Chapter 19 The Lady of the House

[Aimee] As a Hale, I probably would’ve been hurt by the insult, but I was in a different place now. Ever since I left the family, my father had never once asked me whether I was doing okay. Besides, Ares said that I was my own person, and I had always wanted to be myself. Although Hale was my family name, it shouldn’t be the cage that trapped me from growing up. I shouldn’t live as someone I wasn’t just because of social expectations. That was what Ares showed me. He was a lunatic to everyone else, but I knew he was a hero who could protect our people on the battlefield. “Ares, if I took everything to heart, I would’ve killed myself long ago. I used to be strong for my family’s pride, but now I do it for myself. I have to be strong for myself because no one else will.” “You surprise me with your thinking.” Ares was impressed. “All that matters is yourself. Ares, you’ve shown me that the opinions of others don’t matter and that I should be strong enough to rise above the ru