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.

disbelief turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

spill as I turned away, weighed down by

to process this,” I murmured, my

leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of my own

closed the door behind me and locked it with a

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt

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

agony.

they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me

status?

hurt, and profound sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly

support

weight of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my

threatened

allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one

insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

had once envisioned, now

as I lay there, cocooned

chest remained, a constant reminder of

my 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 from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste of betrayal that lingered on

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, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable confrontation awaiting

turned the lock and pulled open the door,

us in,” she

and shut out the

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

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