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

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

your social climbing game,” I declared my voice

to spill as I turned away, weighed down

murmured, my voice barely audible over

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, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping

agony.

core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in

status?

fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people

and support

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

oppressive weight. I

that threatened

to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a cathartic

anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though

now shattered into a million irreparable

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

chest

my world

visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber,

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. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my bed, every fiber of my

lock and pulled open the

please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled,

the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter

and I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the

tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she