57: LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS ARIEL’S POV གྲ་ I stepped out of the house, standing outside, taking a look at the beautiful stars. A gentle breeze brushed against my face, carrying with it a sense of renewal and hope. It was a much–needed respite from the whirlwind of thoughts that had been swirling in my mind. The prospect of marrying Luke once again had brought a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. Memories of our previous marriage filled my thoughts, particularly the painful moments that had left scars on my heart. But this time, things would be different. I had grown tenfold in strength and wisdom since then, and I refused to allow history to repeat itself. I promise to fulfill this vengeance of mine without getting a mix of feelings or generating a soft heart. Harking my mind back, I realized that I had been naïve and easily swayed during our first marriage. Luke had taken advantage of my trusting nature, asserting his dominance and controlling every aspect of our relationship. But that was the past, and I had learned my lesson. I had emerged from those trials with a newfound determination to stand my ground and refuse to be bossed around. Still gazing at the stars, I found myself reflecting on the growth I had experienced since our separation. I had focused on self–improvement, nurturing my independence, and discovering my own identity outside of the confines of a relationship. I had surrounded myself with supportive friends and family who had helped me rebuild my shattered confidence. Yes, André and his parents. They helped me a lot in becoming who I am today. Now, as I stood on the precipice of marrying Luke again, I knew that I had the power to redefine the whole situation. I had become stronger, both emotionally and mentally. I had learned to set boundaries and demand the respect I deserved. The days of being a pushover were behind me. Yet, even with my newfound strength, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. I didn’t want to 57: LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS 2/4 grow soft again or be carried away by emotions. I wasn’t going to be lost at any moment. I needed to concentrate on my mission, and it should be just that. I had this fear of transfiguring into the fool I used to be in the past. But deep down, my heart kept telling me that I couldn’t let that fear hold me back. I had worked hard to overcome my past and build a future filled with felicity and happiness with my loved ones. A willingness to destroy Luke and wreck his life for good. I just needed Luke to acknowledge the growth I had undergone and reciprocate my efforts by pretending to care about him, creating a stronger and more fulfilling marriage. Then I would start stinging him like a bee. The stars were prettier every second, or maybe my eyes were just lying to me. Still surveying upwards, the weight on my shoulders began to lift. The fresh air and the beauty of nature surrounding me reminded me that life was full of second chances and new beginnings. But I wasn’t going to follow through with that. Hell no! Luke didn’t deserve a second chance; he wasn’t even ready at all. Even if I wanted to love him again, he would still act like a fool. But for me to get his trust and all of his attention, I’d need to act like I loved him. So when the time for his destruction comes, he’ll be surpassingly shocked. Mason couldn’t even threaten me anymore. Because right now, I’m not being forced to do all this. This thirst for vengeance had finally grown big, and I was ready to make Luke pay for all the things he did. Mason did tell me Luke was responsible for the death of his girlfriend, but I don’t know; I didn’t want to believe that. Luke emerged from the doorway; he joined me on the outside, standing next to me as we both gazed up at the night sky. The moon shone brightly, and the stars twinkled like a dazzling display. Our eyes were fixed on the celestial beauty above us, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the vastness and wonder of the universe. It was a peaceful moment, and we stood there in silence, enjoying the simple yet breathtaking sight. But those thoughts still continued to move in my head. “How’s your wound?” Luke asked softly, not glancing at me. 57: LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS “What?” I looked at him. “The wound on your belly. Does it still hurt?” He questioned me. I exhaled deeply, setting my eyes back on the sky. “Well, the pain is kind of gone.” “You know you don’t have to lie to me,” he said. I had to look at him again. 4/4 “Why in the world would I want to be lying? Yes, the pain was there a moment ago. But it’s all good now.” “Are you sure about that?” Luke asked. I let out a deep sigh. “Why are you being so caring all of a sudden?” I queried. “A moment ago, you were the one who was like, ‘If it wasn’t for your grandpa, you wouldn’t have anything to do with me‘.” “Look, Ariel, I know we’ve had so many differences in the past. And I know you hate me so much. The thing here is that I’m not that man you used to know before. I’ve changed,” he mentioned. “And why are you telling me all these?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You see, I felt guilty for the words I said to you a while ago,” Luke declared, and I quickly gave him a surprised face. “I’ve always hated you since the first day we got engaged. I’m not going to lie about that. But all these years without you, I came to realize something.” I looked at him in curiosity. “What’s that?” Luke exhaled deeply, fixing his eyes downward. “This might be hard for me to say, but you are a wonderful person, Ariel. I know, I’ve been treating you badly since day one, even till now, but these past few moments of spending time with you, I had to fully realize that.” 57: LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS 4/4 I continued to look at him, paying attention as he continued, “These years had been really tough, and these recent days had been exhausting. I had to find out Harriet’s been cheating on me the whole time, and I didn’t even know what to do.” Luke drove his hands through his hair as he exhaled deeply. He was looking broken, and as much as I wanted to feel sorry for him, I refused to. “Ariel, I’m sorry if I ever treated you badly. “If you ever treated me badly?” I interrupted, raising an eyebrow. He looked at me for a moment and corrected himself, “I’m sorry for treating you badly.” I smiled to that. “I just had these evil thoughts about you. Tomorrow’s going to be our wedding, and I don’t want any of us frowning, okay? My grandfather wanted me to treat you like a goddess, and I guess I’m going to have to fulfill that. Good night.” He began to walk towards the house, and I turned around, calling out his name. He paused and turned to look at me. “Good night,” I said, giving him a nominal smile. He smiled back and burst inside the house. Okay, what the hell just happened? Did an angel slap him with senses, or what? He was really nice and different. But even though I’m still not getting that soft heart. 58: GETTING READY 58: GETTING READY
