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.

you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own ambitions?”

leaving me with a searing

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

spill as I turned away, weighed down

I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult of emotions.

my parents, feeling like my world was crumbling around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating

locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had

370 BROKEN BONDS

cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and

sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though

agony.

me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing

status?

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

support me.

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

weight. I

that threatened to consume me

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

pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

there,

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

world asunder.

visions of betrayal and broken 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 my lips.

my door shattered the fragile cocoon of 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

open the door,

in,” she implored, her

and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside,

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, my anger simmering just beneath the

with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,”