Chapter 11
1586 Words
Chapter 11
“What do you mean your father kicked you out and took everything?” Victor’s voice trembled with disbelief as he stared at Vivian, his jaw slightly ajar. “You can’t be serious right now, Vivian… are you even listening to yourself? What about the money? The company?”
Vivian recoiled, her heart thudding against her ribcage. Her lips trembled as she blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that now burned her eyes.
“Seriously, Victor?” she choked out. “Have you ever—really—cared about me, even once? Do you actually love me like you always say? Because right now, it’s all about money with you. Money… money… money! That’s what you care about!”
Victor opened his mouth, but no words came. Vivian shook her head, the dam of her emotions finally breaking.
“I’m standing here telling you I’ve lost everything—my home, my father’s trust, my inheritance—and all because of you.” Her voice broke. “Because I stood up for you. I defied my parents for you. I loved you enough to risk everything… and this is what I get in return?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sank onto the edge of the bed, cradling her face in her hands.
“No, no, babe, don’t get me wrong,” Victor stammered, trying to inject concern into his voice. “I’m just worried. Your parents… they might cut ties with you completely. I mean—what happens to you now?”
Vivian sniffled and wiped her face, trying to gather herself. “My dad loves me… I know he does,” she murmured. “Once we get married, he’ll have no choice but to accept us. He’ll come around.”
Victor forced a smile, but in his mind, he was already picturing himself sitting atop the Dary empire. The image of himself spraying wads of cash like a king made his lips twitch with hidden delight. People bowing to him, his name on glossy magazines, Vivian just a means to an end.
Then, her voice shattered his daydream.
“Did you hear that?” Vivian asked, eyes narrowing.
Victor blinked. “Hear what?”
“Someone’s in the house,” she said, now on alert. “I heard the door slam.”
He laughed nervously, trying to mask the dread rising in his chest. “Vivian, come on. How would someone get in? You're just stressed out—”
“I know what I heard, Victor. I’m going to check—”
“No!” he barked, too quickly. He cleared his throat and softened his tone. “I mean… no, let me check. You stay here, alright?”
Without waiting for her response, he dashed out of the room. His heart pounded as he hurried through the hallway and found Bianca pacing near the back door.
“Go, now!” he hissed, grabbing her arm. “She heard something.”
Bianca scoffed. “Then maybe don’t leave the damn door open next time.”
Victor shoved her toward the gate. “Just go! Now!”
He waited until she disappeared into the night, then wiped the sweat from his brow and looked up at the French windows. When he saw no sign of Vivian watching, he exhaled in relief and returned to the bedroom.
“What was it?” Vivian asked immediately.
“Nothing, babe,” he said casually. “Just the wind, I guess.”
Vivian frowned. “I could’ve sworn I—”
“You’re probably just tired,” he interrupted, draping an arm around her. “Everything’s been a lot lately. Come on, get some rest.”
She hesitated, her instincts telling her something was off, but exhaustion won. She lay back down slowly.
“Good girl,” Victor whispered under his breath as he watched her drift off. “Dumbass.”
---
Meanwhile, inside Regina’s Mansion…
Cecilia lay curled on her bed, the echo of her sobs filling the silent room. She clutched a photo frame close to her chest—one that held an old picture of her and Vivian, arms locked, wide smiles frozen in time.
“Cecilia, please stop crying,” Regina said gently as she sat beside her daughter, rubbing her back. “Everything will be fine.”
“No, Mom,” Cecilia wept, shaking her head. “Nothing will ever be fine again. I’ve lost the most important friendship in my life. Just like that… it’s gone.”
Regina sighed, heart heavy. “You’ve done nothing wrong, my love. Any good friend would do what you did.”
“But maybe I wasn’t a good friend,” Cecilia cried. “Maybe if I hadn’t told her parents about the wedding, none of this would have happened. Maybe she wouldn’t be suffering right now. Maybe she wouldn’t hate me.”
“You told them because you were concerned. That’s not betrayal, that’s love.”
“But I have to see her, Mom,” Cecilia whispered desperately. “I need to make this right before I leave the country tomorrow. I have to.”
“But where will you find her? Didn’t her parents say they hadn’t seen her in days?”
“I don’t know,” Cecilia replied, voice cracking. “But I’ll look until I do.”
Regina wrapped her daughter in a tight embrace. “Come here, my child. I’m so proud of your heart.”
---
Back at the Dary Mansion…
In the grand master bedroom, Mrs. Dary handed her husband a glass of water and a pill.
“Take it,” she said. “It’s time.”
Mr. Dary took it with a heavy sigh. His eyes, dull and sunken, reflected betrayal. His daughter—the one he protected fiercely—was now living with the man who is of no good deeds.
“Dr. Phil said your health can’t handle this stress,” Mrs. Dary reminded him softly. “Please rest. I’ll stay close if you need anything.”
He stared at the ceiling, voice cold. “So where did they say she was?”
“She’s with her boyfriend now,” she said reluctantly. “Imagine… after everything we did for her.”
“I gave that girl everything,” Mr. Dary muttered. “Everything! And this is how she repays me?”
“Let it go,” his wife urged. “She’s made her choice. We can’t force her back. Just focus on getting better.”
But the pain in Mr. Dary’s chest was not just physical—it was emotional. His heart was breaking, not from illness, but from his daughter's rebellion.
---
In Victor’s Rented Apartment…
Vivian lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Victor slept beside her, snoring softly, completely at ease.
How does he sleep so easily when my world is falling apart? she wondered.
Then, the doorbell rang.
Ding dong.
She nudged Victor. Nothing. She tapped him again. He groaned but didn’t wake.
Finally, she got up herself and walked to the door.
As she opened it, she gasped.
“Cecilia?”
Her first instinct was to shut the door again, but Cecilia caught it and pushed her way inside.
“Vivian, please. I need to talk to you. Just… listen to me once. Please.”
Vivian hesitated.
“What now?” she asked flatly. “Talk. I’m listening.”
“I’m sorry, Vivian. Truly,” Cecilia said, falling to her knees. “I shouldn’t have done what I did. I only wanted to protect you… and I messed up. I know that now.”
Vivian’s heart clenched at the sight of her best friend sobbing on the floor. The image cracked something inside her.
“Get up, Cecilia,” she said, reaching down. “I forgive you.”
“Really?” Cecilia’s eyes widened, streaming with tears. “Thank you… thank you. I needed to hear that. I—I got admission into my dream school. I leave tomorrow. I wanted you there… I need you there.”
Before Vivian could respond, a voice cut through the room like a whip.
“She’s not going anywhere with a snitch like you!”
Victor stood by the bedroom doorway, his eyes narrowed.
“I’m not talking to you, Victor,” Cecilia snapped. “This is between me and Vivian.”
Victor laughed dryly. “You mean like how it was between you and her parents when you ran to them behind her back?”
“I did it for her safety,” Cecilia shot back. “Because I love her. You’re no good for her and I—”
“Enough, Cecilia!” Vivian yelled suddenly. “I thought you came here to apologize. Now you’re picking fights with my man?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
But it was too late. Vivian’s hand was already on the door.
“Goodbye, Cecilia.”
The door slammed.
Outside, Cecilia stood frozen. She let the tears fall freely now. Vivian had forgiven her—but hadn’t heard her. Not really. And Victor? He was poisoning everything.
Inside, Vivian leaned against the door and slowly slid to the floor. Her heart was at war with her mind, her instincts muffled by misplaced loyalty.
Victor walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“She’s gone now. Just forget her.”
But deep down, Vivian couldn’t.
And the cracks between truth and illusion had only just begun to widen.
- Writer
