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.

“So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

with a searing sense

social climbing game,” I declared

spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

process this,” I murmured, my voice barely

from my parents, feeling 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 another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in

closed the 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

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

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

status?

crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I

and support me.

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

weight. I

of emotions that threatened to

surrender

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

once envisioned, now

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair.

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

world

promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the

as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the

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

please let us in,” she implored, her voice

a moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my

approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she