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

climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating

spill as I turned away, weighed down

time to process this,” I murmured, my voice

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

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding

370 BROKEN BONDS

unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt

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

agony.

my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure.

support me.

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled

wave of emotions that threatened to

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

my insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

once envisioned, now shattered into a

lay there, cocooned in the darkness

my chest remained,

world

exhaustion overtook 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 escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and

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

lock and pulled open the door,

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

slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming.

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

mother approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,”