The Love From Vengeance

394: HOLDING ON TO HOPE

ARIEL’S POV

Finally, Luke and I entered the mansion. The foyer’s familiar grandeur and opulent furnishings welcomed

Us.

“Welcome home, Luke,” I said softly, guiding him further into the expansive hallway.

Luke’s gaze wandered, taking in the elegant surroundings with a mixture of awe and confusion. I could sense his struggle to reconcile the unfamiliar with the fragments of memory that danced just beyond his

reach.

But as we walked, a wave of warmth enveloped us as the familiar faces of the household staff greeted Luke with genuine delight. Their smiles were infectious, banishing the shadows of doubt that lingered in

his eyes.

Mariam emerged from the sitting room, her face lighting up as she caught sight of her nephew.

“Luke, darling, you’re back!” she exclaimed, rushing forward to warmly embrace him.

And then, as if on cue, Celine appeared at the top of the staircase, her expression a mixture of relief and longing. “Luke!”

She went to hug him quickly, but Luke was just giving her a stupefied face.

He kept on with the expression as he brought out, “Mom, you’re alive?”

She gazed at him in confusion, and this was the part where I had to slap my face and say, ‘Oh my god.‘

“What is going on?” Luke inquired, demanding an answer from me or his mother. His eyes are not leaving mine. “My mother is dead. Why am I seeing her face around here?”

Celine’s eyes went to mine, and she, too, was confused. The look she was giving me could tell that she wanted an explanation for this whole drama.

“Ariel, what’s going on?” She queried.

“Okay, calm down, people. There’s no need for any of us to argue around here,” I said, trying to diffuse the

situation.

“No one’s arguing here; we’re just asking questions,” Celine told me.

“Ariel, I asked you something.“Can you please give me an answer to my question?” Luke inquired, staring

at me.

Luke, you need to calm

I’m seeing

things are a little bit complicated.” I answered in a low tone, taking my eyes in

ON TO HOPE

2/3

How?” Luke’s voice was starting to get high, and it was not good. “My mother died when I was seven

head, and I could

wrong?” I asked, shifting closer to him.

he responded, still fixing

his shoulders. “Let’s go upstairs. We’ll discuss

get things heated. He

him to his room, I could feel the tension

like waves of heat.

knew I

softly, guiding him to sit on the edge of his

trying to ward off the pain

and out,” I coached gently,

gradually evening out as he focused on the simple

just relax,” I encouraged,

strain slowly melting away from Luke’s body as the minutes passed. The lines of strain on his face began to soften,

softly, giving his shoulder

on some distant point beyond the walls of

sorry for snapping back there,” he murmured, his voice heavy with fatigue.

Luke. This is all a lot to process,”

“I just… I don’t understand any of this. How

to wrap your head around,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “But sometimes, things

of hope flickering in his eyes. “Do you… do

lot of things to talk about. But not right now; you’re still too weak for this. Not weak, though, but you know what

brows at me, his cast dispelling the bewilderment. “I’m

his shoulder forthwith. “You take care, hun. I’ll be

rry, what now?”

I stood up

the room forthwith. After closing the door, I was suspended.

HOLDING ON TO

and Celine was standing right there, crossing her arms like

taking her