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 down.”

to act when I’m seeing my mother standing in front of me, who apparently is

in a low tone, taking

HOLDING ON TO HOPE

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get high, and it was not good. “My mother died when I was seven years old. Why am

head, and I could notice

wrong?” I asked, shifting closer to him.

hurts,” he responded,

closer, I held both of his shoulders. “Let’s go upstairs. We’ll discuss

heated. He

I took him to his room, I could

off him like waves

knew I needed to handle the

on, Luke, let’s get you settled,” I said softly, guiding him to sit on the edge

complied, still rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off the pain that lingered in his

okay? In and out,” I coached gently, sitting beside him.

out

I encouraged, reassuringly touching his shoulder.

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

asked softly, giving

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

snapping back there,” he

This is all a lot to process,” I reassured him, offering a

back against the pillows with a weary sigh. “I just… I don’t understand any of this. How can my mom be here when

choosing my words carefully. “But sometimes, things aren’t always what they seem.”

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

not right now; you’re still too weak for this. Not weak, though, but

brows at me, his cast dispelling the

“You take care, hun. I’ll be right back.”

rry, what now?”

I stood up

was suspended. This situation was about to spiral out of

HOLDING ON TO

treaded downstairs, and Celine was standing right there, crossing her arms like she was waiting for

name, taking her back