194: THE RAGE AND THOUGHTS LUKE’S POV I settled down by the tranquil riverbank in the quiet afternoon, and the gentle murmur of the water soothed my restless mind. The sun casts a warm golden glow over the rippling surface, creating a serene ambiance around me. With each passing moment, my thoughts drifted back to Ariel. The memory of our last encounter lingered in my mind—the way she snarled at me, the angry words, the bitter tone, and the pain moving right in her eyes. But now, she seemed to have vanished without a trace, leaving me with an emptiness I couldn’t shake. The uncertainty of whether I would ever see her again weighed heavily on my heart, casting a shadow over the idyllic scene before me. Lost in my thoughts, I gazed into the crystalline waters of the river, watching as the sunlight danced upon the surface, creating a mesmerizing play of light and shadow. I couldn’t help but wonder where Ariel might be, what she was doing, and if she was thinking of me too. But obviously, she would be brimming with anger if she were. The longing to see her again tugged at my soul, filling me with a sense of longing that I couldn’t ignore. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, carrying with it the sweet scent of wildflowers. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. I wished I could turn back time to the instant when our worlds had collided, and everything had changed. Then, I would fix everything, even my mistakes. The memory of our latest conversations, of the way she challenged my beliefs and made me see the world in a different light, flooded my mind. When I first met her, I never knew things were going to be like this. I had no idea I would be this passionate about her. Things really turned, and I was right there, stuck in thinking. Opening my eyes, I scanned the riverbanks, half–expecting to see Ariel’s familiar figure emerge from the shadows, her bright smile lighting up the world around her. But she was nowhere to be found, leaving me with a sense of loss that I couldn’t quite articulate. With a heavy heart, I leaned back against the soft grass, feeling the cool earth beneath me and the warmth of the sun on my face. I closed my eyes once more, allowing the sounds of nature to envelop me—the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the gentle flow of the river–all merging into a symphony of peace and tranquility. In that moment of stillness, I made a silent promise to myself. I vowed to search for Ariel, to follow my heart wherever it might lead me, and to never give up hope of finding her again. As the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon, casting the world in a soft, golden light, I whispered a prayer to the universe, a silent plea for guidance and a chance to be reunited with this lady. I didn’t know if she had stolen my heart. But I just wanted to connect with her, the both of us cleaving to each other. After quite some time, I rose to my feet, my gaze fixed on the horizon. With the river flowing peacefully beside me, I let out a deep sigh, and the gentle breeze moved past me. Then I heard some footsteps, and when I turned around, my expression changed from sad to angry and extremely sour just by catching sight of this person. I caught a glimpse of her, and I was filled with anger. 194: THE RAGE AND THOUGHTS 2/3 Harriet had a smirk on her face, and it grew wider as she moved closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I could feel my frustration rising, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her. Her confidence and boldness were extremely infuriating. I wanted to put an end to her smug expression, but for some reason, I couldn’t find the right words to do so. Her presence seemed to have a hold on me, and I found myself unable to look away or even speak. I could only hope that I would be able to gather my thoughts and give this woman harsh words because she clearly deserved that. “Luke, it’s a surprise to see you. What are you doing here?” “Don’t go far with the drama, Harriet. I know you’re following me.‘ “Pfff. Why would I follow you?” “Enough with the whole crap. Now tell me, where is Ariel?” “Ariel? How am I supposed to know?” “Don’t lie to me. I found a note at the bridge nearby. It had your handwriting on it.” “So?” “I also saw Ariel’s car there, and I believe you know what you wrote. 11 “What are you trying to say? That I did something terrible to Ariel?” “You shouldn’t be surprised, should you? You never wanted to see her happy.” “What about you? You’ve always treated her badly,” Harriet retorted. “You brought a lot of pain to her heart. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about those times.” “Enough! I know you did something to Ariel. Tell me, where is she?” She laughed. “Well, I have no idea where she is. Probably in hell right now.” “Say what now?” “Oh, I said nothing. I said nothing. But tell me, Luke. Do you actually live, Ariel?” “That’s not the answer I was looking for.” “I’m sorry, what was your question again?” “Where is Ariel?” I quizzed her coldly. “I genuinely have no idea. I swear on your mother’s grave.” “Don’t say that.” “Oh, my baby is angry.” She shook her head as she laughed. “Do not call me your baby. We have no business with each other.” “I think we should. It seems like you’re forgetting about all those times when you told me you loved me.” 194: THE RAGE AND THOUGHTS 3/3 “Those were past moments. I can never tell you such a thing currently. Not after everything you did.” “Come on, Luke. Just forget about everything. Let’s get back together,” she said, getting very close to me. “I want you.” She wanted to wrap her arms around my neck, but I shifted back. “Don’t you dare try to touch me?” “You used to love it when I did that, remember?” “And I don’t have to keep on telling you that that’s the past. I do not love you, Harriet. Yes, I did before, but not anymore.” “Don’t lie to yourself, baby. Forget about Ariel. Focus on me, Luke; focus on me.” “Stop right there!” I snarled. “You better tell me where Ariel is, or else I’m going…” “You’re gonna do what, huh? Hit me?” She chuckled. “You won’t even dare.” “You can keep on wasting your time, talking nonsense, and you’re just going to be dreaming if you think the both of us are going to get back together. That’s never ever happening.” ‘Are you sure about that?” “Yes, I’m sure. And if you’re not going to tell me where Ariel is, that’s fine. I’ll find her myself. But believe me when I say this: if you harm her in any way, I’m going to make you pay.” I spoke to her coldly, and as I was about to walk away, she grabbed my hand.
