380: FATE'S DECREE

ARIEL'S POV I stepped out of the comforting familiarity of the kitchen and into the waiting car, a sense of apprehension washed over me. The man in the suit held the door open with an expectant gaze, his impatience was written all over his face. With a resigned sigh, I slid into the plush leather seat, the cool interior of the car contrasting sharply with the warmth of the morning sun. The car started to move, the rhythmic hum of the engine filled the silence, allowing my thoughts to wander. Marriage to Luke Reynolds. The mere idea felt like a heavy burden pressing down on my shoulders. Could I truly endure a lifetime bound to a man I barely knew, let alone liked? The memory of our brief encounter at the coffee shop, fraught with tension and hostility, lingered in my mind like a bitter aftertaste. I glanced out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by in a blur. My mind raced with doubts and uncertainties, each one more daunting than the last. Could I find happiness in