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.

disbelief turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

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

turned away, weighed down

I murmured, my voice barely

a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and

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

agony.

parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see

status?

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

support

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath

wave of emotions that threatened

to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a

gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning the

once envisioned, now shattered into

there, cocooned in the darkness of my

into hours, but still, the ache in my chest

my world

promises. 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

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

the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting me.

in,” she implored,

slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter

of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my

eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so