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 into marriage for your own

with a searing sense of betrayal.

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

I turned away, weighed down by disappointment

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

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

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal

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

status?

the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the

and support me.

ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a

to crush me beneath its oppressive weight.

threatened to consume me

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

and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss

envisioned, now shattered

to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the

chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal that

world

haunted by visions of betrayal and broken promises. But even in slumber,

as I heard my mother’s voice urging me to open the door. With a reluctant sigh,

the door, my mother’s

please let us in,” she implored,

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

I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a

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