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.

thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

me with a searing

social climbing game,” I declared my

to spill as I turned away, weighed down

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

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

with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

unchecked, each droplet a testament to

uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from

agony.

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

status?

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

support me.

expectations, their ambitions, and their

me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch

that threatened to consume me whole.

I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a cathartic

at my insides. It was as though I were mourning

had once envisioned, now

I lay there,

the ache in my chest

my world asunder.

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 betrayal that lingered on my

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 inevitable confrontation awaiting me on the other

the lock and pulled open the door, my

please let us in,” she implored, her

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

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

brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered,