475: NIGHT OF SURPRISES

ARIEL'S POV Luke and I walked down the grand staircase. The soft pink hues of my dress accentuated every curve. The black stripes added a touch of elegance, contrasting beautifully with the delicate fabric. On the other hand, Luke looked dashing in his all-black tailored suit, the pink tie adding a pop of color that perfectly complemented my attire. We both reached the bottom of the stairs, and we were greeted by the sight of Tessa and various members of her family gathered around, making their way to the dining table. Tessa's smile widened as she saw us and hurried over to greet us. "Ariel, Luke, so glad you could join us," she said warmly, giving each of us a hug. "It's our pleasure," Luke replied, his tone polite yet reserved. As we followed Tessa to the dining area, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from some of the family members. One man in particular seemed particularly intrigued by our presence. Luke and I took our seats at the table, but this man couldn't co