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.

disbelief turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage

volumes, leaving me with a searing

to be a pawn in your social climbing game,”

turned away, weighed down

my voice barely audible over the

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 from the living room, seeking solace in the sanctuary of my own

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i

my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart

agony.

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 for social

status?

profound sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of

support

their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on

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

of emotions that threatened to

my room, I allowed myself to surrender to

and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It

future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a

seemed to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair. Minutes

ache in my chest

world asunder.

But even in slumber, there was no escape from the harsh reality of my shattered dreams and the bitter taste of betrayal that lingered on my lips.

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

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

in,” she implored, her voice

the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But

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 beneath the surface.

brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she