Goodbye, Ares

Gasps echoed through the hall, a wave of confusion and disbelief sweeping across the room as Ares Langford's voice cut through the celebration.

"What the hell is going on here?"

His words were sharp and unexpected, echoing through the room. Valeria's smile faltered, and as she opened her lips to speak, her gaze was drawn to a figure behind Ares. 

It was a woman. She was tall and stunning, dressed in black flawless gown, her hair was curled to perfection, and her presence demanded attention. The woman stepped forward, her white heels clicking against the marble floor. Valeria’s heart clenched as Ares turned to her with a familiarity that sent a cold dread washing over her.

He reached for the woman's waist.

“Baby, what’s going on?” she asked sweetly, resting a manicured hand against his chest.

“I don’t know,” Ares replied, glancing around the decorated room like it was all some elaborate mistake.

The woman moved past him then, walking directly toward Valeria. The room suddenly became quiet. The silence was louder than the music that had just stopped.

She extended a hand with a smile that looked like it had been practiced countless times. "My name is Celeste Vaughn. And you?"

Valeria didn’t move. She stared at the hand stretched out and back at Celeste. 

Celeste’s smile only deepened as she spoke further. "I’m Ares’s fiancée."

Whispers erupted around them like a wildfire. Gasps could be heard and then, flashlights could be seen. They were taking pictures. 

Her heart dropped. All the happiness she felt moments ago now felt like a cruel joke. 

Ares walked further, his jaw clenching. 

“Why would you do this?” he asked coldly, his eyes narrowing at Valeria. “Why do you always have to make a scene out of everything?”

Her throat tightened. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. 

“Can’t you just….” he gestured vaguely, “be useful for once?”

Those words hit her like a slap. She blinked, her face flushing as the room blurred around her.

Then, with a final look at the crowd, he said firmly, “The party is over. Everyone should leave.”

And just like that, the laughter and warmth vanished. Chairs scraped and whispers could be heard as heels clicked toward exits. Guests filed out in hurried confusion. No one looked at her. Or worse, they did out of pity. 

Valeria stood there like a statue. Everything she had planned, every effort made over months, now crumbled around her. This was supposed to be a celebration. A surprise. A declaration of love and new beginnings.

Instead, it was humiliation.

From across the room, she caught sight of Mia, one of the few pey who truly knew how much this meant. Mia's head was bowed, her hands folded tightly in front of her. The sympathy on her face broke something deep inside Valeria.

She placed a trembling hand on her stomach.

“Ares...Why would you do this to me?” she whispered, more to herself than him.

But Ares scoffed, his eyes darkening. 

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Organizing a party like this when I came here to introduce my fiancée.”

Valeria stared at him, trying to understand. “What fiancée? This bitch?”

He scoffed. “Celeste is not a bitch. She’s everything a wife should be. She's elegant, dutiful. Not like you, always behaving like a spoiled brat.”

Her eyes widened. “When have I ever..?”

“Stop being funny, Valeria,” he snapped.

The flashes of cameras could still be seen from a distant. Valeria felt stripped bare before the world, exposed and discarded.

Her eyes blurred with tears and then she turned and ran.

She didn’t wait to see the mocking looks on their faces. Her heels clicked hard against the marble as she ascended the grand staircase. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest and when she arrived at the master bedroom she slammed the door behind her, locking it instantly. 

Valeria backed against it for a second. She took a deep breath before moving toward the walk-in closet. Her fingers shook as she pulled down the large silver suitcase from the top shelf.

Enough was enough. She wasn't going to get treated like trash. She deserved better. 

She yanked open drawers, pulling clothes from hangers, not bothering to fold them. The silks, the laces, the gowns, leaving behind all the jewelry Ares had bought her. 

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. 

“Ares," Valeria muttered under her breath. 

He knocked again. "Valeria, open the door."

Silence. 

A moment later, she heard the spare key click.

The door opened revealing an angry looking Ares. 

“What are you doing?” he asked, his eyes moving towards Valeria and her suitcase. Like her packing didn’t make sense.

She didn’t look at him.

“I’m packing.” she spoke out dryly. 

“Who told you to leave?”

“No one,” she said, zipping the suitcase. “But I am. I’m done with this marriage.”

Ares’s eyes widened, he was stunned by Vakeria's new profound confidence. He stepped further into the room, as if seeing her for the first time. 

He’d never seen her like this.

“Valeria……” he started but was cut off. 

She turned to face him.

“No. Don’t speak. Don’t lie. Don’t apologize. I’m not doing this anymore. Not with you.”

Her fingers moved to her left hand. With one swift motion, she pulled off her wedding ring and walked toward him. She took his hand and placed it in his palm.

“Give it to your fiancée. I'm sure it'll look better on her anyways. ”

He stood frozen. 

“I’m done,” she said. “I’ve fought too long for a man who never saw me. I won’t beg to be loved.”

Ares scoffed, as if still trying to understand this version of her. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

She walked to the door with her suitcase in hand. She paused for a moment and without looking back, she said, “My lawyer will be in touch.”