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

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

ON TO HOPE

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

head, and

wrong?” I asked, shifting closer to

he responded,

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

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

his room, I

off him like waves

clear, and I knew I needed to handle the

guiding him to sit on the edge of his

if trying to ward off the pain that lingered in

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

lead, his breathing gradually evening out as he focused on

just relax,” I encouraged, reassuringly touching his shoulder.

The lines of strain on his face began to soften, replaced

giving his shoulder a gentle

albeit slightly, with his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the walls of his room.

snapping back there,” he murmured,

a lot to process,” I reassured him, offering a sympathetic smile.

sighed, leaning back against the pillows with a weary sigh. “I just… I don’t understand

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

glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. “Do you… do you know what’s going

right now; you’re still too weak for

at me, his cast dispelling the

shoulder forthwith. “You take care,

rry, what now?”

I stood up

After closing the door, I was suspended. This situation was about

ON TO HOPE

crossing her arms like she was waiting

called my name, taking her back off the wall and