Chapter 16

|| Ares's POV ||

I loathed myself as I made my steps downstairs. I mentally told myself repeatedly that I would be a gentleman around Savannah. But fuck my thoughts! Here, I was turning horny around her and playing a seducing game with her. She looked shocked but I knew that she would be hating me, the moment she came back to her rational thoughts.

My step touched the cold floor, consciousness returned and I was unexpectedly worried about the person outside the door. Aria promised not to return tonight and there was no way out that she was coming back. The weather was still rough outside and that made me wonder more that who could be coming here to me at this hour to my house.

I breathed out, jogging over the doorway to open the door finally. My eyes froze as soon as the door opened and I met the familiar face after a long time. My jaw clenched tightly as I blurted, hinting obvious displeasure in my tone,

" What are you doing here?"

Marcus Thatcher, my dad was standing in front of my doorstep, soaked in wet clothes with heavy eyes. It didn't take a while for me to understand where he was coming from. But I had no time for this sick gaming since Savannah was living upstairs.

He put on me his weak smile, hands tugging into his waistband,

" Hi, Ares. Is that how you greet your father?"

There, he began lecturing me about my manners. The man who doesn't even look for his children once a year was trying to correct my behavior. His framed eyes laid on me sternly as he tried to step inside without hearing my opinion.

I squeezed past his path, asking in a demanding voice,

" First tell me, why are you here Mr.Thatcher?"

I had stopped calling him 'dad' for the past few years ever since he attempted to sell off Aria to some cheap old farts. Luckily, I was there on time to call off the deal and kicked out his thoughts from his dirty mind.

He didn't respond to my question, strolled inside, and took the spot over the couch as if he had fucking owned this place. My stomach knotted in anger but I tried my best to keep it in control. He didn't deserve so much attention from me.

He laid down comfortably which defined that he wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. Clueless about his real intention for appearing here at this late night, I slammed the door shut, making our own space to talk though most of the time, we ended up arguing with each other.

His presence never brought peace into my life especially after I started making money. I didn't want to introduce Savannah to this dark shade of my life. Henceforth, I decided to talk nicely as long as I could.

My dad looked around the space groggily, voicing with a less interested voice,

" Where is Aria?"

My stomach twisted in disgust. He wasn't only a scumbag but also a good actor who could play any role. A man like him who went to sell his daughter just because he had a debt to others didn't deserve to know about my sister.

I let out a frustrated sigh, walking over to stand in front of him,

" Spill it out, Mr. Thatcher. Why did you bother to come here?"

He looked a little agitated and replied leaning against the couch,

" I need money."

I blurted, already guessing it,

" For what?"

He looked away, guilt crossing on his expression. After a low exhale, he raked his fingers through his dark curls muttering out lowly,

" I have bills to pay off in the bar. If I don't return the money tonight, they will get me into jail."

No wonder! He bothered to come here!

I suppressed a growl back of my throat. Drawing my brows together, I spitted out sternly,

" I don't have money to pay for your damn bills. Now get the fuck out of my house, Mr. Thatcher."

There, he lost his cool attitude. As long as I didn't say him that I wouldn't give him money, he played cool, acting like a concerned dad which was a complete lie. He had never been in our lives. There was always me and Aria who supported each other in crucial moments.

His eyes held fire as he stood up, stumbling,

" Wow! What a useless son that I have raised all these years! You are willing to send your father to Jail but not give him money?huh?"

I chuckled sadly, hatred pivoting in the pitch of my lower abdomen,

" For your kind information Mr.Thatcher, I have supported myself ever since I was 12. Don't think that I owe you anything. Besides, it was always me who supported this family and Aria. So what makes you think that you have raised us to help you out when you get fucking drunk out there, huh?"

His face darkened in rage after my words hit him harshly. He took a step forward, trying to justify his point of view with a scoff,

" No matter what it is, I am your father and you must help me out now."

I shrugged glaring back at him hatefully,

" Father! Really? A father who beats his child until he fights with death or a father who tries to sell his daughter just because he needs money to fuck himself with alcohol? Do not call yourself father when you haven't done anything for us! Get the fuck out of my house!"

