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.

disbelief turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate

leaving me with a searing sense of

pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over

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

with a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though

agony.

of my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

and profound sadness swirled within 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 supposed

support me.

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

weight. I struggled to catch my

emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one

at my insides. It was

envisioned, now shattered into a million

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

world asunder.

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 of betrayal that lingered

I had wrapped around myself. I froze, 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 confrontation awaiting me

I turned the lock and pulled open the

in,” she implored, her voice filled, with

out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside,

to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to

darling,