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.

to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to

me with a searing sense of

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

turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

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

it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I

370 BROKEN BONDS

unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain

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

agony.

they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see

status?

each emotion crashing 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

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

threatened to consume me

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

and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as

had once envisioned, now shattered

I lay there, cocooned

chest remained, a constant reminder

my world

my dreams haunted 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

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 awaiting me

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

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

the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was

arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath

her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m