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.

“So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own

volumes, leaving me with a searing

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

as I turned away,

to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely

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,

with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in

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

agony.

realization of my parents‘ betrayal cut 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 in their quest for social

status?

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

support

of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my

emotions that threatened to consume me

allowed myself to surrender

insides. It was as though I

had once envisioned, now shattered into a

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

still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant

world asunder.

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

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

open the door, my mother’s

she implored, her voice filled, with

moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the

threshold, and I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just

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