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.

need to calm

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

a little bit complicated.” I answered in a low tone, taking

HOLDING ON TO HOPE

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was not good. “My mother died when I was seven years old. Why

immediately, holding his head, and I could

asked, shifting closer to

know, my head… hurts,” he responded, still fixing

shoulders. “Let’s go upstairs. We’ll

his room upstairs, not wanting to get things heated. He might just

I took him to his room, I could

him like waves of heat.

and I knew I needed to handle the situation delicately.

get you settled,” I said softly, guiding him to sit on

if trying to ward

and out,” I coached gently, sitting beside him.

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

encouraged, reassuringly touching his

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

better?” I asked softly, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the walls of

he murmured, his voice heavy with fatigue.

Luke. This is all a lot to

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

head around,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “But

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

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

his brows at me, his cast

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

rry, what now?”

I stood up

the door, I was suspended. This situation was about to spiral

HOLDING ON TO

standing right there, crossing her arms like

name, taking her back off the wall and getting