Chapter 3: Chapter 3

I've been restless in the car since earlier while Elena seemed doesn't care about it. I wanted to ask her what was really going on because I felt like she was just pulling a prank on me. Ever since we traveled to the hospital where she told me where Ares was, she never talked to me again. I don't even see it as a concern.

"Are we still far away, Elena? Is there no one to contact who is in the hospital? Should I call his dad or his mom?" I asked her a series of questions and periodically checked my cell phone.

"Don't call anyone, Ana. We're almost there, don't worry," she replied seriously to me so I looked at her in surprise.

"What do you mean-"

"Just relax, Ana," she interrupted me and sped up her car.

Confused, I just waited for us to get to where we were going. A few more minutes passed until we stopped opposite an expensive restaurant so I quickly turned to Elena. But before I could speak, she immediately came out and turned towards the passenger seat door. When she opened it, I was exposed to her apologetic and furious face.

"What is going on? Why are we here? I thought he was in the hospital— "

"Damn it, Ana. I am dead to Sir Ares because of this. I can't lie to you," she said to me, making me even more surprised.

I finally got out of the car and confronted her. For a moment, I peeked inside the restaurant where we are now. There weren't many people there. I only see a few waiters.

I turned to Elena who was doing something on her cell phone.

"Why are we really here? What are we doing here? Where the hell is Ares?" Annoyed, I asked her.

She quickly put her cell phone back in the pocket of her corporate attire while scratching her head and looking at me.

"Just go inside. He is waiting for you," she replied then smiled at me so my eyes widened.

"What am I going to do inside? I'm wearing home clothes, Elena!" I yelled at her and started dialing Ares' number because I really didn't understand anything about this woman.

"So what? It's fine. There are few people inside." I heard Elena say but I didn't notice her when Ares answered my call.

"Ares? Where are you? Elena says something bad happened to you— "

"Look inside," he cut me off. His voice is serious but his tone is soft.

Confused, I looked inside the restaurant again. My eyes searched for Ares and when I saw him standing near the entrance of the restaurant, then I just realized everything.

"What's happening, Ares Constantine? Were you just pulling a prank on me?" I couldn't believe I asked him. My eyes narrowed at him and I saw him scratch his head.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know how to tell you because I know you don't like places like this," he replied softly to me so I was just shaken.

But on the other hand, I breathed a sigh of relief because nothing bad had happened to him. Because if there is, I don't know if I can handle it. I hate accidents. I will never like that.

I sighed tiredly while still looking at him from outside.

"Please, don't do this again. You don't know how worried I was— "

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, baby. Let's just talk here. I have something to tell you important," he interrupted me again so I was pissed. He really didn't like being preached to about the antics he was doing.

In the end, I could do nothing but follow what he said. After we talked, I turned to Elena who was just smiling like a dog next to me. I immediately slapped her on the arm so she screamed.

"You should have just told me so that somehow I could fix myself!" Disgusted, I told her as I adjusted myself.

Even if I wanted to refuse Ares' invitation to me to come inside because of my appearance, I couldn't do it. I was just wearing a pajama suit and a ponytail. Annoyed, I removed my hair tie and combed it with my fingers.

"I was just being instructed. Why are you blaming me?"

"Even so! Look at how I look!" I scolded her and left her there. I just heard her laugh so I got even angrier.

When I entered the restaurant, I saw at its entrance the sign CLOSED so I was surprised. Why is it closed, if it's still open?

"Good evening, Ma'am. This way, please," said the waiter who had been waiting there.

"Good evening," I greeted him embarrassed, and rearranged my clothes. This is really embarrassing!

"Why is it closed, if it's still open?" I couldn't help but ask him. It just smiled sparingly at me.

"This is Mr. Aragon's property, Ma'am. He ordered us to close it tonight for your dinner."

I just raised my mouth because of what I heard. Is he serious? Why does he have to do this even though we can eat anywhere without him using his wealth?

Before I could speak again, Ares met me. When I looked at him, I just noticed that he was just wearing home clothes as well. He was wearing only gray shorts and a white t-shirt.

"Why are you wearing that? And what's going on?" I asked him full of astonishment.

I felt him grip my waist and gently pulled me closer to him. The next thing he did, he kissed me on my forehead and cheek so I was even more embarrassed because of how I looked.

"I just woke up, Ares. Why are you wearing that? Where have you been?" I refused him and slightly distanced myself from the concern that my breath might stink. Really annoying!

He just looked at me intently and his smile widened even more. I could see in his eyes how happy he was as he watched me. I can't describe his expression because it feels so good.

"I know you will be embarrassed when you come in here wearing that so I didn't dress fancy anymore. Besides, you're still beautiful no matter what you're wearing. Stop doubting yourself when you're with me, hmm?" He said softly to me and held my hand even tighter.

I bit my lower lip and just smiled at him because I didn't know what to say anymore. Every time he gives me such a compliment, I don't really know what to answer because I feel like I don't deserve it. But what Ares always tells me every time I lower myself is that that has never changed. He was the only reason my self-confidence grew. He contributed a lot to my growth.

When we sat down, I still didn't know what to say to him. I could feel the gradual resurgence of nervousness in my heart because I felt something strange was going to happen because of his actions. He's being extra sweet to me, and I don't know why.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked me while looking at me gracefully.

"No pasta—"

"No pasta, of course, my love," he agreed with what I was going to say so we both laughed.

