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 manipulate me into marriage

spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

threatened to spill as I turned away,

process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over

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

with a shaky

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to

bed, I 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

agony.

me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more

status?

within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone,

and support me.

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

weight. I struggled to catch my

of emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of

at my insides. It

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into

lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

world

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 lips.

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

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

sweetheart, please let us in,” she implored, her

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

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

eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so