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

volumes, leaving me with a

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

I turned away,

murmured, my

weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word,

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had

370 BROKEN BONDS

finally burst. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal

I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had

agony.

orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn

status?

the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people

support

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

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

wave of emotions that threatened to consume

to surrender to the

the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

envisioned, now shattered into

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

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

my world asunder.

slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste of betrayal that

door shattered the fragile cocoon 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

I turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s

us in,” she implored, her voice

the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter

the threshold, and I 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 simmering

with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she