Chapter 136 CHAPTER 136
The Decision
The mansion in Tokyo sat quiet that evening, holding its breath like it already knew something was about to break. The air inside was heavy, thick with the weight of what Ares Langford had carried home from the city.
It was almost 8 p.m. when the sound of his car rolled into the driveway. Kamal and Jamal, heard it first from the backyard where they were still kicking the football. Their laughter stopped midair. Julian, who was helping them set the ball on the grass, looked up as headlights sliced across the wet pavement.
Inside, Tessa was in the living room with Pretty and Beauty, combing through the last of their braids while Chloe and Ayisha scrolled through something on Ayisha’s phone. The mood was light, casual until the front door opened.
Ares stepped in.
His presence filled the room instantly. Even without saying a word, everyone knew the tone had shifted. He wasn’t wearing his usual calm expression. His jaw was tight, his steps deliberate. Rainwater still clung to his shoes as he walked in.
Tessa looked up, setting the comb down slowly. “You’re back early.”
He didn’t respond.
Lady Bianca came down from the hallway almost immediately. “You’re home,” she said smoothly, as if she’d been waiting for him all along.
Ares didn’t even nod. His gaze moved from Tessa to Chloe, then to Ayisha, before finally resting back on Tessa. “Can everyone sit down?”
There was a pause. Nobody moved at first.
Julian came in from outside, wiping sweat from his forehead, sensing something wrong. “Ares?” he asked, his voice low. “What’s going on?”
“Sit down,” Ares repeated, firmer this time.
Tessa frowned but obeyed. She sat, her daughters beside her, beads still dangling loose at the ends. Chloe and Ayisha exchanged a look before slowly settling into the sofa opposite Lady Bianca.
Julian sat last, next to Kamal and Jamal who had wandered in, clutching their football, confusion all over their faces.
The silence stretched thin, tense, uncomfortable.
Ares stood in front of them, hands in his pockets, staring at the floor for a second before he finally spoke.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began quietly. “About everything. About this house. About… us.”
Tessa’s brows knitted. “What do you mean?”
He lifted his head, meeting her eyes. His were colder than she’d ever seen them.
“I mean it’s time to make some changes.”
Chloe’s grip on her phone tightened. Ayisha shifted slightly, sensing the chill beneath his tone.
Ares continued, voice calm but detached. “I called this meeting because I want everyone to hear this at once. No confusion, no argument.”
Lady Bianca folded her arms, eyes glinting.
Ares drew in a breath. “Tessa,” he said. “You and your kids will need to move out.”
The words hit like a crack of thunder in the silence.
Pretty blinked. “Daddy?”
Beauty looked at Tessa, her small hands frozen mid air, beads slipping from her fingers.
Tessa just stared at Ares, her lips parting but no sound coming out.
He looked back at her steadily, as if rehearsed. “You’ve been here long enough. I think it’s time you go back and start over with Richard.”
The room went still.
Julian stood slowly, eyes narrowing. “Ares, what the hell are you talking about?”
Ares didn’t flinch. “I’m talking about reality. You all need to leave this house.”
Ayisha frowned. “Wait…‘you all’? As in…”
“Yes,” Ares said flatly. “That includes you, Chloe, and you, Ayisha. I’m cutting expenses. I can’t keep paying for everyone to live here anymore.”
Chloe’s breath caught. “Ares, I’m due in a few months…”
“I know,” he interrupted, tone still steady but devoid of empathy. “After the baby comes, we’ll run a DNA test. If it’s mine, I’ll take responsibility. But until then, you’ll have to stay elsewhere.”
Ayisha stared at him like he’d just slapped someone. “You’re kicking out a pregnant woman?”
“This is my decision,” Ares said.
Tessa finally found her voice. “What did I do?” she asked softly, standing up. Her voice was shaking, her hands gripping the edge of the couch. “Ares, what did I do wrong?”
He looked at her for a long moment, long enough that she thought maybe he’d soften, maybe he’d take it back. But he didn’t.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said quietly. “I just… can’t keep doing this.”
