Chapter 11 CHAPTER 11
Times flies
Seven Years Later
The Langford estate was alive with laughter, balloons, and the shrill excitement of children. The gardens had been transformed into a wonderland of bright colors, inflatable castles, and a miniature carnival that stretched from the fountain to the rose garden.
Seven years ago, Ares Langford would never have imagined himself standing at the center of such a celebration, responsible for four pairs of small feet, four unique little personalities who called him Daddy with no hesitation, no doubt in their voices.
But here he was, straightening his tie as he looked at the scene, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
It was the quadruplets’ birthday—Kamal, Jamal, Beauty, and Pretty. Seven years old today, yet it felt like they had always been a part of his life.
“Daddy, look at me!” Jamal shouted, balancing precariously on the edge of the inflatable slide before tumbling down with wild laughter.
“You’re going to break your neck,” Ares called back, but his tone was more amused than stern. He knew Jamal was fearless, the bolder of the boys, always the one to climb higher, run faster, and test boundaries.
Beside him, Kamal was the opposite—calmer, quieter, but no less mischievous. He tugged on Ares’s hand, his big brown eyes twinkling. “Daddy, come help me build the biggest Lego tower ever. Beauty keeps knocking it down.”
Beauty, with her wide eyes and curly hair pulled into two bouncing pigtails, stood proudly beside the half destroyed tower, hands on her hips. “It wasn’t me! It was Pretty!”
Pretty, the smallest by a few minutes but the sharpest of the four, smirked. “Daddy, I’m innocent. Beauty is blaming me again.”
Ares chuckled. “Alright, you four, no fighting on your birthday. Kamal, I’ll help you with the tower. Beauty, Pretty, maybe you two can help the clowns hand out balloons instead?”
The girls shrieked with delight and dashed off, their pink dresses fluttering behind them.
Ares crouched beside Kamal, steady hands guiding the little boy’s smaller ones as they stacked colorful blocks. It was a simple task, but moments like this made the weight of his responsibilities feel worthwhile. He had built empires, doubled his father’s company’s worth, and signed multi million dollar deals but nothing compared to the look on his children’s faces when they had his full attention.
From across the garden, Lady Bianca and Marcus Langford watched their son with quiet pride. His mother dabbed the corner of her eye with a silk handkerchief.
“Look at him,” she whispered. “Do you remember the boy he used to be? Carefree, reckless, arrogant. And now…”
Marcus placed a hand over hers. “Now he’s a father. And not just in name, he’s doing it well.”
“He’s finally grown,” Bianca murmured, her heart swelling.
At that moment, Julian approached, cutting a dashing figure in his suit. He was no longer the young associate who had once hovered nervously behind Ares in night parties. Now, he was a trusted confidant, a partner in Ares’s empire.
“Happy birthday to the heirs of Langford Enterprises,” Julian said with a grin, shaking Ares’s hand firmly. “And congratulations, Ares. The deal with Lawrence Industries—brilliant move. You’ve made headlines again.”
Ares nodded, his eyes still flicking to his children. “Thank you, Julian. But tonight, business takes a backseat. It’s their day.”
Julian chuckled. “Of course. Still, I had to say it, you’ve come a long way.”
The music swelled, children raced around with balloon swords, and the air smelled of popcorn and cotton candy. For once, the weight of Ares’s empire didn’t sit heavily on his shoulders.
Then, from the crowd, a familiar voice called, “Ares!”
He turned, and his gaze softened. Chloe.
She looked radiant in a simple lilac dress, her dark hair pulled back elegantly, her smile warm as she waved. Over the years, she had been a constant in his life—a friend, a steady presence, someone who had helped him navigate both fatherhood and business. There had never been a spark of romance between them, though others speculated. She was simply…Chloe. A breath of ease in his storm.
“You made it,” Ares said, moving toward her.
“Of course I did,” she replied. “I wouldn’t miss my godchildren’s big day. Seven years old already! Can you believe it?”
“Sometimes I can’t believe it’s been seven years at all,” Ares admitted.
They made their way to the VIP section, a quiet corner shaded by a canopy where drinks and hors d’oeuvres were served. From here, they could see the entire party without being swarmed by guests.
“You’ve done well, Ares,” Chloe said softly, watching the children dance with painted faces. “They adore you.”
“They saved me,” he replied before he could stop himself. His voice was low, rough with the truth of it. “If not for them, I don’t know who I would’ve become. Maybe I would’ve drowned in bitterness…maybe I would’ve lost myself completely. But when they look at me the way they do—like I’m their whole world—I can’t be anything less than the man they need.”
Chloe’s eyes softened. She placed her hand briefly over his. “You are more than enough for them. And for yourself too, Ares. Don’t forget that.”
For a moment, he let the warmth of her words wash over him. He had lost so much, been betrayed so deeply, but the children had anchored him. And friends like Chloe reminded him that not all bonds ended in ruin.
As night fell and the fairy lights twinkled across the garden, the party wound down. Guests began to leave, their laughter fading into the night. The children, exhausted but glowing with joy, had finally fallen asleep in their rooms, each clutching new toys and birthday balloons.
Ares walked back into the grand living room, where his parents were seated with glasses of wine. The house was quieter now, the echoes of celebration replaced by stillness.
Lady Bianca looked up at him with that familiar maternal intensity. “Ares,” she began carefully, “don’t you think it’s time…for you to consider marriage?”
He froze. His chest tightened.
Bianca continued, her voice gentle but firm. “The children are growing. They will need more than just a father. They will need stability, a home filled with both love and partnership. Chloe is here, always by your side. Or someone else…”
“Mother.” His voice was sharp.
Bianca’s eyes flickered with regret, but she pressed on. “Ares, Tessa is gone. She chose her path. She eloped with another man. That wound should not dictate the rest of your life.”
“Don’t,” he said, his tone low, dangerous now. “Don’t mention her name. Not in this house. Not in front of me.”
Bianca inhaled, startled by the sudden edge in her son’s voice.
Ares straightened, his jaw set, his fists clenched at his sides. “I have given everything for my children. They are enough. I don’t need reminders of the past.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and strode out of the room, his footsteps echoing against the marble floor until the silence swallowed him whole.
Lady Bianca sat back, her throat tight with unspoken words, while Marcus laid a calming hand on her shoulder.