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.”

“You don’t understand, Mom. You and Dad have already made your decision. The two of

twisted her features as she reached out to wipe away my tears. “But you can’t give up on life, Ariel. There’s so much to live

life I didn’t choose for myself.“Not if it means being

“I know it’s hard, sweetheart. But please, try to eat something

for us.”

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

remained resolute, knowing that my decision was the only way to reclaim

you and Dad are happy now. You guys have

don’t say that. Getting married to The Reynolds isn’t actually going

bad idea.”

course it isn’t.“Why would it be, since you guys are

to understand that this is the only way to bring our business

My happiness doesn’t matter. Our family’s business is more important

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

care about the family reputation or the business! I care about

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

The word stung, but I

about my life without even considering what I want. How is that not

“Ariel,

Mom. This is about my autonomy, my

know we’ve made mistakes, Ariel. But we’re only trying to do what we think

frustration boiling over. “Your idea of ‘best‘ is suffocating me, Mom.“I can’t

the air, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing. I could see the pain etched into every