The Love From Vengeance

307: TALK THE TALK

LUKE’S POV

My frustration simmered beneath the surface as Catherine remained silent, her refusal to speak only fueling my growing desperation. I looked to my mother, and the weight of the situation was heavy in the air.

“What happened between you two?” I demanded, and now I was frustrated as hell. ” You have to tell me, Mom. We can’t fix this if we don’t know what’s going on.

My mother’s eyes flickered with sadness as she hesitated; the pain of whatever they had gone through was evident in her expression. “Luke, it’s not that simple,” she began, and her voice was filled with regret.

But I wasn’t willing to accept excuses anymore. “No, Mom, it *is* that simple,” I insisted, my tone firm. “Whatever happened between you and Catherine, it’s tearing her apart. And if we’re going to put an end to this, you need to tell me the truth.”

Catherine’s gaze flickered between us, her expression a mixture of fear and

uncertainty. I could see the turmoil raging within her and the weight of her silence bearing down on us all.

My mother sighed, her shoulders slumping with resignation. “Fine,” she whispered. “I’ll tell you.”

I held my breath, waiting for her to speak, to finally shed light on the darkness that had engulfed us.

“It hadn’t been too long,” my mother began, her voice quivering. Catherine was going through a difficult time, and I wasn’t there for her like I should have been.”

My heart clenched at her words, the guilt and regret evident in her voice. “What do you mean you weren’t there for her?” I pressed, my voice urgent.

My mother’s gaze dropped to the floor, unable to meet my eyes. “My own problems so consumed me and struggles that I neglected her. I let her down, Luke. And I’ve regretted it every day since.”

The weight of her confession hung heavy in the air, and silence stretched between

brimmed with tears, and her walls crumbled around her.

it was her drug situation that had brought her into this mess, and now she has to fix this whole sh*t up. I didn’t want to see all these two not getting along “I’m sorry, Catherine,” my mother whispered. “I’m

Catherine’s cheeks as she looked at my mother, her expression

a confused face.

“Yes, that isn’t

what she did to

to kill me.”

as the

a chill running down my spine gravity of her revelation sank in. “What do

had this look in her eyes… like she wasn’t herself. She tried to suffocate me with a pillow, Luke. I thought I was going to

me as I turned to my mother, searching for any sign of denial or explanation. But

asked, my voice

it was. But I swear, I would never intentionally hurt Catherine. I love her

her voice filled with bitterness. “That’s a lie, and you know it! You tried to

THE TALK

mother told me she was an addict. But should I believe that? I mean, I couldn’t actually verify that. After what this woman did to me, I couldn’t even trust her

I

I was in a

an eyebrow. “You know, you still

you that

these things. I changed after what happened to night–the night you were shot.

it take full

Luke. I love Catherine so

her head, her resolve unyielding. “Don’t listen to her, Luke. She’s lying to you. She almost killed me, and she needs to be