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.

turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a

climbing game,” I declared my

spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment

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

on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the

locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

burled 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

status?

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

support

expectations, their ambitions, and their

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

of emotions that threatened

myself to surrender to the torrent

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

once envisioned, now

lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

into hours, but still, the ache in my chest remained,

my world

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

myself. I froze, my heart pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to

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

please let us in,” she implored, her voice

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

over my chest in a defensive gesture. I

darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a