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.

thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a

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

spill as I turned away, weighed down by

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

weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of my own

a shaky

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and

body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound

agony.

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

status?

swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of

support me.

their decelt pressed down

threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath

wave of emotions that threatened to

the solitude of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent

pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides.

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million

as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my

ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

my world asunder.

in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh

pounding with apprehension, as I heard my mother’s voice urging me

lock and pulled open the door, my

she

shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside,

bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a

darling, I’m so sorry,” she