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 for

silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a

social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the room.

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

this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible

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

and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions

370 BROKEN BONDS

a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my soul.

wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though

agony.

me to the core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly

status?

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

and support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to

threatened to consume me

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

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

now shattered into a

lay there, cocooned in the darkness of

in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the

my world

an uneasy sleep, 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

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,

turned the lock and pulled open the door, my

please let us in,” she

hesitated for a moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to

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

darling, I’m