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.

it was acceptable to manipulate me into

volumes, leaving me with a searing

your social climbing game,”

as I turned away, weighed down

to process this,” I murmured, my voice

like my world was crumbling around me. The weight of their betrayal bore down on me like a leaden cloak,

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

370 BROKEN BONDS

my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt

sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from

agony.

me 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

status?

hurt, and profound sadness swirled within me like a tempest, each emotion crashing against the fragile walls of my composure. I felt utterly alone, abandoned by the very people who were

and support me.

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

oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath

emotions that threatened to consume me

allowed myself to surrender to the torrent

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

I had once envisioned, now shattered into

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

into hours, but still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant

my world asunder.

into 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

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

and pulled open the

please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with

moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually,

tightly over my chest in

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