643: WON'T CONSUME ME

ARIEL'S POV I quickly turned away from Luke's piercing gaze and made a beeline for my car. I could feel his eyes boring into my back, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how deeply his presence affected me. The man I had just helped followed closely behind; his newfound confidence was evident in his stride. As I reached my car, I fumbled with my keys, my fingers trembling as I struggled to unlock the door. Finally, the lock clicked, and I slid into the driver's seat, slamming the door shut behind me. The man approached the window, concern etched on his face as he peered at me through the glass. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice muffled by the barrier between us. I forced a tight-lipped smile, unwilling to drag him into the tumultuous history that Luke and I shared. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." He hesitated, his brow furrowed as he studied my face. "Are you sure? You look like you've seen a ghost." I took a deep breath, pushing aside the me