384: TROUBLED THOUGHTS ARIEL’S POV After Sir Reynold’s heartfelt words, I found myself seeking solace in the familiar comfort of Tessa’s home. I sat across from her in the cozy living room, and I felt a sense of unease lingering beneath the surface of my thoughts. Tessa noticed my troubled expression and reached out, gently placing a hand on mine. “Ariel, you seem really distant. Is everything alright?” I let out a deep sigh. “Honestly, Tessa, I don’t know. Everything feels so… complicated right now.” She nodded understandingly. “It’s about, Luke, isn’t it?” I nodded slowly, biting my lip as I struggled to find the right words. “Yeah, it’s about Luke. And this whole marriage thing. I just… I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.” She gently squeezed my hand. “Ariel, you don’t have to go through with this if you’re not sure happiness should come first, above everything else.” Your “But what about my family? They’ve put so much pressure on me to marry Luke, to make sure our business doesn’t go down.” Tessa shook her head, her gaze unwavering. “Your family’s expectations shouldn’t dictate your life choices, Ariel. You deserve to live your own life, on your own terms.” I took a deep breath, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions. “I know, but… I can’t help but feel like I owe it to them, you know? They’ve sacrificed so much for me.” Tessa’s expression softened. “Ariel, your family loves you, but they shouldn’t expect you to sacrifice your own happiness for their sake. You deserve to be with someone who truly cares for you, who respects you.” “I understand what you’re saying. Tessa. But I’ve made my decision. I’m going to marry Luke.” “Ariel, are you sure about this? You don’t have to go through with it if you’re not ready.” “I’m sure, Tessa,” I insisted. “I may not know what the future holds, but I refuse to let fear dictate my choices. I’ll make the best out of this marriage, whatever it may bring.” Tessa studied me for a moment, her expression filled with concern. “Just promise me one thing, Ariel.” “And what is that?” “Promise me that you’ll prioritize your own happiness above everything else. Don’t let anyone else’s expectations overshadow your own well–being.” I nodded, smiling at her. “I promise, Tessa. Thank you for always being there for me.” “Well, it is what it is,” she said underneath her breath. We shared a quiet moment of understanding, the weight of our conversation hanging heavy in the air. The 994: TROUBLED THOUGHTS door opened after that, and Larry stepped foot Inside the house. “Larry?” I uttered, quite surprised with his presence. “Hey,” he waved his hand, smiling at me. “What are you doing here?” I asked him. “I called him here,” Tessa replied. “Yeah, she did.” Larry pointed a her. “We have to discuss about this, we have to find a way to bring your family’s business back to higher heights, without you getting married to Luke.” “Seriously? How is that possible?” I asked. “It’s not impossible, Ariel. It’s all about bringing Mr. Kingston down.” “And Larry is going to help us with that?” “Of course, he fights for justice, remember?” I glanced at Larry, raising both of my brows at him. He shrugged at me. I sighed, shaking my head. “So, what’s the plan? What do you have in mind, Tessa?” “You do know I can be a little crazy sometimes.” She smirked at me. “Yeah,” I answered in a slow manner. “What’s on your mind?” “Okay, this is what we’re going to do,” Tessa responded, clasping her hands together. “We’re going to get that man drunk, so we can get him to sign some papers and transfer all his wealth to his son right here. How’s that?” “Tessa. That’s… a pretty dark idea.” Tessa leaned forward. “Sometimes, Ariel, you have to fight fire with fire. Mr. Kingston won’t hesitate to use any means necessary to maintain his grip on power. We have to be willing to play by his rules if we want to stand a chance against him.” I bit my lip, torn between my discomfort with the plan and the desperate need to save my family’s business. “But getting him drunk and manipulating him into signing over everything to Larry… it feels wrong.” “It’s not about what feels right, Ariel,” Tessa insisted, her voice firm. “It’s about doing whatever it takes to protect the ones we care about. Mr. Kingston has no qualms about ruining lives to get what he wants. We can’t afford to be naive.” I nodded slowly, understanding the logic behind Tessa’s plan even as my conscience protested. “Okay. let’s say we go through with this. How do we even pull it off?” Tessa’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Leave that to me. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. All we need is ant opportunity, and I’ll make sure Mr. Kingston falls right into our trap.” I sighed, feeling a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. “I just hope this doesn’t backfire on us. If Mr. Kingston finds out…” “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Tessa interrupted, her tone confident. “Right now, we need to focus on taking back what’s rightfully yours and ensuring your family’s future.” I nodded, steeling myself for the dangerous game we were about to play. “Okay, let’s do it. But promise me Tessa, that no one gets hurt in the process.” Tessa’s expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. “I promise, Ariel. We’ll do everything we can to make sure this goes smoothly. And when it’s all said and done, your family will be back on top, where they belong.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to push aside my doubts and fears. “Alright then. Let’s make it happen. “That’s the spirit” She tapped my shoulder. “So, you mean I’m not getting married to Luke anymore?” “If this plan becomes a success, yes. And apparently, it will be successful, you won’t have to sacrifice your happiness for your parent’s business.” “Sounds great, but still kind of dark.” “Don’t say that,” Tessa told me inaudibly. “I’ve just been watching you guys and I’ve seen that relationship built by the both of you. We need really need to get this done as soon as possible,” Larry vocalized. Still shocked that he was about to help us execute this, and the plan was still awkward. But if this could actually work, all this chaos would be no more. “So, here’s the plan,” Larry leaned forward, outlining the details. “We’ll hire a beautiful stripper to seduce my father. She’ll lead him to a private room, where she’ll… distract him. Once he’s sufficiently occupied, she’ll slip a sedative into his drink, and while he’s out cold, we’ll get him to sign the papers.” – Tessa nodded in agreement. “It’s risky, but it might just work. We’ll need to coordinate carefully to ensure everything goes smoothly.” “Larry, I don’t know about this,” I said, my stomach churning uneasily at the thought of using such deceitful tactics. Larry glanced at me. “Ariel, I understand it’s not ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures. My father’s obsession with women is well–known. This might be our only shot at getting him to sign those papers.” “But using someone like that… It just feels wrong.” I protested.. “I know it’s not ideal, Ariel,” he replied. “But think about what’s at stake here. Your family’s business, your future. We can’t afford to let sentimentality get in the way.” “Larry’s right, Ariel,” Tessa chimed in. “We need to be practical about this. If we want to succeed, we have to be willing to do whatever it takes.” “Okay, fine. But I don’t have to like it,” I said after a sigh. “None of us do,” Larry admitted. “But sometimes, we have to make tough choices for the greater good.
