The Love From Vengeance

351: POWER PLAY

ARIEL’S POV

Simon’s sudden appearance startled me, but who the hell was he to frighten me? “Oh, look who decided to show up,” I spat, giving him a fake smile. “Just in time to defend mommy and daddy’s dirty deeds, I see.”

Simon’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring with barely contained rage. “You have no right to come here and cause trouble,” he growled.

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Oh, please, spare me your self–righteous indignation,” I retorted. “You’re just as guilty as they are, Simon. You’ve been complicit in tearing down my family’s legacy from the start.”

His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering in their depths. “Watch your mouth, Ariel,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, my gaze locked with his. “I know exactly hat I’m talking about. “And I won’t let you or your family get away with what you’ve done.

His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw working furiously. “You’re making a big mistake, Ariel.

“No, the mistake was my father trusting you and your family in the first place. But mark my words, Simon, I won’t rest until you people finally get what you deserve.”

Simon quickly seized my hand. His sudden grip on my wrist startled me, his fingers digging into my skin with a vice–like grip.

“Let go of me!” I demanded, trying to wrench my hand free from his grasp..

His eyes blazed with fury, his grip tightening even further. “You think you can come here and insult my family? I’ll teach you some manners, you spoiled brat!”

I refused to cower in fear, meeting his gaze with unflinching defiance. “You lay a hand on me, and you’ll regret it,” I warned, giving him a hard glare.

His lips curled into a cruel sneer, and his free hand balling became a fist as he raised it threateningly. “You’re nothing but a pathetic little girl,” he snarled. “And you’re about to learn what happens to girls who cross me.”

I didn’t hesitate to spit at his face. “You’re the pathetic one. You’re nothing but a coward who hides behind his family’s wealth and power. All of you are cowards.”

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he wiped the spittle from his face with a disgusted grimace. “You’ll regret that.”

it clear to him. “And I

you deserve. “And believe me, I mean what

“If you don’t leave right now, Ariel, I’m going to

ahead, call the police,” I challenged him. “Your threats

all

“You’re trespassing on private property. And assaulting a member of my

held my ground, refusing to back down in the face

myself against Simon’s

anyone,

for it.”

forward, her expression twisted with fury. “You’re

you can get

I retorted, and continued, “I’m fighting for justice, and I’m going to make sure things are going

his eyes flicking between me

and turned to face me. “You

be waiting. You must understand that we will

business will never be the way it used to be. The damage has already begun and will only worsen with each passing day. “That’s what

you the part where he tried to assault me? Oh, I’m sorry, he did. But you just had to support

crap for yourself. Go cry

I could react, Simon’s grip on my wrist tightened even further, his fingers digging into my skin like claws. With a sudden shove, he pushed me backward, causing me to stumble and fall to the ground with a thud. Pain shot through my body, but I refused to show weakness in front of

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face contorted with rage as he loomed over me. “You think you

at him defiantly. “You’re a coward, Simon. Attacking someone who won’t fight back. That’s the

into a sneer as he towered over me, fists clenched at his sides. “You’re so naive, Ariel.

you destroy everything my family has

‘You’re nothing but a little girl playing at being a hero. But

go home. We don’t want you to get yourself damaged.” Simon’s mother gave me a