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

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with

social climbing game,”

away, weighed down

this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the

like a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness. Without another word, I fled from the living room, seeking solace

and locked it with a shaky

370 BROKEN BONDS

burst. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my soul.

as though my heart had been

agony.

betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and

status?

crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt

and support me.

their expectations, their ambitions, and their

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

of emotions that threatened to

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

insides. It

once envisioned, now shattered into

to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned

ache in my chest remained,

my 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

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

turned the lock and pulled open the door, my

she implored, her voice filled, with remorse.

out the world was almost overwhelming. But

my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest

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