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

spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of

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

I turned away, weighed down by

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

closed the door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

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

agony.

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

status?

fragile walls

support

their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down

threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive weight.

of emotions that threatened to consume me

of my room, I allowed myself to surrender

my insides. It was as though I were mourning

once envisioned, now shattered

I lay there, cocooned in the darkness

the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder

world

by visions of 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

my door shattered the 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 bed, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable confrontation

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

she implored, her voice

slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in

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