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 into marriage for

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my voice

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely

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

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to

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

agony.

How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative?

status?

against the fragile walls of my composure. I

and support

weight of their expectations, their ambitions, and their

its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch

emotions that threatened

allowed myself to surrender to the

my insides. It

had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

meaning as I lay there,

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

my world asunder.

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

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

the door,

let us in,” she

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

I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to

“Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand.