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.

“So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your

leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

climbing game,” I

I turned away, weighed down by

time to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely

leaden cloak, suffocating

door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

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

agony.

parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did

status?

crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the

support me.

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down

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

that threatened to consume me whole.

surrender to the

at my insides. It was as though I were

envisioned, now shattered

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

my chest remained, a constant reminder of

my world asunder.

into an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste of

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 bed,

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

us in,” she implored, her voice filled,

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

bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering

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