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.”

I’m seeing my mother standing in front of me,

answered in a low tone, taking my eyes in

ON TO HOPE

2/3

“My mother died when I was seven years old. Why am I seeing her

holding his head,

wrong?” I asked,

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

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

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

him to his room, I could feel the tension

off him like waves of

clear, and I knew I needed to handle the situation delicately.

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

temples as if trying to ward off the pain that lingered in

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

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

I encouraged, reassuringly touching his

could 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 a look of weary

asked softly, giving his shoulder

some distant point beyond the walls of his room.

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

This is all a lot to process,”

weary sigh. “I just… I don’t understand any of this. How can my mom be here when she’s supposed to be gone?”

your head around,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “But sometimes, things aren’t always what

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

not right now; you’re still too weak for this. Not weak, though, but you know what I’m talking

his brows at me, his cast dispelling

his shoulder forthwith. “You take

rry, what now?”

I stood up

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

HOLDING ON

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

taking her back off the wall