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. My disbelief turned to indignation. “So you thought it was acceptable to manipulate me into marriage for your own ambitions?” Their silence spoke volumes, leaving me with a searing sense of betrayal. “I refuse to be a pawn in your social climbing game,” I declared my voice resonating through the room. Tears threatened to spill as I turned away, weighed down by disappointment and hurt. “I need time to process this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible over the tumult of emotions. I turned away 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 room. I closed the door behind me and locked it with a shaky hand. The dam of emotions I had been holding 370 BROKEN BONDS back finally burst. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, each droplet a testament to the pain and betrayal i felt deep in my soul. Collapsing onto my bed, I burled my face in my hands, the sobs wracking my body uncontrollably. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest, leaving behind a raw, gaping wound that throbbed with agony. The realization of my parents‘ betrayal cut 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 for social status? Anger 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 supposed to protect and support me. The weight of their expectations, their ambitions, and their decelt pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, threatening to crush me beneath its oppressive weight. I struggled to catch my breath amidst the tidal wave of emotions that threatened to consume me whole. In the solitude of my room, I allowed myself to surrender to the torrent of tears, each one a cathartic release of the pain and anguish that gnawed at my insides. It was as though I were mourning the loss of the future I had once envisioned, now shattered into a million irreparable fragments. Time seemed to lose all meaning as I lay there, cocooned in the darkness of my despair. Minutes stretched into hours, but still, the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder of the betrayal that had torn my world asunder. Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted 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 the bitter taste of betrayal that lingered on my lips. The knock on my door shattered the fragile cocoon of thoughts 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, every fiber of my being resisting the inevitable confrontation awaiting me on the other side. Reluctantly, I turned the lock and pulled open the door, my mother’s worried expression greeting me. “Ariel, sweetheart, please let us in,” she implored, her voice filled, with remorse. I hesitated for a moment; the urge to slam the door shut and shut out the world was almost overwhelming. But eventually, I stepped aside, allowing my parents to enter They crossed the threshold, and I retreated to the safety of my bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest in a defensive gesture. I refused to meet their gaze, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. My mother approached tentatively, her eyes brimming with tears. “Ariel, darling, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand. I recoiled instinctively, the sting of their betrayal still fresh in my mind. “Sorry isn’t going to fix this,” I retorted, my voice edged with bitterness. 370–MROKEN BONDS My father stepped forward, his expression grave. “Ariel, there’s something we need to explain.” I remained silent, refusing to dignify his words with a response. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. “The truth is, our family’s business is in trouble. All because of what Simon’s father did, we’re on the brink of collapse and desperately trying to find a solution. You know that.” “And you thought forcing me into marriage was the solution?” I demanded, my voice tied with incredulity. He shook his head, and his gaze was filled with anguish. “It wasn’t an easy decision, Ariel. But the Reynolds family has offered to bail us out in exchange for your hand in marriage,” he explained, and his words were heavy with shame. I felt as though the ground had been yanked out from beneath me, the enormity of their betrayal crashing down upon me like a tidal wave. “So that’s it, then? I’m just a bargaining chip in your desperate bid to save our family’s legacy.” I spat as I was shuddering with rage. My father’s expression softened, a hint of desperation creeping into his eyes. “Ariel, please understand. We did what we thought was best for the family,” he pleaded. But his words fell on deaf ears as I struggled to come to terms with the enormity of their betrayal. How could they have sacrificed my happiness for the sake of their own ambitions? Without another word, I turned away, my heart heavy with disillusionment and despair. The sanctuary of my room offered no solace as I grappled with the harsh reality of my shattered dreams. my At this point, I realized that the family bonds had been irreparably fractured, leaving behind nothing but a gaping chasm of betrayal and heartache. Gazing out into the darkness, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
