209: LISTEN
LUKE’S POV
I opened my eyes to see myself naked in bed, and the next thing I saw was crazy. Okay, the person I saw lying next to me had me stunned, and things were officially messed up right then. Harriet was on the bed, right next to me. She looked naked; the sheets covered her body.
I wondered if this was just a dream or another imagination of mine. I was left confused, stunned, and open–mouthed. I looked around, and yes, I was in my room. But what the hell was this woman doing here? How in the world did she come into this mansion? What time was it? Was that party still going
on?
I glanced at the clock; it was just 2:00 in the morning. And I was right here in bed with this good–for- nothing woman. I had to slap my face several times, and it was finally verified that this wasn’t a dream. It was real, Luke. It was so fucking real.
I set my eyes on Harriet, who was sleeping peacefully with a satisfied smile on her face. I could just imagine what she did while I was insensible. Now, it all makes sense. This useless woman sent the lady who gave me that drink.
“Harriet!” I forcefully tapped her. “Harriet! Harriet! Wake up, you fool!”
“What is it?” She finally opened her eyes, but she was still drowsy. “Why are you ruining my beauty. sleep?”
“Beauty sleep?! Get your ass out of my goddamn bed, out of this room, and out of this mansion!”
She
gave me a look like I was insane. “What the hell is wrong with you, huh?”
“I should be the one asking you that. What is your problem?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.
“Fuck! Are you kidding me?” I snapped.
“Oh, Luke. I enjoyed every moment with you. I was reunited with my friend last night, and it was so amazing.”
I gave her a look filled with so much bitterness. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Too bad, I already did.” She burst into laughter. “And I have everything on video. How you had sex with me, how I rode you like a motherfucking cowgirl. And with this, I can ruin your reputation. The people seem to like you once again, and what’s going to happen if they see a video like this?”
“You do know you’re wanted, right?” I reminded her.
“Yes, I know. That’s why I came up with a catchy headline.” She moved her hand dramatically as she uttered, “The famous Luke Reynold is having sex with a criminal, fucking and banging the wanted Harriet Donald. How does that sound, huh?”
“That’s fucked up.”
“Exactly, because you fucked me.
“You and I both know I didn’t do that.‘
“Is that what you’re going to tell everyone? You think they’re going to buy that?”
I was boiling with anger just by staring at her, “Oh, I feel like strangling you to death right now.
“Go ahead, kill me. You’ll be charged with murder. How great is that?”
“At least you’ll be going straight to hell.”
“Luke Reynold,” she said slowly, looking me in the eyes. “I’m going to walk out of this place, and you’re not going to do shit.”
“Is that what you think?”
“That’s what I know,” Harriet replied, and before I knew it, she injected me with some kind of shit. I lost consciousness immediately.
By the time I regained consciousness, it was dawn, and Harriet was already gone. I would have said that was a nightmare, but no, that idiot was crazy enough to leave her pants here. And trust me, I was. going to set that sh*t on fire.
***
I walked through the cemetery, the autumn leaves crunching under my feet. The sky was gray and gloomy, matching my mood as I made my way towards my son’s grave. Lukel. I had never spent much time with him before he died; I didn’t even know him. But now, standing in front of his grave, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of overwhelming sadness.
“I’m sorry, Lukel,” I whispered as I knelt down in front of his headstone. “I genuinely had no ideal you were my blood. If only I could go back in time, I’d change everything every moment.”
I paused before continuing, “You were there; you had a sister and a wonderful family who took good care of you and treated you like you were their own. But as for me, I was just living life, having no knowledge that I had two children–my blood. Your mother hid that from me. But it isn’t her fault. She knew what a monster I was. And the times I touched her, she was not too pleased with it.”
I breathed out deeply. “I wish I could turn back time and make things right.”
I placed a bouquet of flowers on his grave and heard footsteps. I turned around, expecting to see a caretaker or another mourner coming to pay their respects. But instead, I was met with the piercing glare of the one person I had been longing to see the whole time. It was Ariel, and she was standing still, but the dark look on her face reminded me of how things were between the both of us before she
went missing.
“Ariel, you’re finally back,” I said softly, walking to her.
“Don’t you dare come close,” she said, and I stopped immediately. “And what are you doing here?” she asked, her tone cold and accusing.
“Where have you been this whole time?”
“I asked you a question, didn’t I? What are you doing here?”
I glanced at Luke’s tombstone before turning back to Ariel. “I came to pay a visit to my son’s grave.”
“Your son?” Ariel’s glare didn’t go off one bit. “Oh, he’s your son, now?”
“Yes, he was my son, our son.
“But you killed him. So you have no right to say that.”
“Oh gosh,” I said inaudibly, looking down. I set my eyes back on her. “Look, Ariel. I didn’t do anything. Why won’t you let me tell you what happened at the building when it was on fire?”
“Why should I? You’re just going to start telling lies.”
“Who brainwashed you, Ariel? Who filled your head with those dark thoughts that you just believed? 1 mean, how could you just accept the lies? You do know my relationship with children, right? You know how much I love kids. Why would I want to kill an innocent child? Why would I even want to kill a child?”
“So you can get back at me,” she answered.
“No, no, no, no. You’re totally wrong. I never wanted to get back to you. I even wanted to make things. straight.”
“Well, you left me broken by killing my son.”
“Ariel, just listen to me.”
“No, you can leave now. But you just need to know one thing: that I will make sure you pay for what you did.”
I walked closer to her, the both of us staring into each other’s eyes. And even though she had an infuriated face, I could see the passion right there.
“I didn’t do anything, Ariel,” I told her softly.
She kept on glaring at me. “Leave, now.”
“I will leave. But I’m glad you’re back.”
“Don’t be,” she told me coldly. I nodded before walking away.
