Chapter 149 CHAPTER 149
You can’t stop it
Ares didn’t feel himself breathe.
He didn’t feel his feet touch the ground as he rushed down the aisle of the outdoor wedding, his pulse hammering so loudly it drowned out the soft classical music floating from the live quartet.
His vision tunneled, straight toward Tessa standing beside Marcus.
The officiant was mid sentence. Guests were whispering, confused, startled, scandalized. The air smelled of roses, champagne, and the metallic scent of Ares’ rage.
Tessa turned at the commotion.
Her eyes met his.
Ares froze. Not because he lacked the strength to storm forward, he had enough fury in him to tear down the entire mansion if he wished but because the look in her eyes gutted him.
“Ares,” Julian whispered sharply behind him, trying to grab his arm. “Don’t…”
Ares yanked his hand free.
He stepped into the aisle, facing his father who stood tall and composed in his expensive silver trimmed tuxedo, one hand resting lightly on the small of Tessa’s back.
“You’re marrying my woman?” Ares demanded, voice shaking with barely restrained violence.
Gasps rippled through the guests.
Tessa’s fingers twitched. Marcus’ jaw tightened, but he smiled like a king indulging a foolish child.
“No,” Marcus replied coolly. “Your ex. Correct your terminology.”
“You forced her…”
“I didn’t force her,” Marcus cut in. “She agreed. Willingly. In fact, she signed the paperwork.”
Tessa said nothing.
That silence… that silence burned.
Ares started toward her, but two security guards stepped in his path. He shoved one aside, the other grabbed his arm, but Ares was stronger and angrier than either of them had prepared for.
Julian ran in, trying to hold him back. “Ares! Stop…”
But Ares’ eyes were locked on Tessa.
“You can’t do this,” he said, breath shaking. “Tessa, you can’t marry him. This is insane.”
Tessa lifted her chin. “I can do whatever I choose, Ares. I owe you nothing.”
Ares felt something in his chest crack open. “Tessa… please. At least tell me why.”
“She doesn’t owe you excuses,” Marcus snapped, stepping forward. “This is her decision. And my wedding. You are trespassing.”
Ares lunged for him, but Julian threw himself in front of him, barely holding him back.
“Ares!” Julian shouted. “Stop! They’ll call the police!”
Ares roared the words, “She is MY woman!”
Marcus’ eyes gleamed. “Not anymore.”
The officiant had stepped aside. Guests had begun to stand, unsure whether to flee or stay to witness the unfolding scandal. Lady Bianca, sitting in her wheelchair under a shaded canopy, watched everything silently, crying.
Ares didn’t care. He didn’t care about the guests. He didn’t care about the consequences. He only cared about Tessa.
He tried again to reach her. “Tessa, listen to me…”
“Enough,” Marcus said coldly. He turned to his head of security. “Call them.”
The man nodded and took out his phone.
Ares froze for half a second. “What are you doing?”
“Removing an intruder,” Marcus replied. “This is my property. My wedding. You are disrupting it. And you assaulted my staff.”
The words hit Ares like a slap. “You’re calling the police on your own son?”
Marcus’ smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You stopped being my son the day you chose to challenge me.”
Tessa flinched at that.
Ares’ blood went cold.
“You want to arrest me,” Ares said, voice low, dangerous, “because you’re afraid Tessa will walk away the second she hears the truth about you.”
Marcus arched a brow. “I’m afraid of nothing. Least of all you.”
Ares tried to move again but six security guards surrounded him this time. Julian was shoved aside. Ares fought, twisting, struggling, shoving, but without room to use his strength, they managed to restrain him.
“Don’t you dare!” Ares roared. “Tessa!”
Tessa stepped back instinctively as he was dragged toward the mansion gates. Her eyes shimmered with conflict but she stayed frozen.
“Tessa!” he shouted again, voice cracking. “Don’t marry him! Don’t…”
Her lips trembled.
Then she turned away.
Ares felt something in him shatter so violently he thought he heard the sound.
Julian ran forward. “Stop…this is too far! He’s your son!”
Marcus didn’t bother looking at him. “Escort Mr. Ates off the premises. The police will meet you at the gate.”
“No!” Ares bellowed. “Let me go!”
Security tightened their grip.
He was dragged across the aisle, past the shocked guests, past the altar dripping with flowers, toward the wrought-iron gates of the estate.
Lady Bianca reached out a trembling hand as he passed. “Ares…”
“Mother—don’t let him…” Ares tried, but the guards pulled him out of her reach.
Marcus walked up behind Tessa, placing a proprietary hand on her lower back as if sealing his victory.
Ares’ entire body shook with fury and devastation.
“This isn’t over,” he said, voice low, chilling.
Marcus gave him a condescending nod. “Of course it’s not. But you won’t be here to witness the rest.”
The gates opened.
Two uniformed officers waited outside.
Ares felt his world tilt.
“You reported a violent trespasser?” one of the officers asked.
Marcus gestured calmly at Ares. “Yes. Arrest him.”
Ares lunged again, but it was useless—security had him in an iron grip.
Cuffs clicked around his wrists.
Julian shouted from behind the gates, “He didn’t trespass! He’s the neighbor…!”
“He attacked my staff,” Marcus said, voice steady, rehearsed. “He needs to be removed. Now.”
The officers nodded, guiding Ares toward the patrol car.
“Let me go!” Ares roared, struggling brutally. “Tessa! TESSA!”
She did not look back.
She kept her gaze fixed on the altar, on the life she had chosen, however temporary, however wrong she chose it.
And she stayed still.
Silent.
Ares’ breathing shook with rage so intense it tasted like metal.
“You’re making a mistake!” he shouted at her. “Tessa, he’s using you!”
But the words bounced back at him like echoes in a hollow cavern.
The police pushed him into the back seat.
Julian ran beside the car. “Ares! I’ll fix this. I’ll get you out. Just—don’t do anything reckless!”
Ares laughed bitterly, hysterically. “Reckless? It’s already too late!”
The door slammed shut.
His last sight as the car pulled away was of Marcus guiding Tessa back toward the altar, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back.
The wedding resumed.
The gates closed.
And Ares was driven away from the woman he loved, arrested by his own father, powerless to stop the biggest mistake of his life from unfolding right before his eyes.