The Love From Vengeance

372: TANGLED

ARIEL’S POV

“Ariel, please try to understand. We never wanted to hurt you. We just thought we were doing what was best for the family.” My mother continued to plead with me.

I pulled away from her touch. “Well, you were wrong, Mom. Dead wrong. “And now I have to suffer the consequences of your mistake.”

“Ariel, just understand that this is all worth it. We can’t go down and let the business fall. This is the only option we have, and it’s the one that’s going to make our lives better than

ever.”

“You keep saying that, Mom, but it doesn’t change anything. You and Dad made a decision about my

life without even consulting me. How can you expect me to just accept that?”

She mirrored my anguish. “Ariel, please, I know we made a mistake. But we were just trying to do what we thought was best for the family. Can’t you see that?”

I shook my head, the pain cutting deep. “I don’t care about the family right now, Mom. All I care about is my own happiness and my own future.”

Before she could respond, a maid entered the room carrying a tray of food. I glared at her, my anger boiling over. “I said I’m not hungry!”

But the maid hesitated, her eyes filled with concern. “Miss Ariel, please; you need to eat something. It’s not good for you to starve yourself like this.”

I felt a surge of irrational anger, and before I could stop myself, I lashed out, swatting the tray away. The food was scattered across the floor, with the plate clattering loudly against.

the tiles.

“Leave me alone!” I shouted loudly in so much rage.

The maid recoiled, her eyes wide with shock. “I’m sorry, Miss Ariel. I didn’t mean to upset

you.”

desired solitude to ponder over the chaos of my

sank back onto the edge of my bed, the weight

gone so wrong? And most importantly, how was I going to fix it?

going to leave you for now.” My mother stood up from

of yourself,”

she turned to leave, something inside me

back to face me, a little hope in her eyes. But I knew I had to be honest, no matter how

each word heavy with finality. My mother’s

she pleaded, reaching out to me. But I held up my hand, cutting her off

said, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me. “I can’t stay here and pretend like everything is okay when it’s not.

welled up in my mother’s eyes, but I hardened my heart against

hurt.

my voice barely audible. “But I have to

turned away from her, unable to bear the weight of her disappointment any longer.

I felt a sense of liberation revolve within me, going on with sadness for what could have been. But deep down, I

LUKE’S POV

realized that whispers were following me like shadows, each one carrying a different version of the truth. I

could reach my office. His expression was tense, betraying the gravity of the

in your office,” he said, his voice

a sense of foreboding settling in the pit of my

before answering, “It’s your grandfather.”

knew this wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit, not after everything that had been happening for the past two days.

somehow; things weren’t how they used to

Jack and headed towards my office, steeling myself for whatever confrontation lay ahead.

the door, and the sight that greeted

sat behind my desk, his stern gaze fixed on