The Love From Vengeance

122 WHEN WE COLLIDE

RIEL’S POV

While I was still holding them, Lukel and Janice both turned around to see Luke standing next to me.

“Mommy?” Luke looked confused at the two little children. He slowly turned his eyes back on me. “Did they just call you mommy?”

“Yes, we did. Because she’s our mother,” Janice responded.

And why are you asking us that question? Who are you?” Lukel threw these questions at him.

Luke took his gaze off Lukel and gave me his attention back. “Ariel, are these truly your children?” He asked, fixing his eyes on no one else but me.

I refused to respond, taking my eyes downward, but then he had to harden his voice. I’m talking to you, Ariel. Are these two your children?”

Lukel tapped my arm, looking up at me. “Why aren’t you saying anything, mommy? Tell him we’re your kids.”

“I don’t know why my mother’s speechless, but just so you know, sir, we are her children. She’s the one who gave birth to us,” Janice spoke, crossing her arms.

I leisurely fixed my eyes on Luke, realizing how he was staring at me, not averting his gaze. I sighed, finally getting the confidence to tell him. Why was I even scared anyway?

“Yes, Luke,” I said beneath my breath. “These are my children.”

“Wow.” Luke laughed a little—a painful one, though. His expression was not surprised, but I could tell that he was extremely shocked. In fact, it could be quite obvious that the feigned cast was not lying to anyone. “I see. And who’s the father?”

I kept silent because there was no way I was going to tell him who the father was.

“I asked you a question, Ariel. Who’s the father?!”

“Don’t you dare yell at my mommy like that!” Luke reproached Luke. Luke glared at him immediately..

I’ll join you both in a minute,” I said calmly,

Don’t take too long,”

promise I won’t,” I responded inaudibly, fixing my hands on his cheeks. “Now the both of you, go inside, okay? Andre must

chuckled while I slowly got to my feet. “So Andre’s

made it look

the father. I mean, he’s the one who took care of you these past few years. He also took you to his bed, didn’t he?”

dare talk nonsense!”

don’t have to lie to me. I’ve always known you had this bond, this chemistry. And it’s quite

in another direction for seconds before he finally turned to me,

glared at me,

and I’ll keep on doing that if you continue

going to deny the fact that you

glared back at me, and I

let him talk about them or even get closer to them. I knew this was going to be a tough one, but it wasn’t new to me–my life had been tough from the very first day

the people dancing and having a good time. These feelings of sadness had washed over me, really messed up, and could be somehow dreadful. Maybe–oh gosh, I don’t know. But one thing I knew for sure was that Luke’s finding out about my children was

him get close to them. Hell no,

took a sip of my wine, which had been handed to me by Lisa the moment I *stepped foot in the building. She was nice–something that I still

I was still looking at the people around me as

walter approached me, offering me another glass.

though I had a lot of thoughts in my head right now, getting intoxicated was

waiter insisted that I take the drink, and I wondered why. Well, I still refused, turning my face away. And just as I was about to walk away from this whole drink stuff, Manuel approached

He asked, and concern was evident in

smile and shook my head. “Nothing; I’m

knowing look, but he didn’t press further. He knew better than to pry into my personal life. I

make you feel better?” he offered. Is there anything any of us can do to make

my head again. “No, really,

still looking concerned, but he didn’t push the subject. I finished my drink. I didn’t see my kids around, so I excused myself, wanting to check if they were