Chapter 38 CHAPTER 38
Time running out
Chloe sat at home, swirling a glass of red wine, entirely unfazed. She had changed into a robe and was painting her nails, the television muted in the background. To her, the entire ordeal was nothing more than an inconvenience.
“They exaggerate everything,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “The girl was fine. Ares is always so dramatic. Slapped me…” She scoffed. “Twice now…oh Ares, I owe four of your kids two slaps each.”
Meanwhile, Tessa sat in her apartment with Ayisha. The news had already begun to circulate online.
“Wife of billionaire Ares caught in scandal—stepchild nearly drowns under her watch.”
Ayisha tossed a grape into her mouth, laughing bitterly. “God is exposing Chloe one by one! Tessa, can you imagine? That poor child. Thank heavens Ares was there. Imagine if she had died!”
Tessa’s hands trembled as she held her phone. The video of paramedics rushing Pretty into the hospital was all over the internet, captured by a neighbor. Tessa’s heart ached. The child had her eyes.
“This is too much,” Tessa whispered. “Ayisha, my children… they don’t deserve this. Whatever is going on between the adults, the kids shouldn’t suffer.”
Ayisha’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you want to do? Go rushing into the hospital to comfort them? Ares won’t even let you in, remember?”
Tessa bit her lip, tears pooling. She knew Ayisha was right, but the urge to hold her babies was overwhelming.
Back in the hospital, Marcus joined Ares in the corridor. The older man’s expression was grim, his cane tapping against the tiles.
“This cannot continue,” Marcus said firmly. “Chloe is dangerous. Not only to you, but to the children. She must be dealt with.”
Ares rubbed his temples, exhaustion weighing on him. “You think I don’t know that? But how do I cut her off clean when she’s already made herself the victim in the public eye? If I cast her out now, she’ll play the wounded wife and drag me through the mud. The press will eat it alive.”
Marcus leaned closer. “You need to choose, Ares. Your pride, or your children’s lives. Which one is worth more?”
The words sank deep. Ares exhaled heavily. His pride had already cost him Tessa once. He would not let it cost him his children too.
The next morning, Chloe swept into the hospital like she was walking a runway. Designer heels clicked against the floor, and her oversized sunglasses shielded her eyes from the glares of staff and visitors.
“Where are my children?” she demanded haughtily, ignoring the receptionist’s nervous stammering.
When she reached Pretty’s room, Ares was already there. His eyes were bloodshot, his shirt rumpled. He rose slowly from the chair beside Pretty’s bed, his body stiff with barely controlled rage.
“What are you doing here?” his voice was dangerously low.
Chloe scoffed, brushing past him. “Checking on my daughter, obviously. Do you expect me to stay home and knit while you are here? Common, you guys need me.”
Ares grabbed her arm so tightly she gasped. “Don’t you dare pretend to care. Beauty told me everything. You ignored them. You left them to fend for themselves while you lounged…”
Chloe’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Oh, so now we’re listening to the testimonies of seven year olds? Children exaggerate. They whine. Maybe Pretty jumped in herself. You know how kids are.”
The slap came before he realized it. His hand cracked across her cheek, the sound echoing in the hospital room. Pretty stirred faintly at the noise, but Beauty quickly leaned over her twin, whispering softly to calm her.
Chloe’s head whipped to the side, her sunglasses clattering to the floor. Slowly, she turned back to glare at Ares, her face flushed with shock and humiliation.
“You hit me?” she hissed. “Again? Three times now…”
Ares’ voice was ice. “If you ever endanger my children again, Chloe, it won’t stop at a slap.”
Chloe stared at him, rage simmering behind her eyes, but for once, she said nothing. She simply grabbed her bag, lifted her chin, and stormed out of the room.
Lady Bianca sat at home, her frail body propped up on pillows, watching the news unfold. Her heart tightened painfully as she listened.
“Ares Langford’s daughter nearly drowns… Chloe implicated in neglect scandal… Public demands justice.”
Marcus rushed into the room when he heard her coughing fit. “Bianca, please, you must calm yourself. Stress will only worsen your condition.”
Bianca shook her head weakly. “It’s that woman… Chloe. She will destroy everything. If Ares doesn’t end this, she will be the ruin of us all.”
By evening, the internet was ablaze again. Hashtags trended worldwide: #JusticeForPretty, #SaveTheLangfordKids, #ChloeOut.
Tessa sat in silence as Ayisha scrolled gleefully through the chaos. “The world is on your side again, Tessa. Finally. They’re seeing the truth.”
But Tessa only felt emptiness. Public opinion wasn’t what mattered. What mattered was her daughter, lying weak in that hospital bed.
Meanwhile, Ares sat outside Pretty’s room, his head in his hands. How did he get here? How did he get married to her? Why couldn’t he see? Why didn’t he try to find Tessa when she left?
Slowly he looked around…
One thing was certain. Chloe’s time was running out.