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 for your own ambitions?”

me with a

climbing game,”

away, weighed down by disappointment and

murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult of

a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness.

it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from

agony.

the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did

status?

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

and support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

me beneath its oppressive weight. I

emotions that threatened

myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one

gnawed at my insides.

now shattered into a million

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

still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal

my world

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.

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

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

she implored, her voice filled,

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

darling, I’m