350: STANDING UP TO POWER

ARIEL'S POV After I left my car, I marched determinedly towards Simon's house, my heart pounding with righteous anger. Every step I took was fueled by the burning desire to confront the ones responsible for tearing apart my family's legacy. I reached the imposing ga; I hesitated for a moment, steeling myself for what lay ahead. With a deep breath, I pushed the gate open and stepped onto the path leading to the front door. My hand trembled slightly as I raised it to knock on the door. The sound echoed through the silent neighborhood, a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. Seconds felt like an eternity as I waited for someone to answer, my impatience growing with each passing moment. Finally, the door swung open, and I found myself face-to-face with Simon's mother. Her expression was one of surprise, quickly replaced by a haughty disdain as she regarded me with cold eyes. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension. I squared my shoulders, refusi