Tessa blinked fast, confusion and pain swirling together. “Can’t keep doing what? Being decent?”
Ares inhaled deeply but didn’t answer.
Julian stepped forward, voice rising. “Man, you can’t be serious right now. You can’t just throw them out. Where are they supposed to go?”
“That’s not my concern anymore,” Ares said firmly. “They’ll figure it out.”
Julian’s face hardened. “You’ve changed.”
Ares gave a faint, bitter smile. “Maybe I just stopped pretending.”
Tessa swallowed hard, tears welling in her eyes though she fought to keep them from falling. “You promised me,” she whispered. “You promised me that no matter what happened, the kids and I would always have a home here.”
He didn’t meet her gaze this time. “That was before.”
“Before what?” she demanded, her voice breaking. “Before you believed whatever lies that…” she glanced toward Lady Bianca “…fed you?”
Lady Bianca smiled faintly, saying nothing.
“This isn’t about anyone,” Ares said, though even he sounded unconvinced. “It’s about me. About what’s best for everyone.”
Julian stepped closer, his tone sharp. “What’s best for everyone or what’s easiest for you?”
Ares’ eyes flashed, but he kept his composure. “You can say whatever you want. My mind’s made up.”
“Just like that?” Tessa whispered.
He nodded once. “Just like that.”
The boys clutched their football tighter, glancing between their mother and Ares. Jamal finally spoke, his voice trembling. “Daddy, did we do something bad?”
Ares closed his eyes briefly, his jaw tight. “No, sweetheart. You didn’t do anything bad.”
“Then why are we leaving?” Beauty asked softly.
He looked at her, and something in his chest cracked, but he didn’t let it show. “Because it’s time.”
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Chloe wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “This isn’t right,” she said. “We’ve all stood by you, Ares. When everyone turned their backs, we were still here.”
Ares nodded once. “And I’m grateful for that.”
“Grateful?” Ayisha scoffed. “You call this grateful? Throwing us out like we’re trash?”
Ares’ expression hardened. “Watch your tone.”
Julian shook his head, disgusted. “Man, you’ve lost it.”
He turned toward Tessa, who was staring blankly at the floor, her braids undone, beads scattered like fallen promises.
“Tessa,” Ares said softly, but she didn’t look up.
He hesitated for a moment, as if torn between guilt and resolve but only for a moment. Then he straightened, his decision carved deep in his face.
“I’ll give you a week,” he said. “Enough time to pack and find somewhere else.”
Julian stepped forward again, voice low but fierce. “Don’t do this. Not like this. Whatever’s going on, talk it out. Don’t let your pride ruin what’s left of your humanity.”
Ares looked at him blankly, then turned away. “Meeting’s over.”
Julian grabbed his arm. “Ares!”
Ares stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Think about those kids,” Julian said. “They love you. You’re all they know.”
For a moment, Ares’ hand twitched just slightly. His shoulders tensed. But then he pulled free and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hall.
“Damn it,” Julian muttered, raking his fingers through his hair.
Tessa sat down again, eyes glassy, lips trembling but silent. The girls climbed onto her lap, confused, frightened, clinging to her arms.
Lady Bianca crossed her legs slowly, a faint, satisfied smile playing on her lips.
“Well,” she said softly, her voice dripping with mock sympathy, “I suppose it’s for the best. Some people just don’t belong under the same roof forever.”
Ayisha shot her a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Lady Bianca smiled wider. “I enjoy order, dear. And this house could use a little of that.”
The sound of Ares’ door closing upstairs ended the argument.
Silence filled the room once more. Heavy. Hollow. Final.
Tessa sat frozen, her fingers still clutching the comb she hadn’t realized she was holding. Pretty and Beauty leaned against her chest, silent tears soaking her shirt.
Julian sighed, pacing the floor. Chloe held her belly, shaking her head in disbelief. Ayisha just stared at the stairs where Ares had disappeared, her jaw clenched.
And Lady Bianca leaned back in her chair, victory glimmering in her eyes like polished glass.