368: THE MORNING AFTER LUKE’S POV I awoke to the melody of birdsong and the gentle caress of sunlight filtering through the window. As consciousness dawned upon me, I found myself sharing the bed with a woman, both of us scantily clad, sending shockwaves of confusion and disbelief through my mind. Frantically trying to piece together the previous night’s events, I struggled to recall anything beyond a night out with friends. The haze of intoxication clouded my memory, leaving me grasping for answers as to how I found myself entangled with this stranger. A gasp escaped my lips as I jolted upright, disturbing the woman beside me, who stirred but remained asleep. Questions swirled in my mind, a tempest of uncertainty and frustration. “What’s happening here?” I exclaimed, my voice tinged with anger and disbelief. v own Startled awake, the woman’s eyes widened as she surveyed her surroundings, mirroring my bewilderment. “Where am I? And who are you?” she inquired, her tone filled with worry. The gravity of the situation began to sink in as we both grappled with the inexplicable circumstances that had brought us together. Tensions mounted as accusations flew, neither of us able to shed light on the enigma of our shared predicament. Before we could make sense of our situation, the door burst open, flooding the room with a barrage of flashing cameras and probing questions from journalists. Caught in a whirlwind of media frenzy, we found ourselves thrust into the spotlight, our privacy violated, and our lives laid bare for public consumption. Amidst the chaos, I felt a surge of protectiveness towards the woman beside me, a stranger yet an unwitting companion in this surreal ordeal. As reporters clamored for salacious details, I refused to indulge their insatiable curiosity, demanding privacy and space in the midst of the media storm. But the relentless onslaught persisted, driving me to the brink of frustration and despair. Fueled by anger and confusion, I lashed out in a moment of recklessness, pushing the woman away with callous disregard for her well–being. Regret mingled with resentment as I grappled with the consequences of my actions, unable to reconcile the violence within me with the bewildering circumstances that had Jed us here. In the aftermath of the chaos, as silence descended upon the room once more, I was left to confront the harsh reality of our shared ordeal and the lingering question that hung in the air: who was this woman, and how had our lives become so irreversibly entwined? [Later that day] I walked to my grandfather’s study; he was just sitting there with his glasses on. He was going through some files, but I was mad as hell. The woman I saw with myself this morning was named Ariel Walker; she was the daughter of Gray Walker, 360 THE MORNING AFTER – so it all made sense now. My grandfather was responsible for this. It was obvious. 24 He had to go this far just to get what he wanted. I couldn’t believe it. No, no, I couldn’t buy it. This wasn’t the grandfather I knew. But now it was time to set things straight. “Grandpa, we need to talk!” I moved closer, smashing my fists against his table. He acted like he wasn’t the one I was talking to, not paying attention to me but going through his files. It was making me sick; the anger moving within me was so intense, but I didn’t want to lose it on this man. We had been through a lot together. Why ruin everything now? After deep breathing, I spoke again, “Grandpa, please. We need to talk.” “Talk about what, Luke?” He asked, not setting his eyes on me. “You know what I’m talking about.” Suspicious, he stopped going through his files and finally took a look at me. “What now?” “Let’s not take this longer. I’m talking about Ariel Walker.” “Ohh?” he uttered lowly. “I thought you didn’t want to marry her.” “Yes, I didn’t. But you went ahead and drug me and put her on my bed. So, what? So she can become my wife, is that not it?” “Who told you that?” “I’m not dumb.” “That’s why I like you. You are not like your father. That man was so dumb.” “But why did you do it? You know I don’t love Ariel. I don’t even know her.” “That’s why you’ll get to know a lot of things about her when you get married to her.” “I’m not doing that. I continued with my disagreement. “Yes, you are.” “No, I’m not. I have someone else in mind. Someone who is worthy to be called my lover, not Ariel.” “Why do you feel that Ariel isn’t worthy of you?” “I don’t love her,” I answered without hesitation. And I don’t want to be with her. She doesn’t even love me; I’m so sure of that. But you people are just pressuring her–unless she’s a golddigger.” “Nonsense!” my grandfather snapped. ‘This marriage will take place, and there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s all over the news. Ariel will be your wife in no time. She will be welcomed into this house as the beloved wife of my grandson.” “Over my dead body, Grandpa!” I spat out the words, my frustration boiling over. “I won’t marry Ariel; you can’t force me to do it!” My grandfather’s expression remained stoic, unmoved by my defiance. “You’re being unreasonable, Luke. 968 THE MORNING AFTER This marriage is going to be great for you. Ariel is the type of woman any man would want to have.” Then give her to someone else, not me.” “You are just being ignorant, Luke. This marriage will be a good thing for our family.” “Our family? What about my happiness? What about what I want?” I shot back. “Your happiness is secondary to the greater good of our family legacy,” he retorted. “I refuse to be a pawn in your game, Grandpa. I won’t sacrifice my life for your ambitions,” I declared, my resolve hardening with each word. “Enough of this nonsense, Luke. You will marry Ariel, and that’s final,” he asserted, his tone brooking no argument. “No, I won’t,” I countered, my voice trembling with defiance. “I’ll find a way out of this; I promise you that.” My grandfather’s steely gaze bore into mine, a silent challenge hanging in the air between us. But I refused to back down, determined to chart my own path. “Luke, what are you doing, standing at the door?” My grandfather asked, snapping me back to reality. I looked around, and that was when I realized that everything was just an imagination; the whole conversation was just an imagination. I took a deep breath, walking slowly to my grandfather. “Good morning, grandpa.” “Good morning, Luke. How may I be of help to you?” I took a deep breath. “Can I sit down?” “Sure, take a seat.” He gestured towards the other chair on the table, and I settled down on it. “So, what do you want to talk about?” He asked, giving me an interested face. “Earlier this morning, I came across something shocking. I never expected it, and it really had my mind racing with questions.” “Okay, Luke. You can tell me what that is.”
