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.

was acceptable to

with a searing sense

pawn in your social climbing game,”

spill as I turned away, weighed down

I murmured, my

around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden

locked it with a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the

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,

agony.

they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a

status?

like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who were supposed to

support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me

me beneath its oppressive weight.

wave of emotions that threatened to consume

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a cathartic

that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning

future I had once envisioned, now shattered

as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair.

chest remained, a constant reminder of the

world

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

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

and pulled open the door, my mother’s

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

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

crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I

her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand.