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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

climbing game,” I

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

to process this,” I murmured, my voice

bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking

a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and

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,

agony.

could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in their

status?

sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of

and support me.

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

its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my

threatened

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

at my insides. It was as

envisioned, now shattered into a million

meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal that

world

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.

wrapped around myself. I froze, my heart pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open

open the door, my mother’s worried expression

in,” she

shut out the world

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

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