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.

you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me

me with a searing sense of betrayal.

pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating

to spill as I turned away, weighed down

process this,” I murmured, 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

me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been

370 BROKEN BONDS

droplet a testament

onto my bed, I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had

agony.

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

status?

walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who

support me.

and their decelt pressed down on me like a suffocating

oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the

that threatened to consume me

I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each

at my insides. It was

had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

seemed to lose all meaning as I lay there,

but still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder

my world

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.

my 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 open the door. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my bed, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable confrontation awaiting me on

pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting

in,” she implored,

moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut 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 in a defensive

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