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.

to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to

spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing

in your social climbing game,” I declared my

to spill as I turned away, weighed down

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

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 in the sanctuary

with a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

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

agony.

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

status?

walls of my composure. I felt

support me.

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

its oppressive weight.

emotions that threatened to consume me

I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent

and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as

had once envisioned, now shattered into a million

to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in

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

world

exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no

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. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my

pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting

let us in,” she implored,

shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But

my

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