460: YOU'RE WORRIED?

ARIEL'S POV I dropped my phone into my purse, the incessant ringing a persistent reminder of the turmoil brewing in my life. With heavy steps, I made my way back to my car, the weight of the morning's events bearing down on me. However, even as I reached the sanctuary of my car, seeking solace in the silence within, my phone rang again, disrupting the peace I sought. Sighing heavily, I retrieved the phone from my purse and reluctantly answered the call. "Hello?" "Why have you been avoiding my calls?" Luke's voice came through the line, his tone a mixture of confusion and frustration. I bristled at his question—the tension between us simmering just beneath the surface. "Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened earlier between us," I retorted, my words sharp as hell. Luke's response was immediate, his tone defensive. "You're thinking too far, Ariel. I hope you know that. He insisted, "Because I'm not cheating on you." I closed my eyes, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "Righ