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 ambitions?”

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the room.

to spill as I turned away,

my voice barely audible over the tumult of

turned 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 another word, I fled from the living room,

and locked it with a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

a testament

my bed, I burled 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

agony.

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

status?

and profound sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt

support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the

emotions that threatened to

room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears,

insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million

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

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

world asunder.

dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no

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 side.

pulled open the door, my

please let us in,” she implored,

the world was almost overwhelming. But

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

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