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.

turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your

leaving me with a searing

your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

spill as I turned away,

need time to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely

bore down on me like a leaden cloak,

and locked it with a shaky hand.

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

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

agony.

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

status?

each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of

support

and their decelt pressed down on me

crush me beneath its oppressive weight.

of emotions that threatened

my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of

at my insides. It was

envisioned, now shattered into a million

meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

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

world asunder.

even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams

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 on the

pulled open the

us in,” she

shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

crossed the 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,

mother approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m