CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY: HARSH TRUTH

Jonathan's brows furrowed, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that Ariana's sudden reappearance in their lives was stirring up more questions than answers. After all, it had been years since she had walked out on them without so much as a word of explanation. And now here she was, expecting him to welcome her back with open arms as if nothing had ever happened. "Ariana," Jonathan began, his voice tinged with a hint of exasperation, "I appreciate that you want to make things right, but it's not that simple. You can't just waltz back into our lives and expect everything to go back to the way it was. Too much has changed, too much has happened." Ariana's shoulders slumped, a pang of disappointment coursing through her. She had hoped that Jonathan would be more open to the idea of reconciliation, more willing to give her a second chance. But she understood that she had hurt him deeply, and that earning back his trust would take time. "I know