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.

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

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

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

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed down

need time to process this,” I murmured, my

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 the

and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of

370 BROKEN BONDS

finally burst. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to

the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from

agony.

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 felt utterly alone, abandoned by the

and support

expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

weight. I struggled to catch my breath

of emotions that threatened

room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent

my insides. It was as though I were mourning

I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million

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

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of

my world

in slumber, there was no escape from

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 inevitable confrontation awaiting me on

turned the lock and pulled open the door, my

she implored, her voice

hesitated for a moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped

my arms crossed tightly over my

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