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.”

shook my head, 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 what I

reached out to wipe away my tears. “But you can’t give up on life,

with my throat tight. “Not If it means living a life I didn’t choose for myself.“Not if it means being trapped in a loveless marriage.”

“I know it’s hard,

for us.”

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

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

You guys have ruined my life. I hope

married to The Reynolds isn’t actually going to be

bad idea.”

you guys are

this is the only way to bring

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

see the bigger picture here. We’re doing this for the entire family’s sake, not

“Well,. don’t care about the family reputation

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

word stung, but I

the ones making decisions about my life without even considering what I want.

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

I.scoffed bitterly. “This isn’t just a disagreement, Mom. This is about my autonomy, my right

sank onto the edge of my bed. “I know we’ve made mistakes, Ariel. But we’re only trying

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

the sound of our ragged breathing. I could see the pain etched into every line