205: CONFRONTATION ARIEL’S POV I was finally going back to face my old life. Well, it has only been a year, but still, that was the past. It was now time to continue the chapter that had almost ended a year ago. This time, I was going to end it. But I’d also miss this calm, wonderful, and peaceful location. As I packed my clothes, memories of my time here flooded my mind. The late–night conversations with Laura, the delicious meals cooked by her husband Bernardo, and the endless laughter we shared. They had become like family to me, and I was eternally grateful for all they had done for me. After folding my dress, Laura walked into my room with a smile on her face. “Do you need any help, dear?” I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’ve got it all under control.‘ Bernardo followed behind her. “We just wanted to make sure you’re not forgetting anything important.” I chuckled. “I think I’ve got everything, but thank you for reminding me.” They both stood by my side, watching me pack. Laura cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “Ariel, we wanted to talk to you about something.” I turned to face them and asked, “What is it?” Bernardo spoke up: “We’ve been talking and decided to give you a remarkable spot in the business. That’s if you want.‘ My heart skipped a beat. “What? Are you serious?” Laura nodded. “You’ve done a lot for us. So we thought we could just put this wonderful smile on your face. Plus, you’ll need some good money if you want to take out those people responsible for hurting. you.” “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you both so much.” Laura hugged me tightly. “Don’t thank us, dear. We’re just happy we can be there for you.” Bernardo joined in the hug. “You might not be our blood. But we’ll always be there for you, Ariel.” Feeling overwhelmed with emotion, I pulled away. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you both in my life.” Laura smiled. “We feel the same way about you. ” We finished packing, and I made my way to my car. After a delightful conversation with Laura and Bernard, I drove away. We would meet in New Haven since they had some important stuff to take care of. So, of course, it was me going back to the crap out there. But I wasn’t going to waste any time. Once 205 CONFRONTATION I was done avenging and finding Janice, I would leave this country. 2/3 I was driving down the highway towards New Haven, still thinking of how this chapter would be and how I had planned it to be. Was everything going to be just the way I pictured it in my head? Nah, I didn’t really think so. The sun was shining, the music was blasting through my car speakers, and I couldn’t wait to reach our destination. I had carefully curated a playlist for the trip, filled with upbeat songs that would actually keep me alive. Yeah, because if I let this hate stir me, I could actually crash into some shit or something. Yeah, I’m just kidding. I was singing lowly to the songs playing, and suddenly, my car started making strange noises, and I felt a jolt as it came to a sudden stop. I couldn’t help but make a confused face as I tried to figure out what was wrong. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. Maybe it was just a minor issue that I could fix myself. This wasn’t the first time this had happened to me. I got out of the car and popped open the hood, but I couldn’t see anything obvious that could be causing the problem. I checked the engine oil and gas, but both seemed fine. I started to feel frustrated and worried. I had no idea what to do, and I was stuck in the middle of the road with no one around to help. Feeling defeated, I got back in my car and sat there for a few minutes, trying to come up with a plan. Suddenly, a song came on that I hadn’t heard in years brought back memories of my childhood when my dad used to play it on road trips. I smiled and closed my eyes, letting the music take me back to simpler times. But then, reality hit me again as I realized I was still stranded on the side of the road. I took out my phone to call for roadside assistance, but there was no signal. I was completely alone and helpless. I got out of the car, driving my hands through my hair. I tried calling again, but there was still no signal. “Fuck!” I threw my phone to the ground. Then, I glared at my car and forcefully kicked one of the tires. But then I held my feet as I felt the pain of carrying out such an action. Still standing around here, fuming angrily and frustrated, I saw a car driving towards me from afar. I waved my hands, hoping they would stop and help me. To my surprise, the car stopped and started driving in my direction. But as the car got closer, my heart sank. It was Mason, the fool, idiot, and scumbag, who I despised with every fiber of my being. And what the hell was he doing here anyway? “What the hell are you doing here?” I spat at him as he got out of the car. “I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, a hint of surprise in his voice. “I thought I had taken care of you. I thought Harriet had killed you. Why are you still alive, and where have you been the whole time?” I chuckled. “You thought you killed me? You thought you could just get away with it?” Mason’s expression turned cold, and he took a step closer to me. “You were a loose end, Ariel. I had to tie it up. And you were the one who brought shit upon yourself.” ZAS CONFRONTATION 3/3 “You and Harriet both made a mistake. Well, the fool made a mistake. She should have shot me millions of times in the head. But that’s too bad, and trust me, I am going to make sure that karma hits the both of you real hard.” “You shut up, Ariel. You might be alive for now. But don’t be too happy about that. I can still ruin you.” I couldn’t believe his audacity. “You are sick, Mason. You will pay for what you did to me.” He chuckled, a sinister smile on his face. “And how do you plan on doing that, Ariel? You’re all alone, stranded on the side of the road. You’re helpless.” “You don’t have to worry about that. And you can get your ugly ass out of here. But just keep in mind that I’m coming for you. So if you still have Janice with you, you better start bringing her out.” “Janice, your daughter. I wonder if she’s still alive. What? Do you think she’s going to be with me for a whole year? Do I look like a babysitter to you? “You’re trying to play games, I see. But believe me when I say this: Payback is coming.” Mason glared at me for seconds before he finally said, “We’ll see about that.” He got into his car and drove off.