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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for

with a searing sense of betrayal.

pawn in your social climbing

turned away, weighed down by

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

like my world was crumbling around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my

as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind

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 more than a pawn in their quest for social

status?

emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned

support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch

emotions that threatened to consume me

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

gnawed at my insides. It was as though I

once envisioned, now shattered into a million

meaning as I lay there,

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

my world

an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by 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

on 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 bed, every fiber of my being resisting the

open the door,

she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

out the

I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their

with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m