"How was your business trip? I thought you would stay there for a few more days," I changed the subject even though I knew he didn't want to talk about work every time we were together.

"I only went with Dad because my brother couldn't make it. I was also restless while I was there knowing that I have not been able to say goodbye to you properly," he seriously replied to me so I laughed.

"It's not a big deal to me. Is your brother coming home?" I asked him.

He finally turned his gaze to me after telling the waiter the dishes he wanted to serve us by them. Suddenly his expression was serious as if there was a problem.

"Dad wanted him to come back home many times. He just gave in just now," he replied in a serious tone. After a while, it looked at me again and was forced to smile sweetly.

"Let's not talk about it anymore. Just focus on me tonight. I've missed you. My real plan was to invite your whole family here as well as mine because this will be an important night for both of us, but I don't want to put pressure on you because I know that's how you'll feel. I want you to know how serious I am to you, Anastacia," he said to me seriously and full of pleading.

I gulped many times at what I heard. I blinked twice while still looking at him. I could feel my heart beating slowly but it was very strong. My hands on the table also started to tremble so I lowered them to my lap just so he couldn't see them. After a while, his expression became more serious but his eyes remained soft looking at me. It was obvious there was so much love he felt for me so I couldn't further process in my mind what was happening.

"A-Ares…" I uttered to myself. I couldn't even look away from him.

"I already talked to your family about this last week. I just can't take it any longer. I can't be bothered every time you get away from me as long as I know you're not really mine yet…" He continued. His expression started to become tender.

I quickly adjusted myself and had the courage to sneeze.

"I-is this a proposal?" I almost whispered to myself as I looked at him. I wanted to cry because I knew that was exactly what he was going to do.

Ares smiled softly at me and looked for my hand. When I handed it to him, he kissed it hard over and over.

"I don't take no's this time, baby…" He gently said to me full of compassion while still looking at me.

I bit my lower lip to suppress my emotions.

"I-I'm not going to say no… but are you sure about this? I'm not… I can't match your life. I am just your secretary and— "

"Stop saying those pathetic words, Ana. You're more than just that, come on. My whole family loves you and I'm very grateful that you came into my life…" He interrupted what I was going to say so I bowed in embarrassment.

When I looked up again, a black little box was exposed to me so I quickly looked at Ares. He just smiled at me and opened it in front of me. My mouth dropped open when a ring with a large diamond in the middle was exposed to me. I could no longer control myself and I started to cry in front of him so I quickly covered my whole face.

"Hey…" I heard him say and I felt that he was now beside me.

I still continue to cry because of the sheer happiness I feel. I feel like I'm drowning even more in his love at these times. I didn't even know what to say so I just let myself cry.

I never thought that anyone would accept me wholeheartedly even if I was just like this. There is not much self-proven and even then have not experienced comfort in life. I have never felt this kind of acceptance in my family, especially when my dad died, so it was new for me. I'm also not sure if this is really for me.

"Baby… did I make you upset? I'm so sorry… " Ares said to me gently and started caressing my back. "I'm not rushing you. If you want to say no, just say it. Stop crying, please… " he added so I looked at him quickly.

When I confronted him, he quickly wiped away my tears but they still kept on dripping.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry… please stop crying, damn it. I won't insist if you haven't really— "

"Y-yes…" I uttered before he could continue.

I felt him stunned and quickly looked at me. His eyes are starting to redden.

"What?" He asked me. His voice cracked at the end.

I bit my lower lip and reached for his face. I could no longer restrain myself and I kissed him hard on the lips.

"I will marry you. I'm ready, Ares. I am so ready to be your wife… " I said to him after that kiss.

I heard him whisper a few murmurs. He finally knelt in front of me. I even saw his tears well up before he hugged me tightly.

"I can't fucking wait to marry you, Anastacia. I love you…"

After that emotional dinner, he drove me home. I wanted to be with him for a long time but I knew he was also tired from the trip so I just let him rest first. When I got home, I was exposed to the noise coming from the kitchen. I immediately went there to see what was going on and I saw my older brother Matthew and Mama fighting.

"What's going on here?" I asked them which made them both stopped.

Matthew quickly turned to me and approached me. I was shocked when he violently grabbed my arm so I winced.

"Didn't I order you to leave to Mama the money I asked for from you? Why didn't you do it?" He kept asking me.

"I-It's hurt, Brother," I told him, but instead of letting go of me, he tightened his grip on me. I could already feel his nails digging in there.

"I really need the money! Why didn't you leave it earlier?!" He shouted incessantly.

"I-I just forgot because I went somewhere for a while…" I replied tremblingly and tried to remove his grip on me but he was so strong that I could not let go.

I tried to ask Mama for help by looking at her but she didn't seem to care what she saw so I was even more hurt. What else can I expect?

"And where did you go? Do you put your flirtation first before your family? You're really that useless!" Matthew shouted to me and violently released me and then left.

I bit my lower lip when I felt severe pain in my arm. But I feel more pain in my heart because of what Mom said.

"Did Ares already ask you to marry him? It's a good thing that you can marry a rich man, so we can benefit something from you," she said coldly to me before I left.

I could feel the destruction of my heart during those times. I faintly headed to my room. As soon as I got in there, I finally fell to the floor and there cried silently. I don't know why they're like this to me. That even though they repeatedly hurt me, I couldn't complain because I felt like they were punishing me for the accident that happened a few years ago.