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

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

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

as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

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

betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room,

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to the pain and

my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound that throbbed with

agony.

something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as

status?

fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very

and support me.

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch

of emotions that threatened

myself to surrender to the torrent of

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

once envisioned, now

lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

but still, the ache in my chest remained,

world

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

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 inevitable confrontation awaiting me on the other side.

open the door, my

she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

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

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

her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling,