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

volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of

social climbing game,” I

to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and

I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult

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

door behind me and locked it with a

370 BROKEN BONDS

droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in

my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw,

agony.

core. How could they have orchestrated something so cruel and manipulative? Did they truly see me as nothing more than a pawn in their

status?

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

support me.

ambitions, and their

weight. I struggled to catch my breath

threatened to

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

gnawed at my insides. It was as though

now

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

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

my world asunder.

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 taste of betrayal that lingered on my lips.

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, I rose from my bed,

open the door, my mother’s worried expression

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

the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter

of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a

her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling,