The Love From Vengeance

370: BROKEN BONDS

ARIEL’S POV

I stormed into my parents‘ elegant living room, a cloud of anger and betrayal churning within me. My hands trembled with disbelief as I brandished my phone, the glaring headlines announcing my supposed engagement to Luke burning into my consciousness.

“Mom, Dad, we need to talk,” I demanded.

They looked up, surprised, etching their features at the urgency in my tone.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” my mother asked, concern furrowing her brow.

I thrust my phone forward, the damning evidence of my supposed betrothal displayed on the screen.

“Explain this,” I demanded, my voice rising with each word,

Their guilty exchange confirmed my worst fears.

“We’re sorry, Ariel. We never meant for things to spiral out of control like this,” my father began, his voice

tinged with remorse,

But apologies were not what I sought. I needed answers.

“Sorry isn’t enough, Dad. Why have you destroyed my future?” I queried, my anger boiling over.

My mother reached out, but I recoiled, the sting of their betrayal too raw.

“I trusted you both. I thought you had my best interests at heart,” I accused the both of them. I was feeling

broken.

They hung their heads, unable to meet my accusing gaze.

“We only wanted what was best for you, Ariel. We thought…” my mother faltered, unable to finish her

justification.

turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating

away, weighed down by disappointment

process this,” I murmured, my

turned away from my parents, feeling like my world was crumbling around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak,

closed the door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt

the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as

agony.

my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in their quest for

status?

me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who were

support me.

weight of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my

threatened to consume me whole.

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender

gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

I had once envisioned, now

meaning as I lay there, cocooned

but still, the ache in my chest

my world

overtook me, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste

my heart pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my bed, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable

I turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting

please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with

slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost

my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger

darling,