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

world do you expect me to act when I’m seeing my mother standing in front of

answered in a low tone, taking my

HOLDING ON TO

2/3

Luke’s voice was starting to get high, and it was not good. “My mother died when I was seven years old. Why am I seeing

paused immediately, holding his head, and I could notice something.

asked, shifting closer

I don’t know, my head… hurts,” he responded, still fixing both of his hands around

“Let’s go

walked Luke to his room upstairs, not wanting to get things heated. He might just lose consciousness, stressing himself, and I

his room, I could

off him like waves of heat.

I

let’s get you settled,” I said softly, guiding him

to ward off the

deep breaths, okay? In and out,” I coached gently, sitting beside

followed my lead, his breathing gradually evening out as he focused on the simple

just relax,” I encouraged,

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

I asked softly, giving his shoulder

with his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the walls of

there,” he murmured, his

a lot to process,”

the pillows with a weary sigh. “I just… I don’t understand any of

hard to wrap your head around,” I began, choosing

looked at me, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. “Do you… do you know

out a deep sigh. “Well, there are a lot of things to talk about. But not right now; you’re still too weak for this. Not weak, though,

his brows at me, his

shoulder forthwith. “You take care,

rry, what now?”

I stood up

the room forthwith. After closing the door, I was

HOLDING ON

right there, crossing her

my name, taking her back off the wall and