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.

thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for

with a

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

threatened to spill as I turned away,

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

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,

and locked it with a shaky hand.

370 BROKEN BONDS

my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the

body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my

agony.

me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly

support me.

their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight.

emotions that threatened

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

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

I had once envisioned, now shattered into

there, cocooned in the darkness of

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

world

slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my

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

open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting me.

sweetheart, please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the

crossed tightly over my

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