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.

you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal.

refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,”

spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

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

turned away from my parents, 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

me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

felt as though my heart

agony.

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

status?

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 the very people

support me.

their decelt pressed down on me like

weight. I struggled

of emotions that threatened to consume

solitude of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the

anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I

had once envisioned, now shattered into a

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

hours, but still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant

world

dreams haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no escape from

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

I turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s

let us in,” she implored, her

the door shut and shut out the

crossed 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