Chapter Five- Unwanted & Forgotten

Lenora stood at her door the next morning, trying to muster the courage to walk out and confront the day ahead. Before she could do anything, a gentle knock resounded. “Mrs Levine. Breakfast is ready and Mr Levine is already downstairs. I was waiting for you to join him. Maybe the both of you could clear the air. You are married after all.” Lenora barely managed a smile, knowing that James' words came from a good place. Even when she wanted to do the exact opposite of what he said. She was also almost entirely certain that Ares wasn’t too keen on having any semblance of a civil conversation.  Lenora opened the door but James was unfazed as he rambled on. “Rest assured. None of this is your fault. Do not worry one bit, Mrs Luna adores you. I’m sure Mr Levine’s mother can talk some sense into him.” Lenora agreed with her butler, knowing that Luna simply doesn’t take no for an answer and cracks down on anyone. Including her son.   Lenora hesitated for a moment. She wanted to decline but realized it wasn't the best idea. She had to live with the man and she couldn't possibly ignore him forever. One day sure. Maybe even a week. More? It was out of the question. “Of course. I’ll head down now.” The answering smile from James, eased Lenora’s nerves just a smidge.   Lenora was taken aback by the sight of Ares. He had just woken up out of a coma not even twenty four hours prior but already seemed in good health. Ares was in a wheelchair but sat ramrod straight and had a stony expression as composure. He looked frail but still strong. With anxiety driven nerves, Lenora carried herself into the dinning room, leading herself to her usual chair that was conveniently across from Ares. She still didn’t dare to meet his gaze head on but instead focused on her empty plate.  Lenora barely lifted a lash yet Ares studied her as if he had an exam on human anatomy in an hour. Lenora could feel every moment as he took every part of her in. All too soon, it got too much to bear and so Lenora met the man’s gaze. When they made eye contact, gray on blue, Lenora’s heart nearly skipped a beat. She’d never seen eyes so dangerous yet enthralling. He looked dead on the inside. “My name is Lenora…” She started out hesitantly. Sure they were a married couple but Ares was unconscious for most of it. He knew nothing about her.   “I know. I know everything about you. Who you are. Where you come from. Apparently you’re carrying my child.” Straight to the point I see. The rumors were true. Ares Levine didn’t care for chitchat. The statement was a slap to the young woman’s face as she blinked up at him. She had completely forgotten about it all. Especially with everything that had happened since yesterday. Who remembers in vitro fertilization when your husband practically crawls out of his grave. Clasping her hands together, Lenora tries to be as eloquent as possible. “Yes…” Lenora bit into her bottom lip, already knowing the answer Ares would dole out. “You have two options. Take care of it yourself or I will do it for you. A child is the least of my concerns at the moment.” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Ares had no time for children or marriage. He didn’t come here to play happy families.   Each second with Lenora drew the man closer and closer to the end of his nerves. The irritation only grew when he found out that Lenora might be pregnant with his child. Lenora was stumped on the other hand. She wasn’t even sure if the procedure was a success.  ‘What answer do you give to that?’   Lenora could tell she had to walk around on eggshells near him. Even now, the man eyed her with disdain and barely concealed annoyance. She had to be careful.   Gaining some sort of composure, Lenora squared her shoulders as she gazed at him. “I actually found out the procedure wasn’t a success. I am not pregnant. The doctor said it wasn’t a hundred percent success rate and I ended up getting my period this morning. You can ask James.” The butler had been subjected to an early morning errand of grabbing menstrual supplies for her.   Now Lenora hadn’t expected Ares to jump for joy or anything of the sorts but he didn’t even appear pleased. The man merely nodded. “That is good to hear. You are here for one reason only. You should know that. Make sure your papers are ready and then you can be on your way. You have a total of three days.” Lenora didn’t dare to argue. She knew Ares could not be controlled. He wouldn’t be paraded around on the whims of another even if his mother was behind it all. It was even easier that she wasn’t there. The excitement was too much for the old woman and the doctor had advised her to be hospitalized for a few days. Ares didn't want to add stress to his mother;s fragile condition but he’d be damned if he let himself be controlled. This marriage will end. The sooner the better.   Lenora nodded in assent, standing up abruptly because she knew no food could be stomached after such a conversation. With a polite smile, she excused herself and rushed to her room. Packing her bags didn’t take long, especially when she decided to leave with what she came with. It took her an hour to come back downstairs only to be stopped at the commotion taking place. A loud pained sound reached Lenora and one she knew all too well. Rushing to the sound of the voice, Lenora wasn’t surprised to see Liam. However, the turn of affairs rooted her to the spot she was standing in. “Lenora! Mrs Adam’s. Convince your husband. Tell my uncle I just came to visit.” Ares didn’t seem perturbed by the new visitor, merely signaling to his henchmen which was more than enough to kick the man in the abdomen before stepping on the already screaming man’s hand.   Lenora had no idea what was going on. Shaken to the core at seeing Liam being beaten by Ares' men. Could someone truly be so ruthless? An uncle was beating up his nephew.   “Liam. I told you once and I’ll tell you again, Although I do not like repeating myself. You need to be capable to get what you want. Yet you clearly aren’t. Even if I end up dead, nothing of mine will belong to you. The blood of Levine flows through your veins but you are still not worth my time.”   Liam lay frozen on the floor but Ares henchmen didn’t like that and so he stood on his already crushed hand. “I swear, Ares. I prayed for you to get better. You have to believe me.”   Ares stared down at the helpless man, not at all fazed by what was spewing out of his mouth. “Do not take me for a fool. Stop pretending as if you care. If you ever try to cross me again, not even Luna can save you this time. You know exactly what I do to people who cross me. Or should I give you a little reminder.” Ares said all this while perched in his wheelchair but it didn’t look any less daunting. Instead, it added to his power. Liam shook from fear and Lenora knew he was being tormented by childhood memories. The young man nodded his head, getting up and stumbling out of the mansion without another look back.   Lenora realized she didn’t need to stay any longer. Ares was a cold hard man. She had known it all along but today she witnessed it in the flesh. He wasn’t sane and she didn’t want to meet a similar end to all his enemies before him.   Lenora knew she had made the right decision. He had left her no choice. With a deep breath, Lenora snuck out the back entrance and ran, pretending like the last few months never existed.