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.

turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate

me with a searing sense of betrayal.

climbing game,” I

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed

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

like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of my own room.

door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my soul.

as though my heart

agony.

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

status?

emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure.

support

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my

wave of emotions that threatened to consume me

room, I allowed myself to surrender to

gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were

had once envisioned, now shattered into a

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

in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal that

world

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

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

pulled open the door, my

us in,” she implored, her voice

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

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

darling, I’m so sorry,”