Disappointment.

Dahlia's POV

Day Five of Bed Rest.

I woke up before dawn, my mind tangled in the confusion of Ares’s kiss. The memory kept replaying, making me feel both warm and uncertain.

I went through my morning routine in a fog, moving deliberately but feeling detached. I stayed in the bath longer than usual, the hot water a brief escape from the storm inside me. I dressed in an elegant outfit, trying to present my best self, but it felt like a mask hiding my real feelings.

The perfume I put on was meant to protect me from my emotions, but it only made them more intense.

Why was I doing this? Why did I care if Ares might show up today? I had convinced myself that I didn’t care about him, that I hated him and didn’t want him in my life. But now, the walls I had built were crumbling. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. My plan was simple: keep my distance, control my emotions. Yet here I was, waiting for someone who had no reason to come, dressed up like I was going to a big event.

I found myself