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.

you thought it was acceptable to manipulate

spoke volumes, leaving me with

your social climbing game,”

to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult

their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of

closed the door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound

agony.

core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in

status?

against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who were supposed to

support me.

and their decelt pressed down on me like a

weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst

wave of emotions that threatened to consume

to surrender to the torrent of

gnawed at my insides. It was as though

I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness

still, the ache in my chest remained, a

world asunder.

uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber,

my heart pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With

the lock and pulled open the door, my

please let us in,” she implored, her voice

shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

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

eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m