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.

you need to calm down.”

I’m

things are a little bit complicated.” I answered in a low tone, taking my eyes in another

HOLDING ON

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

his head, and I could

asked, shifting closer to

head… hurts,” he responded, still

his shoulders. “Let’s go upstairs.

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

I took him to his room, I could feel the

waves

frustration were clear, and I knew I needed to handle the

settled,” I said softly, guiding him

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

In and out,” I coached

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

I encouraged, reassuringly touching

away from Luke’s body as the minutes passed. The lines of strain on

asked softly, giving his

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

for snapping back there,” he

Luke. This is all a lot to process,” I reassured him, offering a sympathetic smile.

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

I began, choosing

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 weak, though, but you know what

furrowed his brows at me, his cast

shoulder forthwith. “You take

rry, what now?”

I stood up

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

ON TO

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

taking her back