68: MY EYES FOUND YOURS


    ARIEL’S POV


    and yet


    “Now you’re telling me that my father’s dead,” I said softly, broken by the sad news, my heart was still


    moved with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me about this? Why do you have to wait until now?”


    “When your father died, I came back to the country to inform you about it, but you were nowhere to be


    found,” my mom told me.


    “Oh, really?” I asked leisurely.


    “Yes. I even went to meet Luke, but he told me he had no idea where you went.”


    I breathed out deeply, feeling sad about this news. It was really heartbreaking to find out that my father


    was no more. And all this time, I was angry at my parents. But now that I’ve finally had full knowledge


    of everything, I don’t think that lividness should still be dwelling within.


    1. me.


    I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh. “Why mom? Why did dad have to leave the country? I mean, Sir


    Reynold was a billionaire. He could have helped him with his condition. He could take him to one of the


    greatest hospitals.”


    “I even suggested that to your father, but he refused. I didn’t know what was wrong with him. He just


    wanted to go to India, and who was I to say no?”


    My mom held my hand. “I’m sorry if I offended you in any way.”


    dehat


    “No, it’s okay,” I told her softly. “I’m the one who should apologize for being rude to you.”


    She slowly fixed her hand on my cheek. “I’m sorry for everything, Ariel. But I’m surprised that you’re still


    married to Luke. I thought the two of you got separated, or something.”


    I chuckled. “Yeah, it’s kind of a long story.”


    Luke entered the room promptly, and he halted the moment he saw my mother. I did nothing but look at


    him while he stood still, observing my mom.


    When my mom noticed how my eyes were simply fixed in another direction, she turned around. And


    yes, her eyes met those of Luke’s.


    She nced at me back. “Okay, I think it’s time I leave now; we’ll talkter.”


    The both of us smiled at each other before she stood up. My mom tread in Luke’s direction, and as she


    walked past him, he gave her a cold stare. She left the room anyway.


    “What was that?” I asked Luke, and he turned to me.


    “What?” He responded with this question.


    “That stare you gave my mom, it wasn’t a nice one.”


    Heughed. “You and I both know that I don’t like your parents one bit.”


    I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you kept that hatred in your heart all these years.”


    “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”


    “You’ll have to,” I told him.


    “How’s your body? You’re doing okay now?” He queried.


    PR


    “You’re trying to change the topic, aren’t you?”


    “If you think I’m going to chat with you about your parents, you’re wrong. I just came to take you home.


    The doctor said you’re physically fit to get your butts off the bed.”


    I looked at him for a moment. “He didn’t say that.”


    “Well, not in that way,” Luke revealed with a deep voice.


    “Exactly.” I nodded. “You know my father’s dead?”


    Luke became silent for a few seconds. “What did you just say?”


    “It’s my father. He’s dead.”


    “For how long now?” Luke asked, raising an eyebrow.


    “It’s been years now,” I answered.


    “Like, how many years?”


    “You ask too many questions,” I replied, a cold tone right there.


    He shrugged. “I’m just trying to be concerned around here.”


    I chuckled, turning my face away. “Oh, how nice of you.”


    When I turned my face back in his direction, I gasped incontinently. His visage was very close to mine.


    Like, when in hell did he move like that?


    At this point, our eyes locked in a silent conversation, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of emotions.


    His gaze was so intense yetforting at the same time.


    I couldn’t look away, as if I were under a spell. His eyes were like a beautiful ocean, pulling me deeper


    and deeper into their depths. This was what happened, when my eyes found his.


    gaze was


    I felt myself getting lost in his eyes, and I didn’t want to be found. It was as if his saying everything that


    words couldn’t. His smile was just so different at the moment. I could consider it to be genuine. Maybe.


    “I think it’s time we leave row.” Luke smirked.


    “You can leave if you want; I need some time to rest,” I said after rolling my eyes.


    “Okay then,” Luke grinned and pecked me on the forehead, leaving me kind of shocked. And although


    it’s what I wanted, I gaped at him.


    He smiled with a wink, and after that, he disappeared. It looked like my n was working after all.


    LUKE’S POV


    Ariel and I arrived home; it was getting quitete, and the day was already bing dark.


    The moment we opened the door, we were weed by the one and only malevolent trot.


    Mariam stood in front of us, arms crossed, with her eyes zing with fury. Her stare was like a raging


    inferno that could reduce anyone to ashes.


    Her anger was clear and could be felt like a searing heat, bringing trepidation to anyone who would


    take a nce at her. Exclude me from this.


    But one could feel the intensity of her emotions through her piercing gaze, a warning to tread carefully


    or risk being burned. Well, it was my turn to return the goddamn expression.


    “You came back to my house, huh?” I asked harshly, raising an eyebrow.


    “I never left,” she retorted, and she took her re to Ariel. “And I can see you’re still with this good-for-


    nothing liar.”


    “Good-for-nothing liar?” I chuckled. “You almost killed her, and here you are, saying she’s a liar. I see


    this knavery of yours has gotten too far.’


    “I was trying my best to be kind to you and your worthless people. Do you have any idea how


    68 MY EYES FOUND YOURS


    hard it was to actually pull off that character? Do you?”


    “I never told you to,” I retorted.


    “You fool!” She snapped. “I knew I made a bad decision bying to your house.”


    “You can leave then.” I gestured toward the door. “But let me make something clear to you. Don’t you


    ever try to do nonsense in this house anymore. You almost killed Ariel today, but I’m going to forgive


    you for this one. But if you try to do something so vile again, I swear on my grandfather’s grave, I won’t


    spare you.”


    The both of us red at each other, and then she stormed out of the house without giving me a


    comeback.


    Ariel exhaled deeply. “I need to go get a shower,” she said, and went upstairs.


    I heard the sound of a phone ringing, and it belonged to Ariel. It was right on the couch. I took the


    phone, staring at who was calling. It was Elizabeth, whoever that was.


    I decided to answer the phone call with the intention of telling this person to callter.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “Mommy!” This little girl eximed just as I was about to talk.


    “Mommy?” I whispered to myself, wondering who that little girl was calling her mother.