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

volumes, leaving me with a

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

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment

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

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

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to the pain

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

agony.

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

status?

sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very

and support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me

threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I

emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

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

my insides. It was as

I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million

there, cocooned in the darkness of my

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

world asunder.

visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was

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,

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

in,” she implored, her voice filled, with

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

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

tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand.