never left Ares.

Inside the room, Rachel sat down first. She crossed her legs and looked Ares up and down.

“I didn’t expect you to be able to wear expensive clothes and expensive shoes,” Rachel said. “Who helped you? That woman?”

Ares pulled out a chair and sat down. “That has nothing to do with you.”

Rachel chuckled softly. “Still arrogant.”

Ares looked at the clerk. “We are here to process the divorce certificate.”

The clerk nodded and pushed the documents to the center of the table. “Please review them.”

Rachel deliberately read slowly.

“Just sign it,” Ares said in a low voice.

Rachel sneered. “I’m just curious. You used to be worthless, and now suddenly a big CEO is backing you. You must have satisfied that young lady in bed, right?”

The veins on Ares’s neck tightened. His chest felt hot.

“Watch your words,” he said restrainedly.

Rachel leaned forward. “Why? What I just said is true, isn’t it?”

The clerk stiffened. “Ma’am, Sir, please calm down.”

Ares clenched his fists under the table. His head throbbed.

Outside, Elara stood and stepped closer to the door, as if she could sense the tension inside.

Rachel stared sharply at Ares. “You know what? I never regretted leaving you.”

Ares slowly raised his face. “I’m actually grateful.”

Rachel was shocked. “What?”

“Because if not,” Ares continued calmly, “I would never have realized that I spent my life with the wrong person.”

Rachel froze for a few seconds, then laughed coldly. “You’re really arrogant! It won’t be long before Miss Elara throws you away too.”

“She won’t,” Ares replied.

He picked up the pen. His hand trembled briefly, but he remembered Elara’s grip earlier.

Ares signed the document in one steady breath.

Rachel’s turn.

Rachel stared at Ares’s signature for a long time. There was something heavy in her chest, a sense of loss that came too late.

But she still signed.

The document was officially stamped.

“Your divorce is now legally valid,” the clerk said.

Ares stood up. “Thank you.”

As soon as he exited the room, Elara immediately approached him.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

Ares nodded. “I’m fine, and I’m finally done with her.”

Rachel and Max came out shortly after. Rachel glanced at Ares once more. Her gaze was brief, filled with emotions she suppressed.

Max snorted. “Enjoy the rest of your life as a noblewoman’s pet.”

Ares did not turn around.

Elara took Ares’s hand again. “Let’s go.”

They walked out together, leaving Rachel standing stiffly in place.

“Look, Max, he’s so arrogant. You have to do something so Miss Elara throws him away, so he can’t be arrogant!” Rachel began to lose control.