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.

indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your

with a searing

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I

spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

I murmured, my voice barely audible over the

bore down on me like a leaden cloak,

and locked it with a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

droplet a testament to the

burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from

agony.

something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in their

status?

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 decelt pressed down on me

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath

threatened to consume me whole.

allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of

at my insides. It was as though

now shattered into a million

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned

hours, but still, the ache in my chest

world

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

I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a

the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s

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

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

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I

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