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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own ambitions?”

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through

away, weighed

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

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 living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of my

a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and

I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound that

agony.

cruel and

status?

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

support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed

oppressive weight.

that threatened to consume

allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a cathartic

insides. It

envisioned, now shattered into a

meaning as I lay there, cocooned in

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

my world

promises. But even in slumber, there

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

the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting me.

let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with

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

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

mother approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a