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

Catherine’s eyes brimmed with tears, and her

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 so, so sorry for

down Catherine’s cheeks as she looked at my mother,

a confused face. “That isn’t

that isn’t

she did

to

as the

dropped at Catherine’s words, a chill running down my spine gravity of her revelation sank in. “What do you mean

into my room, and she had this look in her eyes… like she wasn’t herself.

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

this true?” I asked, my

shook as she struggled to find the right words. “Luke, I… I was going through a really difficult time. I took something. I don’t even remember what it was. But I swear, I would never intentionally hurt Catherine. I love her like my own daughter. I did tell you I was into drugs, right? Yes, that was it. It was what I took

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

THE

that? I mean, I couldn’t actually verify that. After what this woman did to me, I couldn’t even trust her words anymore. I didn’t know,

know what to believe,” I admitted, my voice

understanding.” Luke, please. You know I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I

raising an eyebrow. “You know, you still take drugs. So

you that

happened to night–the night you were shot. I was broken, and I became

let it take full control of you,

Catherine so much.

Catherine shook her head, her resolve unyielding. “Don’t listen to her, Luke. She’s lying to you. She almost killed me,