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.

you thought it was acceptable to manipulate

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

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

like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my

face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been

agony.

something so cruel and manipulative? Did they

status?

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

and support

and their decelt pressed down

me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to

of emotions that threatened to

to surrender to the torrent of tears, each

and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was

had once envisioned, now shattered into

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

ache in my chest remained,

world asunder.

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

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 confrontation

I turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression

in,” she implored,

shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest

darling, I’m so sorry,”