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

leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing

as I turned away,

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

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,

a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain

It felt as though my heart had been torn

agony.

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

status?

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

and support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like

beneath its oppressive weight.

wave of emotions that threatened to consume me whole.

I allowed myself to surrender to the

anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though

once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

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

world asunder.

promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste of betrayal that

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

turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting me.

please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

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

my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my

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