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.

“So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of

your social climbing game,” I

as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult of emotions.

like a leaden cloak,

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and

my bed, I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound that

agony.

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

status?

within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I

support

their decelt pressed

its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch

threatened to

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

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

once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my

chest remained, a constant reminder

my world asunder.

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 of betrayal that lingered on my lips.

voice urging me to open the door. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my bed,

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

she implored, her voice

shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming.

crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my

darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching