Chapter 4: Great Misfortune

Victoria wandered on the street, dragging her suitcase. The sky was already dark, she was crossing a bridge, trying to figure out her next step.

“Where am I supposed to go now? I need to find a place to stay.” She asked herself. She had no plan at all. She checked her bank account, which was a joint account with Liam and her heart nearly stopped beating. The balance was zero. None at all. She shook her head, panicking.

“No, this can’t possibly be real!” She stopped on the side of the street and called Liam.

“What do you want?” Liam asked, his tone was cold.

“Where are the money in our joint account?” She asked him.

“Huh? Those money? I transferred it to my personal account.” He replied nonchalantly. Victoria felt like she was on the edge of the cliff.

“Liam, some of those money are mine. All my part time and freelance salaries are there. Return them to me!” She ordered him.

“Victoria, are you crazy? All these times I am the one who’s paying the bill and apartment, keeping us afloat. If it wasn’t for me, you would be broke and homeless a long time ago.” He responded.

“So, those money are mine. They’re payment for what I’ve done over the years.” Victoria started panicking.

“Liam, you cannot do this to me. I know we’re breaking up, but I need money to afford a place to stay. Please, just send some of them to me.” She pleaded.

At this moment, Victoria felt so pathetic. She had to beg a man to give her what was rightfully hers. It disgusted her, but that’s what she needed to do.

“I hate to break this to you, but I have used all that money to get an engagement ring for Amelia.” Victoria’s eyes widened in shock.

“What the hell, Liam!? Are you crazy!? That's my money, Liam!” Liam started to get annoyed on the other side of the line.

“Dammit, Victoria! You’re calling me just to argue about this!? I am tired. We’ve broken up. Do not contact me ever again!” He turned off the call.

“No, wait, Liam!? Liam!?” She pressed on her phone trying to call him again, but no matter how many times she tried calling him, he did not pick up. In fact, her number was blocked. Frustrated, she started screaming as tears ran down her face. There was nobody on the street that night, no matter how loud she screamed, no one was there to listen.

***

Amelia held two glasses of juice in her hand and handed one of them to Liam.

“Your phone keeps on ringing, aren’t you going to pick it up?” She asked him innocently.

“No, it’s just Victoria, she kept on calling me asking me to send her some money, but nah, I am not going to do that.” He replied. Amelia smirked.

“I was right all along, she’s such a parasite. All she does is latch onto you and sucking your energy dry. Geez, I don’t know how you can stay with her for two years.” Amelia provoked as she sat on the bed beside Liam.

“You know, at first I thought she was a wonderful girl. I used to like her a lot.” A flash of jealousy appeared on Amelia’s eyes. She hated it when other people complimented Victoria. Growing up, Amelia did not have much. Her own father was a deadbeat man who was never present.

Her mother was busy with her own life, dating around with men and working as a hostess. She never had any attention. That’s why when her mother finally married Victoria’s father, she was happy, thinking she would finally have the family she had ever dreamed of.

However, when she met Victoria, she realized she would never be in the spotlight as long as Victoria existed. That girl was just so lovable. Most importantly, she had her father’s attention, something Amelia never had.

Driven by jealousy, since she saw Victoria, Amelia decided to bring this woman down. She refused to share the love and attention of others with her. That’s why, whatever Victoria had, Amelia was determined to steal it from her. Just to prove to herself that she was better than Amelia. Liam was no different, after several months of careful plotting, Liam was finally hers. But hearing him compliment Victoria greatly displeased her.

“But after you come to my life, I realize that she can never compare to you.” Liam added. A small smile appeared on her face.

“Of course, I am the best after all.” She flattered herself.

***

After a while, Victoria looked at her phone and on her screensaver was the picture of her and Liam.

“After everything I have done for you. How could you do this to me?” She asked herself.

“Where am I supposed to go now? I cannot go back to my father’s place. My stepmother is there. I don’t wanna see her.” She told herself as she continued walking.

Rage suddenly overwhelmed her. Without thinking much, she lifted her phone high in the sky and threw it to the ground.

Her phone screen cracked and turned black. Victoria panted before the realization hit her. She quickly squatted and grabbed her phone from the ground with a look of panic.

“No, no,  no. Please, no.” She tried turning on her phone, but no matter what she did, her phone would not turn on. Victoria cried out in frustration.

At this moment, she knew, she has truly hit rock bottom.

Of course, Victoria has been through some challenges in her life before. However, this was the first time she genuinely felt shattered and depressed.

She has been rejected from so many exhibitions, which has led her to question her own talents and abilities. The man she thought was the love of her life betrayed her. At this point, she thought she has lost everything in life.

She dragged her suitcase to the side of the bridge. Victoria looked down and saw a body of water staring back at her.

“My life no longer has any meaning.” She thought to herself.

“What is the point of living anymore? If I die, at least I will be free from all of this pain.” Victoria lost her right mind. With trembling hands and teary eyes, she started climbing on the bridge and stood at the edge. Victoria took a deep breath.

“I cannot wait to be free from all this pain.” She thought to herself. Part of her was still afraid, but another part of her was too tired to stay in the world.

Victoria shut her eyes and was ready to jump.

“Goodbye, world”