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

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating

threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

murmured, my voice

weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep

body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been

agony.

could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in their quest

status?

hurt, and profound sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by

and support

their decelt pressed down on me like a

its oppressive weight. I struggled to

wave of emotions that threatened to consume me

my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears,

anguish that gnawed at my insides. It

once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments.

there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair.

but still, the ache in my chest remained,

my world

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

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

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

she implored,

hesitated for a moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming.

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture.

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