Chapter 51

CHAPTER 51

|| Ares's POV ||

" 20 more laps, boys!", our coach instructed, forcing us to stay under the scorching sun for another few minutes. I grunted in annoyance and turned around before starting again. It was good to be back at my local team. No more confrontation, jealousy, or whatsoever unimportant issues were circulating. I liked to stay in a healthy environment. Glad to see that Brittany wasn't here with her uncle today. It was already intolerable to see Savannah going away from me.

Although, I was unsure whether she was angry or not, this morning her dissaparence from my side proved that she was angry or upset with me. I appreciated her effort to stay away from me but It was not going to be longer this time. Only this afternoon, I spared her until I was done with my practice. My coach was happy with me. After the last cup, it was nearly certain that I was one step away from entering the National team. Soon, I would be playing in a big field under a million people. Even the thoughts thrilled me and pushed me further to work on my sessions.

Kevin made a face, that one before throwing some shit. He hated to practice, training all this stuff. I believed that he had an interest in different fields but his family was persistent to see their son, become a basketball star. Kevin's grandfather was athletic. After his father couldn't pursue his career because of his heart issues at a very young age, the family went after him to pursue his career as a sportsman. I couldn't understand the logic behind it. His grandfather was already dead. Whose name will he shine now?

Done with this hard session, I fall on the ground, crunching my knees up to pant heavily. Kevin plopped right next to me, followed by a grunt. His body smelt sweaty but I think, I smelt the worse. Sometimes, I wondered how Savannah accepted this rock, sweaty body of mine.

Kevin exhaled, pushing his curls aside,

" Wanna catch up at the bar tonight?"

I would have agreed at once but then, my conscious reminded me that I had other important issues to settle at home. Being in love sucks sometimes but I had to admit that it is a guilty pleasure. You know that it is going to screw you up but you still do it regardless of those red lights. Savannah should return home by tonight. If she dared to stay at that boy's home, I was going to fuck her right there. I didn't care if he was her friend or anyone else. She was mine, fucking mine only.

I shook my head, refusing and getting up at the same time,

" Not today dude, someone is mad at me!"

Kevin let out a short laugh. I was sure that he didn't mind because he was there to see her pale face last night. Shaking his head, he came to my side with a big grin,

" Love sucks, isn't it? That's why I don't date. I guessed it already. Brittany went too far last night."

God gives me patience!

It was okay till she followed me here in the club. But barging inside my house without permission was disgusting to me. Savannah might have thought that I had invited Brittany behind her back. Seriously, if I regret any sinone-nightight stand, it was with Brittany who moaned louder than the force of my ththirstIgnoring those stressful thoughts, we headed for the door, stumbling midway when my phone began to vibrate with urgency. Sliding open it, I saw an incoming call from Aria. A rush of panic swam through my stomach. Ever since Aria became pregnant, my emotions became highly sensitive. I always had this tension that Aria was feeling sick or might be in pain.

" Hello Aria..is everything okay?", I answered the call, already growing a little stiff in tension. When a startled sob came from her throat, I was frozen, urging her to answer,

" Aria.."

Aria's voice sounded shaken more likely terrified,

" Ares.. this..is...ad...There are reporters all over the place around our h...se..They are looking for...ou... Something might have happened ...es...They are angry...I have locked the door and hidden hide inside.."

It took a while for me to register what happened all of sudden.

Did I miss anything? Possibly, we aren't allowed to caphoneshone in our practice field.

Pushing all the urges to know what happened, I forced all attention on Aria's safety. Thankfulately, my mind was processed faster and I guided her after an exhale,

" Don't.. go...ut...Ethan will be there to lead you out...de..You must stay in the house until he goes okay?"

I cut the call quickly and asked for Ethan's help. If I rushed to my home, it would have taken more than half an hour to reach finally. Ethan was living in his relative's house, close to our community. Besides, I had trusted Ethan and I knew that he could protect my sister.

Now I had to figure out what had gone wrong!

I ran for the exit, Kevin following me cluelessly who barely understood the chaos at my house. I blabbered on our way,

" Kevin.. something must have happ...ed... Reporters are crowding my p...c...Do you have any idea..how.."

.My words were stuck midway, spotting a few bunches of reporters, running our way. Before we could understand anything, they all began to throw numerous questions, surrounding us from all the way around,

" Ares Thatcher, what do you have to say about the sex scandal?"

" Did you release it or did your girlfriend did?"

" We heard that it was someone from your early days at university."

_____

Thankfully, our coach was a master at handling the media. He successfully chased those reporters away and hid us inside Kevin's family car which wasn't familiar to those media men.

Kevin was scowling next to me. Within just an hour, thousands of reporters had published defamation against my character, tarnishing my reputation. The sex video that they were talking abwaswere went viral.

