5. Ares Callaghan Is The Devil

Nadia's POV.

Jess was obsessed with fashion, and I finally realized why she was most excited about the closet more than anything.

She helped me with some light makeup that she insisted would be nice in case any guests came around, and then chose a dark green dress.

“Not a lot of people can pull this color off, but you have such light skin and it’s a contrast with your very brown eyes,” she gushed.

I smiled, and she did a small dance before running around to choose the shoes. Thankfully, she chose a very low glass heels and then helped me into my dress.

It was a perfect fit, and I should be surprised, but since Ares was able to come to the club, then I guess there was nothing about me that they didn’t know at this point.

Jess and Emily followed me, or more like led the way to the dining room, and then stopped at the entrance. “My lady, we would go back to clean up and wait in your quarters,” Emily said.

I nodded and gave them a grateful smile. Right now, I was beyond glad that Sam had brought them because the other option was me having to figure everything out on my own.

I raised my hand to open the door, but the door was pushed open from inside.

I took a deep breath again.

Inside the room, Mr Callaghan was seated at the head and narrow part of the table while my mom was seated by his right-hand side.

The space on his left was empty, and Ares sat on the chair next to that empty space while Luca was seated opposite him.

After a quick glance at the four of them, I forced a smile and swallowed. Where was I meant to sit? Besides Luca or… no. Definitely not an option.

I made my way to the right-hand side where Luca was giving me a wide smile, but before I could drag a chair out, Mr Callaghan waved me over.

“Come sit here, Princess.”

I winced a little at the title, but with the wide smile on my mom’s face, I wasn’t sure that disagreeing with him was a good idea, so I made my way over and dragged out the seat beside Ares.

Ares said nothing. Since I had walked in, he hadn’t raised his head up once, and even though it hurt that he was treating me like I was insignificant, it was better than when he had his hands around my neck and looked like he wanted me dead.

I could get used to this.

Dinner was quiet, and Mom looked like she had settled in here very quickly.

Unlike her, I had to watch them for a second to be sure of how I was meant to hold the cutlery, and when the maids started serving, I didn’t know I could choose what I wanted until Ares told them to change his main meal.

“Going forward, don’t serve me the same meals as them,” Ares announced, and I looked up, my eyes meeting with my mom, then moved to look at Mr Callaghan.

“Ares.”

Mr Callaghan's voice was stern, and he dropped his cutlery gently before looking up.

“If you find the food in the palace disgusting, you can as well go back to wherever you were for the last five years.”

I was surprised at that information, and I couldn’t help but think that I might have been wrong about some things.

I wasn’t an expert, but Ares looked like he was about five to seven years older than me. So if he had been away for five years on his own, then he wasn’t a spoilt brat like I thought he was.

The table had gone back to being quiet, and Mr Callaghan had picked up his cutlery before Ares responded.

“Dying for some alone time with your new perfect family?”

This looked like it was going to escalate; however, Mr Callaghan's lips parted in a wide smile.

“Thankfully, you get it.”

Ares chuckled. “I’ll leave after the wedding.”

“If it happens,” he added and I couldn’t help but suck in air.

I wanted to leave here, there’s nothing I wanted more than the marriage not working too, but I haven’t seen my mom look this happy in eight years.

She looked younger, prettier, and somehow felt completely at home in this palace that was the farthest thing from home.

Also, if Ares was going to leave right after the wedding, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

The rest of the dinner went pretty well. The food was amazing, even though I had to be extra careful with my chewing.

“Luca, find some time to do the dance choreography with Nadia since you both will be dancing together at the engagement ball tomorrow.”

“Engagement ball?” I blurted and then regretted it right after.

However, Mr Callaghan turned to me and gave me a very bright smile.

“The engagement ball is tomorrow, your mother and I have prepared everything you need, and you just need to practice your dancing with Luca.”

His smile made me feel better, and I nodded in understanding.

“I can dance, I don’t think I’ll have a hard time learning.”

Before Mr Callaghan could reply, Ares snorted beside me.

“He’s not talking about the type of dance where you hang on poles and flash your goodies to men, Nadia.”

I shouldn’t be embarrassed because I did nothing wrong, but still, with my mom, Luca, and Mr Callaghan watching, I could feel my face burning, and I cleared my throat gently before replying.

“Being flexible helps, right, Luca?” I wasn’t even sure if calling him by his name was okay, but Luca had a small grin hanging on his lips, and he wiped his mouth carefully before replying.

“Yes, it helps. We can do it tomorrow morning.”

Luca stood up, and Ares did the same. Were the younger ones meant to leave first, or was there no rule to this?

I watched as the twins walked to the door, and then Ares turned just as he got to the end of the table.

“I have some free time on my hands, I’ll teach her the dance. I’m sure you have more than enough that needs your attention at the company.”

I shook my head hurriedly, but Mr Callaghan spoke beside me.

“That’s perfect.”

Luca’s eyes met mine for a second before he stepped out of the door, while Ares didn’t bother to glance my way.

Of course, that was fine by me because if there was anything this dinner did, it was to help me confirm my suspicions.

Ares Callaghan is the Devil.