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.

was acceptable to manipulate me into

with a

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,”

turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

need time to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult

weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating

a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal

my bed, I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been

agony.

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

status?

each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt

and support

ambitions, and their

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the

wave of emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

myself to surrender to the torrent

the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as

I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned

but still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of

my world asunder.

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

of thoughts 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.

the door,

in,” she implored, her voice

moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped

I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my

“Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a