The Love From Vengeance

184: MEMORIES

ARIEL’S POV

I continued to glare at Mason, and his smirk only intensified my anger. He walked closer to me with that smirk still on his face. If looks could kill, this heartless man would probably be dead right now. Luke was no different from him; the both of the

were cold–blooded scumbags.

“Ariel, Ariel, Ariel, I’m so glad to see that you’re still alive. You know, I thought you would be dead after realizing what happened.”

“Are you happy, Mason? You’ve gotten what you want, right? You set a building on fire and placed my kids in it. Now Lukel was killed by his own father, all because of you.

“Come on, Ariel. Don’t put the blame on me. I was only following our agreement. Your husband is the one who should be taking all the blame here.”

“You are a monster.”

“You can repeat it,” Mason snapped at his fingers. “I am a monster, and you know what a monster does? It wipes away all its foes. So believe me when I say the job isn’t over yet.”

“Lukel is already dead. What do you want to do now?”

“Remember what I told you. I said I was going to kill your children if you refused to carry out the plan. And you refused, so I’m about to keep to my words.”

“Wait, what are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that I’m not going to be satisfied unless I send your daughter to the grave.”

“You W

want to kill Janice? Can you even hear yourself right now?”

“Yes, I can. And I can picture myself taking away your daughter’s life. Stabbing her continuously or strangling her which one would you prefer? There are tons of options.”

“I won’t let you touch her!”

“We’ll see about that, Ariel. We’ll see about that.”

Mason walked away from me and made his way back inside his car. He drove off. My phone began to ring; Luke was the one who was calling. I declined the call immediately.

Now my mind wandered off to my little baby. Janice had always been a curious child, full of life and spirit. Her laughter was like music to my ears, filling their home with joy and warmth. But now, that laughter cannot be silenced. Sadness couldn’t take my place. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the images that haunted my mind–Janice’s frightened face, her tiny hand reaching out for help.

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” I whispered to herself, my voice barely more than a breath.

Memories flooded my mind–Janice’s first steps, her first words, the way she would cling to my hand

whenever they went out. The thought of losing her was unbearable a pain so deep it felt like a physical ache in my chest

[PLASHBACK)

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window, signaling the start of a beautiful morning. Today was a special day, it was picture day at Laikel and Janice’s school. I could already envision the

adorable photos that would adorn our photo album for years to come. With a smile on my face, I got out of bed and started my morning routine.

As I walked into Label and Janice’s room, I found them still snuggled up in their beds, their eyes dlowly opening to greet the day. “Good morning, my little stars! It’s picture day today!” Lannounced it cheerfully. Lankel’s eyes widened with excitement, while Janice let out a yawn and a sleepy smile.

After a quick breakfast of pancakes and orange juice, I helped Lakel and Janice get dressed in their picture–perfect outfits. Lukel chose his favorite superhero t–shirt paired with jeans, while Janice opted for a pretty pink dress with matching ribbons in her hair. I made sure their hair was neat and their faces were clean before we headed out the door. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

The school was buzzing with energy as parents and children alike made their way to the designated photo spot. I held Lakel’s hand on one side and Janice’s on the other as we weaved through the crowd. Luikel’s eyes darted around, taking in the colorful decorations and the excited chatter of his classmates.

When we reached the photo area, I saw the professional photographer setting up his equipment. Lukel and Janice stood in line, their faces beaming with anticipation. Lukel kept adjusting his shirt nervously, while Janice twirled her ribbons with a shy smile.

Finally, it was Lukel and Janice’s turn. I watched proudly as they posed for the camera, their smiles lighting up the room. Lukel stood tall with a confident grin, while Janice’s eyes sparkled with innocence and joy. The photographer captured their essence with each click of the camera, freezing this moment in time forever.

After the photos were taken, I treated Lukel and Janice to ice crearn as a reward for being such good sportsmen. We sat at a nearby bench, enjoying our sweet treats and talking about the fun we had that

day. I listened to Luke’s tales of bravery and Janice’s dreams of becoming a princess, my heart swelling with love for my precious children.

As we walked back home, the sun setting in the distance, I knew that these memories would be cherished for a lifetime, Lukel and Janice held onto my hands tightly, their laughter filling the air. In that moment, I felt grateful for the simple joys of life and the love that bound our family together.

The moment we entered the arcade, Lukel and Janice’s eyes widened with excitement, and they both let out a loud gasp: “Mommy, can we play all the games?” Lukel asked, tugging on my sleeve.

I chuckled. “Well, let’s see what we can do, shall we?” I replied with a smile.

We walked around the arcade, and I could see the kids‘ faces light up as they saw all the different

games and machines. I could feel my heart swell with joy, seeing them so happy

“Mommy, can we start with the racing paine?” Janice asked, printing at a bright and colorful car

racing game.

“sane, let’s pol” I replied, and we made our way to the game 1 helped Janice sit on the seat and gave Lukel some coins to start the game.

“okay, Lubel, you steer, and Janice, you press the buttons, all right?” instructed them.

They both nodded eagerly, and soon enough, they were fully immersed in the game, laughing and cheering as they raced their cars.

“That was so much fun!” Janice exclaimed as she jumped off the seat, and Lakel high fived her in

excitement

“Can we play another game now, Mommy?” Lakel asked, already pulling me towards the next game.

I couldn’t help but laugh at their enthusiasm. “Of course, let’s go!”

We played several games, from shooting hoops to pop a shot and even a dance game. It was heartwarming to see my children having such a great time and bonding with each other.

“Mommy, can we play the claw machine, please?” Janice pleaded, pointing at a large machine with stuffed toys inside,

I hesitated at first, as I knew those machines were not easy to win. But seeing the pleading look on their faces, I couldn’t resist.

“Okay, let’s give it a try,” I said, and we gathered around the machine.

Lukel was the first to try, and after a few failed attempts, he finally managed to grab a small teddy bear. He proudly handed it to Janice, who hugged it tightly and thanked her brother.

“Okay, my turn!” Janice exclaimed as she excitedly inserted the coins and maneuvered the claw. After a few tries, she managed to grab a cute little unicorn, and we all cheered in excitement.

As we were about to leave the arcade, I saw a photo booth in the corner. “Hey, do you guys want to take a picture to remember this fun day?” I asked, and they both nodded eagerly.

We went inside the booth, and I helped them choose fun props and poses for the pictures. As we waited for the prints, I couldn’t help but feel grateful and blessed to have these two amazing kids in my life.

“Look, Mommy, we look like superheroes!” Lukel exclaimed, holding up the photo strips.

I smiled. “You two are my superheroes,” I said, giving them both a hug.

We left the arcade with big smiles on our faces and memories that I knew we would cherish forever. It was a simple day out, but it was filled with so much love, laughter, and joy. And that’s all that matters. in the end.