615: DEEPENED

ARIEL'S POV Luke's face drew nearer, his eyes filled with an intensity that had my heart throbbing. I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and enticing, as he spoke those words I had heard too many times before. "Ariel, I love you," he told me in a whisper. "And you know it. I'm sorry for what I did, for cheating on you. I want to make everything right, starting now. But for now, can't we just enjoy this moment at the wedding?" His words caught me off guard, stirring a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. Part of me wanted to believe him, to let myself be swept away by his promises of redemption. But another part, the part that had been hurt and betrayed, urged caution, reminding me of the pain he had caused. "You're crazy, Luke," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "You're crazy if you think I can just forget everything that happened." But he only chuckled, his fingers tracing delicate patterns along my waist. "I'm crazy for you, Ariel," he admitted in a low a