The Love From Vengeance

371: VEILED VOWS

ARIEL’S POV

Here I was in my room, sitting down, thinking about all the moments that I had spent with my family. My father, who I thought would be my hero, turned out to be a villain in my

story.

I was crushed, realizing they had to go to such lengths because they wanted to keep the business stable. I thought we were going to fight together; I thought we were going to get through all the terrible situations together. But it seemed like I was wrong. They had broken trust, and the hope they craved was no longer present.

They carried out this without informing me first. Why? Because they knew I would never agree to that. They knew I would never follow their conditions, letting them decide the person that I would spend my life with.

It all made sense now–my father asked me about my relationship life when we were going to the party. I was really confused right now about whether I should follow through with their terms or not. But there was no way I was going to get married to someone I didn’t love, someone I had no feelings for, someone I barely knew.

My mother walked inside my room, her eyes scanning me as I sat silently. My eyes filled with tears, with a look that flaunted how shattered I was.

“Ariel, please, you need to eat. It’s been two days now, and you haven’t eaten anything. Come on, something bad might happen to you.”

I stared at my mother, her voice echoing in my ears like a distant plea. But the turmoil inside me was too intense to heed her words. “I can’t, Mom,” I whispered. “I can’t eat.‘

”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I met her gaze, hoping she would understand the depth of my despair. “I won’t do it, Mom. I won’t marry Luke. I won’t sacrifice my happiness for business deals.”

Her eyes widened in alarm, and she rushed to my side, taking my hands in hers. “Ariel, darling, please don’t say that. You can’t do this. You can’t do this to yourself.”

pulling away from her touch. “You don’t understand, Mom. You and Dad have already made your decision. The two of you don’t care about

wipe away my tears. “But you can’t give up on life, Ariel. There’s so much to live for ahead

life I didn’t

deep breath. “I know it’s hard, sweetheart. But please, try to

for us.”

my resolve hardening with each passing moment. “No, Mom. I won’t eat. I won’t comply with you and your

gasp of horror pierced the silence, but I remained resolute, knowing that my decision was the only way

You guys

please don’t say that. Getting married to The Reynolds

bad idea.”

since you guys are going to get all the money you

the only way to bring our business back

to believe her words. “So, what? My happiness doesn’t matter. Our family’s business is more

“Ariel, please try to see the bigger picture here. We’re doing this for the entire family’s sake, not

about the family reputation or the business! I care

recoiled as if she were struck. “How can you say that? How can

word stung, but I held my ground.”

making decisions about my life

she spoke; desperation was evident in every word. “Ariel, please don’t do this. Don’t throw everything away

just a disagreement, Mom. This is about my

“I know we’ve made mistakes, Ariel. But

idea of ‘best‘ is suffocating me, Mom.“I can’t live the life you’ve planned for me. I

see the pain etched into every