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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,”

threatened to spill as I turned away,

my voice barely audible over the

bore down on me like a leaden

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament

onto my bed, I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had

agony.

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

status?

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

and support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I

of emotions that threatened to consume me

surrender to the torrent of

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

now shattered into a million irreparable

seemed to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned

in my chest remained, a constant reminder of

my world

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

door shattered the fragile cocoon of 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 being resisting the inevitable

and pulled open the

in,” she implored, her voice

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

over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered,