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 all coming one by one. I acknowledged everyone’s presence at this special occasion. I really appreciate that.” He continued, “When we started our own company, 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. “Success 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. It comes from building strong relationships and fostering a supportive network. 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.” “Success is deeply personal,” Hannah uttered, and I glanced 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 a company before,” I told her. She giggled. “Success/isn’t only about running a company, silly.” After that, I chuckled, and then, I turned back to Manuel. “Victory comes only when you look for it. There is need for passion, the devotion, ” the zeal for that accomplishments. Life, my friend is a game, and we all need to play 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 planning 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 flatter 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.” He looked at me with such sincerity in his eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel 2 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 explained, 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 exclaimed, running towards me, with Janice moving behind.
