120 TANGLED FEELINGS


    ARIEL’S POV


    “It’s such a nice thing to be surrounded by you all,” Manuel spoke loudly, as everyone in the party gave


    him their attention, including me. “You know, it’s actually a great thing to carry out a party like this, and


    see different faces alling one by one. I acknowledged everyone’s presence at this special


    asion. I really appreciate that.”


    He continued, “When we started our ownpany, I never knew it was going to go this far, where it is


    today. There were so many discouragements. Lots of moment that’d just make you want to give up. But


    that isn’t the case around here. It is left for you to fight against all obstacles, beat the odds, and chase


    your dream, no matter how long it takes.”


    I looked backwards as Manuel continued to talk. I was trying to see if I could spot Luke anywhere, but I


    couldn’t see him in the mansion. My eyes caught those of Mason’s, and I quickly looked away. Not the


    person I was looking for.


    “Sess is a journey, not a destination,” Manuel said, still catching the attention of the people present


    in the party. “It’s about constantly striving for improvement and learning from every experience, whether


    it’s a triumph or a setback. It’s all about resilience and the ability to adapt to change, embracing


    challenges and turning them into opportunities. Ites from building strong rtionships and


    fostering a supportivework. You can’t do it all alone.”


    He sighed, and I could see how his eyes went straight to Elizabeth. “Surrounding yourself with the right


    people is crucial. It’s not just about what you know, but who you know and how you work together. Just


    like me and my family. My wife, always giving me inspirational words. She was always there for me,


    and she still is. Without her, I would be nothing today.”


    “Sess is deeply personal,” Hannah uttered, and I nced at her right away. It’s about setting


    meaningful goals and working diligently toward them. And when you reach those milestones, take a


    moment to celebrate before setting your sights on the next achievement.”


    She looked at me, and noticed how I was just staring at her. “What?”


    “You talk like you’ve runned apany before,” I told her.


    She giggled. “Sess/isn’t only about running apany, silly.” After that, I chuckled, and then, I


    turned back to Manuel.


    “Victoryes only when you look for it. There is need for passion, the devotion,


    ”


    the zeal for that aplishments. Life, my friend is a game, and we all need to y our cards right,”


    Manuel continued with his speech, while I turned around. I walked away from Hannah, and she didn’t


    even seem to notice. Captivated by her father’s speech, I’d say


    I cautiously made my way outside the grand mansion, and there stood Luke, his figure filuminated by


    the moonlight as he spoke on his phone. But as he caught sight of me, his demeanor shifted and he


    ended the call.


    “Ariel,” he said, his voice full of surprise as he slipped his phone into his pocket. ” What brings you


    here?”


    “I was looking for you,” I replied, stepping closer. “Are you nning to leave the party now?”


    He raised an eyebrow. “No, why do you ask?”


    “You’ve been gone for quite some time, doing who knows what.”


    “Is that so?” He smirked. “Do you miss me, then?”


    I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t tter yourself.”


    Luke closed the distance between us and took my hands in his own, his touch sending shivers down


    my spine. He looked into my eyes and his expression became serious.


    “Ariel, over the years, I know I’ve done some terrible things to you,” he began, with his gaze dropping to


    the ground before meeting mine again. “Things that make you want to rip my soul out. And I


    understand that.”


    As I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness and regret emanating from him. It


    was a side of Luke I had never seen before. Well, something like that.


    “When I first married you, I was consumed by hate,” he continued, his grip on my hands tightening. “I


    thought you were only after my money, and I treated you horribly because of it. I said hurtful things, did


    terrible things, and only made your hatred for me grow stronger.”


    My heart softened as I listened to him, the hatred towards him was already slowly dissipating earlier,


    and now he has to boost it.


    “Even when we divorced, my grandfather was furious with me,” he sighed. “He always wanted us to


    stay together, and I never agreed with him. But when you left, I realized how much I had taken you for


    granted. I felt a void in my life without you.”


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    He looked at me with such sincerity in his eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel


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    moved by his words.


    “I was blinded by my hate for you,” he admitted, his voice filled with regret. “But when you returned


    after five years, I couldn’t ignore the feelings that were resurfacing within me. Feelings that contradicted


    my hate, but I was too stubborn to admit it. Too stubborn to pay attention to it, ignorance


    overshadowing me, and I refused to realize those feelings.”


    He took a deep breath and held onto my hands tightly. “Ariel, I know I’ve hurt you deeply, and I don’t


    expect your forgiveness. But I had to tell you how I truly feel.”


    My heart raced as I gazed into his deep, soulful eyes. Curiosity swirled inside me, begging to know the


    reason behind this sudden confession. “Hold on. Why are you revealing all of this to me?” I asked, and


    my voice trembled with emotion.


    Luke let out a heavy sigh, as if the weight of his words was too much to bear. “Do you truly want to


    know?” he asked, his voice dripping with sincerity.


    I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was ready for this. But then, with a determined look, I nodded.


    “Yes, I do want to know.”


    A small, fragile smile graced his lips as he reached out to gently cup my face in his hands. My heart


    fluttered at his touch, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.


    “You see, Ariel, life is full of choices. We can either choose to be good, or we can choose to be bad,” he


    exined, his eyes never leaving mine.


    I furrowed my brow in confusion. “I don’t understand. Why are you telling me this now?”


    He chuckled, his hand still caressing my cheek. “Because, Ariel, I have spent most of my life on the


    wrong side. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, things I can never forget. And every day, I wake up


    haunted by those memories,” he admitted, and I could swear his voice was filled with regret.


    I waited for him to continue, but he fell silent, his gaze drifting away from me. I couldn’t help but wonder


    why he had suddenly stopped speaking.


    “Luke,” I called out, my voice breaking through the heavy silence. He turned to me with a start, and his


    eyes locked onto mine. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay? You seem… different.”


    He removed his hand from my face, there was a pained expression crossing his features. “Ariel, I just


    want you to know that I…


    “Mommy! Mommy!” Lukel eximed, running towards me, with Janice moving behind.