The Love From Vengeance

195 HIS FUNERAL

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195: HIS FUNERAL

LUKE’S POV

Burning in intense rage, I pushed Harriet away from me hard. “Let go of me, Harriet!” I yelled, my anger boiling over. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her smirk finally fading.

“You can’t do this to me, Luke. You can’t just leave me like this! I’m not going to let you.”

“I can do whatever I want, Harriet. And right now, I want to find Ariel and make sure she’s safe.”

“She doesn’t deserve you, Luke. She never did,” Harriet spat. “I’m the one for you. You are meant for

1. me. We are meant for each other.”

“That’s not for you to decide. Now tell me, where is she?”

“I don’t know. But even if I did, I wouldn’t say a damn thing.”

“You better tell me now, Harriet. I know how brutal and crazy you can be.”

“You don’t know me at all, Luke. You never did,” she hissed, standing up and brushing herself off.

“I know enough to know that you’re capable of anything,” I retorted, my fists clenched at my sides.

“You know what? Fine. To find your precious Ariel. But don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart again,” Harriet sneered.”

“And who told you she broke my heart, huh?”

“Oh, please, Luke. If you’re going to start telling me lies, save those sh*t for someone else,” she spat

before marching off.

feeling a mix of anger and frustration. I needed to find Ariel fast. But where could she

am I going to see you now? Where am I going to search? I’ve gone through so many places, and I haven’t yet seen

THREE DAYS LATER

clouds hung low in the sky as I made my way to the small, quaint cemetery on the outskirts of town. I adjusted my tie nervously, feeling the weight of the occasion pressing down on

1. I was attending the funeral of Luke. The tragedy of a

family. Yes, his family, not mine. I didn’t even know that he was my

tears. The air was heavy with grief, and the atmosphere was suffused with a sense of profound loss. I scanned

faces

standing at the front, their faces

195 HIS FUNERAL

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silent prayer for strength and comfort. And I still needed some for myself. But they needed it the most since they were the ones who spent years with him. The ones who watched him grew. But I was the one who

freshly turned earth. The minister’s voice was a soothing murmur as he spoke of life’s fleeting nature and the precious gift of

stepped forward, her voice trembling as she spoke of Lukel–his infectious smile, his boundless energy, the joy he brought to their lives. Tears streamed down her face, and Manuel reached out to

whirlwind of emotions: sadness, anger, and disbelief. How could a child so young be taken away? Why

my eyes, letting the music wash over me, a balm for my aching soul. I thought of Luke, of the moments we would never share,

sun broke through the clouds, casting a golden light over the cemetery. I felt a sense of peace settle over me, a quiet acceptance of the cycle of life and

and Manuel, my heart

sorry for

eyes. “Thank you, Luke. Thank you

why do you say

father of Lukel and Janice,” she

at me. “Is what

let out a deep sigh. “Yes, I am

told me. And speaking of Ariel, where is she? I haven’t seen her in the past two days. Is she with you,

this funeral. But since she’s not here, I think you already have

I’ve been really worried about her,” Elizabeth entered, her tone

195: HIS FUNERAL

broken.

haven’t you informed the police about it?” Manuel asked