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 manipulate me into

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

social climbing game,” I declared my

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible

on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating

locked it with a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

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

agony.

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

status?

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

and support

their decelt pressed

me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled

of emotions that threatened to consume

room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of

anguish that gnawed at my insides. It

I had once envisioned, now shattered into a

lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

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

my world

But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality

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,

lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s

in,” she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

out the world

bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the

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