The last of my words sounded agitating as I raised my voice not caring about whoever heard us. I wished that I could wipe off the bloodline of this man who called himself a father. He was a sleeping monster under the veil of humans.

He didn't leave after my words. Instead, his rage took over his soul more as I stomped forward to ignite my anger more,

" It's just a little money for you, Ares. Why don't you understand that they will get me in jail? You fuck around with girls every day. I am sure that you spend more money on them. So why can't you just give me a little?"

He looked persistent to get money from me. But I was determined to not give him money anymore. I helped him more than enough. That's the reason, he always found me to get rid of his troubles. But looks like, he began to take advantage of me. He never paid any bills for us. Even I had to take care of Aria's financial support. Wasting money over him could only lead us to destruction.

Just as I opened my mouth to yell at him, a sudden voice traveled from upstairs, shocking both of us,

" Uncle Marcus!"

I spun my head around, spotting Savannah on the stairs. She appeared confused, shifting her eyes between the two of us. Pretty sure, she had no clue about how my father had become a monster. He had always been a sweet father in our childhood.

My father looked behind me, his lips curling up into a mischievous smile. He mouthed shooting a nasty glare between us,

" Wow! Is she your new fuck toy, Ares?"

Crap!

I lost all the tempter that I had been holding back inside. Without caring about Savannah's presence, I grabbed his collar, dragging him out of my house,

" What the fuck did you just call her? Open your eyes and see that he is the girl, you used to call daughter in the past. Get the fuck out of my house now!"

I pushed him towards the doorway. Instead of feeling ashamed, he burst into laughter, shaking his head like a maniac. Just as he turned around to speak something, I reached for the vase on my side. Holding it upward, I slammed it right in front of him, breaking it into pieces.

My eyes were burning with fire as I warned him for the last time,

" I swear, I wouldn't play nice, Mr.Thatcher."

He looked a little afraid after looking into my eyes like he could feel what would be coming next if he tried to provoke me anymore. After staring in puzzlement for a while, he turned to storm out of the house. I breathed a long sigh of relief at his retreating and turned around to find Savannah who was staring at me blankly.

|| Savannah's POV ||

I was still getting over the fact of how I touched Ares on his bed. I had no idea why he was taking so long to return. It wasn't until I heard another vague voice coming from downstairs. Out of curiosity, I walked over to stand near the doorway and heard the voice of Mr. Thatcher.

I was so excited to meet him since it had been a long time since I met him. After making myself presentable, I made my way downstairs to meet the shocking incident between the father and son. Uncle Marcus was no longer seeming like the gentleman that I remembered from my childhood. His state was disheveled, eyes turning red as if he was drunk heavily. Even he wasn't wearing the blue framed glass that I loved the most. He was a renowned doctor back at that time. I didn't know what had changed but he sure looked like a mess.

I stopped myself from speaking further after I realized the heavy atmosphere passing between them. I stayed at my place, awkward to make a sound as they seemed like they were arguing.

I was still confused until Uncle Marcus made a dirty statement regarding me. It was still shocking to me to understand that he could state such vulgar words. Then Ares stepped inside to stop his disrespectful tone. He slammed the vase, multiple cuts appearing on his palm as he forced his father to get out.

His eyes met mine, apologizing lowly,

" I am sorry.."

I swallowed hard to think that what happened to this family. They lived in another state in the past years until Aria and Ares returned to live in our country two years ago. It seemed like I didn't know many more of them.

My eyes crawled down to fall on Ares's bleeding hand. He stayed numb at his place, not caring about the blood that was spilling out from his hand. He looked like he felt guilty for his father's behavior.

I dodged the topic, finally making my move toward him,

" You are hurt, Ares. Do you have first aid anywhere?"

He refused to try to brush off his hand,

" It is not necessary, Princess."

" It is, Ares.", I blurted, sounding firm as he stared into my eyes deeply.

Why did I feel like he was hiding a lot of things from me?