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

me with a searing sense of

your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment

time to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult

weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

testament

face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as

agony.

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

status?

like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure.

support me.

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

beneath its oppressive weight.

that threatened to consume

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to

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

envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

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

my chest remained,

my world

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

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 me on the other side.

turned the lock and pulled open the door,

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

and shut out the world

bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to

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