" Here, watch it!", Kevin started the video, bringing it next to my eyes. My jaw dropped, instantly recognizing the familiar back of Catherine. We didn't meet for 4 years approximately. At that time, I was more into girls and fuckedeven though she was having a boyfriend. In other words, she cheated on him and it was my mistake to spill out the truth in front of her boyfriend because of an ugly fight. From that time, she loathed me and never contacted me again. But how on earth was she involved with me in this scandal?

" Is that really you?", Kevin stammered, pointing at the guy that she was riding in the video.

My brows scrutinized, gazing deeply at them. But it wasn't me because I never let any girl ride me. The boy wasn't sure me but he was looking so much like me even the tattoo. Fuck, who was he?

I shook my head blankly. Kevin watched again closely and mumblunsurerity lacing from his voice,

" Are you sure, Ares? This is so much like you!"

I shook my head again, stressing my words,

" I am sure, Kevin. Never on earth, I have let any girl ride me."

Kevin who wasn't entirely convinced zoomed in and out of the screen repeatedly. I could totally understand his words since I had fucked many women in the past. This could bother-other mistake but so far, my memory told me that I had never allowed any girl to ride me.

Kevin muttered, narrowing his gaze at the screen scornfully,

" But this...so much like...you... Perhaps, you can't remember. You know, we used to fuck when we were drunk. Someone might have recorded it at that time."

I blurted, rage taking over my voice,

" Who could be it, Kevin? I have never forced on any girl. Besides, I am pretty much sure that it's not me in this video."

Kevin sighed,

" What if it's you and can't remember? own breathing hitched, slightly getting uncomfortable. Although, I was ninety percent sure that it wasn't me,the guy, the doubt was still unclear. If it was proven true, I was close to losing not my career but my princess too.

Blowing my cheeks out, I muttered, looking away to take a big gulp,

" Not a chance!"

Kevin didn't blame me anymore. Instead, he was patient, observing the situation,

" Let's drop it aside we! We have to first know who released this .ape. Then who is trying to drag you down? The last... whether it's you o...not...We can possibly look for this girl.."

I nodded thoughtfully, trying to calm down my nerves. Even if it was Finn or anyone else, I was going to finish him off.

The second, my next fear began to turbulent throughout my mind. The news was flooding the internet currently and Savannah surely had seen it.

Did she also believe that I was the guy? Will shmaddere be mad at me?

_____________

|| Savannah's POV ||

" We have to get Aria fast!", I muttered to Kasper who was reluctant to take at Ares's house. After the scandal was all over the tabloids, it wasn't safe to get into his house now. But I was worried about Aria and her safety. I knew very well how reporters could act trashy sometimes. I didn't want Aria to face the horrible side of the media.

Kasper nodded numbly and began to start the engine. Fortunately, it wasn't known by many people that I was Ares's current girlfriend. Or else, I would have been surrounded by reporters already here.

Buckling my seatbelt, I sat down uncomfortably, my thoughts went over to Ares and his current condition. No matter what the truth was, I was going to support him through this battle. If it was something related to his past, I didn't care but it hurt to think about the video.

As I waited for the car to park in front of Ares's home, an unexpected call came midway. When I reached for the answer button hastily, thinking that it was coming from Ares or Aria,my mom's caller ID surprised me. They didn't call me except nightlights as their research required a long day of work.

" Mom!", I answered, trying to sound calm and natural. Her cold voice slammed hard at my face, giving me a fearful feeling,

" Savannah, where are you?"

I was surprised a bit then regained my voice awkwardly..." I.... am.. goi... to... Aria's ...ace..Why? What's wrong?"

Something didn't feel right about my mom. Although, she talked very few words to me, I could feel her ragged breathing as if she was controlling her temper. Her response came out stern, leaving no room for discussion,

" You will be going back home right away. Your father and I are coming back within an hour."

I was stunned by the iciness of her tone. They still had one more month to spend overseas. Suddenly, I didn't want their vacation to end. Besides, my parents were workaholics and they would never leave work works for any minor issues.

I spoke again, sounding serious and calm,

" Mom, what happened? Can you please tell me first? Are you mad at me?"

The next words that came from her mouth completely surprised me, leaving me a friend at my seat,

" We don't want our daughter's name and scandal on tabloids, Savannah. Seems like, you can't take care of yourself anymore. So, we are heading back home early."

I gasped when she cut the call without saying goodbye to me. Then, another series of notifications began to flood my news.

" Savannah Yardley two-timer, playing with two basketball stars?"

" Savannah leaving Finn for Ares's successful career?"

" Savannah, a 20 girl is good at handling gigantic stars?"