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

leaving me with a

your social climbing game,”

to spill as I turned away, weighed down by

my voice barely audible over the tumult

crumbling around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace

with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the

the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a

agony.

orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing

status?

the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who

and support me.

their ambitions, and their

crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I

of emotions that threatened to consume

allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of

insides. It was as

I had once envisioned, now

lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair. Minutes

into hours, but still, the ache in my chest remained,

my world

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

on my door shattered the fragile cocoon of thoughts I had wrapped around myself. I froze, my heart pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to

lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s

please let us in,” she

door shut and shut out the world was

threshold, and I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a