249: ARRIVAL ARIEL’S POV Luke and finally arrived at his mansion; Janice had already fallen asleep. And looking through the window, I noticed that this was a new location. Wasn’t the house I used to live in before all that shit happened? I got out of the car and looked at the building. It was majestic and ravishing. Nestled at the end of a winding, tree–lined driveway, the opulent mansion stood as a beacon of grandeur and luxury. Towering golden gates with intricately. Wrought, ornate designs that sparkled in the sunlight protected the entrance and provided a glimpse of the extravagance that lay beyond. The mansion itself was a masterpiece of architecture, with a facade crafted from rare marble imported from distant lands. The towering columns that framed the entrance soared majestically toward the sky, exuding an air of regality and grandiosity. Luke stepped out of the car, carrying Janice in his arms. He walked to the door but paused and turned around to look at me. “Aren’t you going to come along?” “Oh yeah,” I answered and walked towards him. We walked inside the mansion, and the interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior–not a new thing, but it was great, with a design like the previous one. The grand foyer was adorned with priceless paintings and sculptures, and the marble floors gleamed under the crystal chandeliers. But the sight of two young children running around and yelling in the living room quickly caught my attention. Luke gently placed Janice on the couch and turned to the boys, his expression stern. “Hey, hey, hey,” he said firmly. “Calm down, boys. We have a guest.” The both of them immediately stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide as they looked at me. I couldn’t help but smile at their innocent faces. “Hi there,” I said, crouching down to their level. “I’m Ariel.” The boys looked at each other and then back at me, their curiosity evident in their expressions. “Is she our new mommy?” One of them asked, tugging at my shirt. I glanced at Luke. “Are they your sons?” “Yes, we are.” He laughed and looked back in su “You beliew at m don’t lonew” I shrugest them? Taske chuckled and set his eyes back on the twis kids “Her name is Ariel, and stee “He surveyed me before he finally added, “Friend,” “An what about that girl with you?” “She’s Ariel’s daughter.” “Are they going to be living with us?? “I don’t think so,” Luke answered. They’re just going to spend the night with us.” “That’s cool!” “Yes. Now come on, boys,” Luke said, picking up Janice. “Let’s let Ariel settle in.” He carried Janice up to her room, and I followed behind them. The room was just as luxurious as the rest of the mansion, with a king–sized bed and a balcony that overlooked the sprawling gardens, “Make yourself at home,” Luke said with a smile, placing Janice on the bed. “Thank you, Luke. But you do know I’m not going to be living here.” “Why won’t you?” “Don’t ask me that.” “Of course, I’m going to ask you. That’s clearly what Janice wants; she wants a family, Ariel. The three of us together.” “Not happening. And even if it is, it’s definitely not now.” “Then when?” “Probably when all of this is over.” “When all of this is over? What do you mean by that?” “You won’t understand, so don’t bombard me with questions.” “You’re on a mission?” He queried, and I turned to him. “Like you did when we got married for the second time?” “Can we just quit this discussion, Luke? You do not want to wake Janice.” “She’s not going to wake up; you don’t have to worry about that. And even if she does, I’ll just put her back to sleep.” “Great, ‘cause you got some magic or something.” Lake gave me a face like I was nuts. “No! It’s ipite easy. Izan jout ad bestime rond stories for her.” “Your voice is terrible; it’s only going to kill her ears” He laughed “Nice one. So, will you tell me why you keep refusing to come live in this house?” “I don’t owe you any explanation.” “You are my wife, Ariel. Remember that. “Oh, I haven’t, alright? And by the way, you still need to check up on your mother. I thought your beloved assistant took her to this house.” “You’re right about that. Let me call jack.” “You can do that outside this room. Can’t you see that little girl is asleep?” I gestured toward Janice. Luke left the room after that. His face didn’t look quite good when he did that, but that was none of my business. I turned around and quietly approached, looking at Janice, and quietly approached the bed she was on at the moment. I had to smile, eyes fixed on her as she was sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I sat beside her, and memories of all the wonderful times we’d shared flooded my mind. Every moment, from her first steps to how she is now, has been a blessing. I smiled as I remembered the countless bedtime stories, movie nights, and family vacations we’d enjoyed together with Lukel by our side. It was amazing watching her sleep, and I felt grateful for every moment we had and more grateful for the ones about to come. Being close to Janice right now was that would regularly just great. I wanted peaceful moments with her–occasions ice right now was remind anyone of the unbreakable bond we share and the love that would always be between us. Now, I had to think about Luke. I miss my son, who died at such a young age and left my mother heartbroken. It has been a year, but it has looked like years since he left this world. He left me so young, and the pain of his absence was still raw. I missed everything about him–his laughter, hugs, and mischievous smile. My heart ached knowing that I would never see him grow up and never get to experience all the milestones that a mother looked forward to with her child. Losing a child had left a hole in my heart that would never fully heal, and I wasn’t going to lose the other. But I did find solace in the memories we shared and the love that would always remain between us. My dear Lukel, wherever you are, know that you are deeply missed and forever loved. My thoughts broke as I could hear Janice snoring. It was a sound that was new to me. In all the years I have known my daughter, she has never snored. I couldn’t help but wonder what could have caused this sudden change in her sleeping habits. It was strange to hear her snoring, but at the same time, it was also comforting. She was right here, sleeping peacefully, in safe hands. I smiled at her, slowly caressing her hair and looking at her innocent face. The door opened, and Luke walked inside the room. He treaded towards me and grabbed my hand.
