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 st