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.

to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

with

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

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed

murmured, my

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

me and locked it with a shaky hand.

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep

hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind

agony.

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

status?

fragile walls of my

and support me.

and their decelt pressed

weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the

of emotions that threatened to

to surrender to

of the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides.

now shattered into a

all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair.

my chest remained, a constant reminder of

world asunder.

me, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no

heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a reluctant sigh, I rose from my bed, every fiber of

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

she implored, her voice filled, with

the door shut and shut out the world was almost

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

darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching