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.

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

spoke volumes, leaving me with

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,”

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

murmured, my

away from my parents, feeling 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

door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand.

370 BROKEN BONDS

a testament

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

agony.

realization of my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

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

support me.

their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down

its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath

emotions that threatened to consume me

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the

insides.

now shattered into a

to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal that

my world asunder.

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

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

turned the lock and pulled open the door, my

sweetheart, please let us in,” she

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 gaze, my anger simmering just

mother approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered,