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 manipulate me into marriage for your own ambitions?”

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my

away,

need time to process this,” I murmured, my voice

from my parents, feeling like my world was crumbling 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 from the

locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of

370 BROKEN BONDS

streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament

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

agony.

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

status?

fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by

and support

expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the

that threatened to

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

gnawed at my insides. It was as

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

chest remained,

world

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

I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a reluctant sigh,

open the door, my

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

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

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

tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she