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.

acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

leaving me with a searing sense

social climbing game,” I declared

as I turned away, weighed down

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

leaden cloak, suffocating me with its

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound that throbbed with

agony.

could they have orchestrated something so cruel

status?

swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by

and support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I

that threatened to consume me whole.

surrender to the torrent of tears,

that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I

once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair. Minutes

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of

world asunder.

exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape

urging me to open

the lock and pulled open the door, my

in,” she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture.

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