294: BURNING PASSION

ARIEL'S POV With Luke's lips meeting mine, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions wash over me. Anger, betrayal, hurt—they all warred with the undeniable pull of his touch. For a moment, I resisted, wanting to push him away and run as far from him as I could. But his kiss was insistent, tender yet desperate, and despite myself, I found myself melting into it. Slowly, he pulled away, his eyes searching mine for some sign of forgiveness. We stood there in silence, the weight of our unspoken words hanging heavy between us. Then, as if sensing my need, Luke reached for my hand, his touch gentle yet firm. "I'm sorry, Ariel," he whispered, his voice tinged with remorse. "I never meant to hurt you. You have to believe me." I stared at him, torn between the desire to believe his words and the fear of being hurt again. "I don't know if I can," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. Luke's hands moved to cup my cheeks, his gaze unwavering as he spoke. "You have to trust me, Ariel,