The real reason

The music thumped so hard the walls of the VIP suite trembled. Purple lights flashed in rhythm with the bass, champagne foam ran down the sides of glass flutes, and laughter spilled across the room like perfume. Lila was in the center of it all, her hips moving, drink in hand, hair wild and glossy under the neon. She looked like sin wrapped in designer fabric, the kind of woman who lived to be watched. And everyone was watching.

Ares stood beside her, suit jacket long ...