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 manipulate me

spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense

climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt.

I murmured, my

a leaden cloak, suffocating me with its heaviness.

it with a shaky

370 BROKEN BONDS

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

my bed, I 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 a raw, gaping wound

agony.

my parents‘ betrayal cut me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

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

and support

weight of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like

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

threatened to consume me

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

at my insides. It was

envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable

to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in

into hours, but still, the ache in my chest

my world

betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber, there was no

mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a

the door, my mother’s worried expression

sweetheart, please let us in,” she implored,

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

my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture.

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