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.

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

leaving me with a

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my

turned away, weighed down by disappointment

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

me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me

the door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I

370 BROKEN BONDS

cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the

my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest,

agony.

realization of my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in

status?

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

and support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

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

wave of emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

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

the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides.

I had once envisioned, now shattered

seemed to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair.

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

world asunder.

haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of 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 bed, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable confrontation awaiting me

open the

sweetheart, please let us in,” she implored,

the door shut and shut out the world was

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a

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