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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed

I murmured, my voice barely audible

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

it with a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and

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

agony.

so cruel and manipulative? Did they

status?

swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure.

and support me.

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a suffocating

beneath its oppressive weight. I

of emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

solitude of my room, I allowed myself to surrender

of the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It

had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

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

my world asunder.

even in slumber, there was no

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.

open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting

she implored, her voice

out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I

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

tears. “Ariel, darling,