169 ALMOST UP

EIGHT YEARS AGO

ARIEL’S POV

It

a worse moment, like always, but now I knew things would get even worse. After coming from the wedding, I winced as Luke’s grip tightened on my arm, his eyes ablaze with anger. We stood in the doorway of his mansion, my new home, a place that should have been filled with happiness. Instead, the air was heavy with tension, and it was all darkness roaming about.

“I don’t love you, Ariel!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with anger and disgust. “I will never love a woman like you. You are nothing but a piece of trash.”

“Why do you have to keep throwing these abusive words at me?” I asked, trying hard to hold the tears within me.”

“Don’t play dumb with me,” he spat. “If it wasn’t for my grandfather, I would have never event considered marrying you. You’re just a goddamn golddigger, trying to take advantage of my family’s wealth.”

Tears started to well up in my eyes. The pain was too much for me to bear. But what could I do? I had to go through the sorrow just for my family.

Luke kept on talking nonsense, but arguing with him would be pointless. He was too consumed by his anger and hatred towards me. So, I decided to stay quiet and let him say whatever he wanted to say.

“I should have never listened to my grandfather,” he continued. “I should have followed my gut. I shouldn’t have given a damn about what the people said.”

Each word felt like a knife piercing through my heart. I had never felt so much pain in my life. This was just the beginning of a flawless heartbreak. I knew there would be more to come if this marriage

lasted.”

“I’ll make you a deal, Ariel,” he said, his grip on my arm tightening. “You can have all the money and assets you want; just leave me alone. I never want to see your face again.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I pulled my arm out of his grasp and ran inside the house, tears streaming down my face. I was surrounded by darkness now, and my mind was brimming with pain. If only I could just put an end to all this, but no, I had to go through the pain for the sake of my family. They were counting on me, so the business would be stable. Luke, being their son–in–law now, had tugged them out of the hard zone since we almost went bankrupt.

I heard someone’s footsteps, and when I turned around, it was Luke. He glared at me before storming out of the room, and then I heard him locking it from the outside. I quickly advanced towards the

door and tried opening it. But just as I thought, it was locked. I leaned against the door, closing my eyes, still in tears and still in pain, and I slowly sat down.

END OF FLASHBACK

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each other, laughing and chatting like nothing had happened in the past. Look at me, developing feelings for this man. I didn’t even know if I should be disappointed in

I saw Mason standing. He smirked at me before stepping

taking the smirk

What do you want?”

shouldn’t be asking me

time,” I retorted. “I know why you’ve come here. But you

think,” he cut me off.

puzzled

and I can see that you haven’t even

has finally fallen in love with me,” I defended. What the hell was I even

me a skeptical look.

not quite happy with my words. “Yes.”

you waiting for then? Make him sign those papers. You don’t want your children

the mentioning of my kids, I

not scared of your ugly face, or whatever. Just get the job done. You’re the one who keeps on doing shit around here, Ariel. It’s that simple; get Luke to sign those documents, and

“Yes, I do.”

fooling yourself everyday. But I can see that you have feelings for that man. Well that isn’t my business, just get the job done. That’s

want.”

girlfriend. You need to hear his side of the story first, before you do

what? I saw the video, Ariel, with my own two eyes. The video where that man choked my beloved Sofie to death. I didn’t even know how the video came up, but that’s not my concern. Luke killed my girlfriend, and I’m going to make him pay for

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had to wait for eight

So apparently, it’s the same thing we’re taking about right here. Now goodbye, and

into his car, and drove away. That was when Luke showed up. “Who was

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