384: TROUBLED THOUGHTS

ARIEL'S POV After Sir Reynold's heartfelt words, I found myself seeking solace in the familiar comfort of Tessa's home. I sat across from her in the cozy living room, and I felt a sense of unease lingering beneath the surface of my thoughts. Tessa noticed my troubled expression and reached out, gently placing a hand on mine. "Ariel, you seem really distant. Is everything alright?" I let out a deep sigh. "Honestly, Tessa, I don't know. Everything feels so... complicated right now." She nodded understandingly. "It's about, Luke, isn't it?" I nodded slowly, biting my lip as I struggled to find the right words. "Yeah, it's about Luke. And this whole marriage thing. I just... I don't know if I'm doing the right thing." She gently squeezed my hand. "Ariel, you don't have to go through with this if you're not sure. Your happiness should come first, above everything else." "But what about my family? They've put so much pressure on me to marry Luke, to make sure our business doesn't go