Chapter 2: Liar

Vivian woke up, her eyes widening as she took in the sterile white ceiling. It slowly dawned on her that she was in a hospital.

"What's going on?" Vivian wondered aloud.

She could only recall feeling exhausted and gradually losing consciousness. But who had brought her to the hospital?

A familiar face entered the room, approaching Vivian's bedside. It was Kristen Gomez, her childhood best friend, who had been studying abroad in France.

Vivian was surprised to see Kristen standing there. Kristen chuckled at Vivian's astonished expression.

"You're surprised, aren't you? I arrived this morning," she said.

Kristen explained that as soon as she landed at the airport, she rushed to Vivian's house. To her dismay, she found Vivian lying motionless on the floor and immediately called for an ambulance.

"How long are you planning to stay?" Vivian asked.

"I'll be here for a week, and then I'll head back to France, I want to stay here forever…”Kristen replied, but her gaze suddenly shifted as if she had forgotten something important to share.

Observing Vivian's silent tears, Kristen grew concerned. Something was bothering Vivian, something she couldn't quite put into words.

"What happened, Vivian?" Kristen inquired.

Vivian struggled to speak, her eyes filled with fear as she finally articulated the painful truth.

"Brian and I broke up!" she choked out.

Kristen was taken aback. Just recently, Brian had proposed to Vivian, and Vivian had excitedly shared the news with Kristen. What could have transpired to make Vivian change her mind so abruptly?

"He lied to me. Emma is his mistress, and they're even expecting a baby together!" Vivian's voice quivered.

Kristen had initially harboured reservations about Brian and his character, but seeing Vivian's happiness had convinced her to set aside her doubts. She never anticipated that Brian could be so deceitful, let alone that Emma, Vivian's best friend, would stoop so low.

Kristen determined not to be intimidated, vowed to stand up for Vivian and teach these two despicable individuals a lesson.

"You can't let those two scumbags get away with this," Vivian whispered.

Kristen gently clasped Vivian's hand, understanding the pain she was enduring. There was nothing more devastating than discovering that your fiancé had betrayed you.

"What are you going to do now?" Kristen asked.

"I don't know!" Vivian replied, her voice trembling.

She was unsure if she was making the right choices. Was she being selfish by not confronting Brian? But every time she thought of him, her heart ached. She didn't want him to use their unborn child to control her.

Vivian wept, feeling lost and uncertain about navigating this ordeal.

"Come on! You have your family and me by your side. You're not alone," Kristen reassured her with a comforting smile.

Kristen embraced Vivian gently, offering her unwavering support. Innocent souls like Vivian deserved happiness, and people like Emma and Brian would eventually face the consequences of their actions.

Though exhausted, Vivian insisted on going home. She longed to find solace in the familiarity of her surroundings. Kristen wanted her to stay at the hospital for a few more days to ensure her well-being. After some persuasion, Vivian convinced Kristen to let her return home.

Once back at her house, Vivian immediately sought out the engagement ring. Despite her anger towards Brian, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic for their shared memories. She fell deeply in love with him.

Kristen gently held Vivian's hand, knowing that words could do little to heal her pain in moments like these. She had faith that Vivian would find the strength to overcome this trial.

Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing a tall figure entering the house. It was Brian himself, the only person who knew Vivian's password.

Kristen's eyes narrowed as she glared at Brian. She hadn't expected him to show up.

"How dare you come here?" she exclaimed.

Brian remained silent, clutching Vivian's hand. Panic flickered across his face as Kristen tried pulling Vivian away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kristen shouted.

"It's none of your business!" Brian retorted.

Vivian finally regained her composure, refusing to let him manipulate her emotions.

"Let me go!" she demanded, meeting Brian's gaze head-on.

Brian had no choice but to release her hand. He had acted impulsively by coming here, his mind clouded by the overwhelming emotions he still harboured for Vivian. But now, faced with her determination, he realized he had no grounds to make any demands.

"Why did you come here? What else is there left for us to say to each other?" Vivian declared.

She tried to maintain a facade of indifference towards Brian, determined to show him that she was not a plaything to be manipulated. He had caused her immense pain and despair.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted you to know that I still love you," Brian pleaded.

Vivian's heart ached, torn between the sincerity she saw in Brian's eyes and the knowledge that someone who had once betrayed her could do so again. She refused to let herself be swayed by sentimentality.

"I have nothing more to say to you!" She was exhausted from all that had happened. She didn't want to say anything to this traitor.

With those words, Vivian tossed the wedding ring back at Brian. She wanted to return everything he had given her. Their relationship was beyond salvaging.

Brian, confronted with Vivian's unwavering resolve, found himself speechless. As a liar, he had no defence for his actions.

"You'll come back to me!" he declared, refusing to accept his failures.

Brian felt no remorse for what he had done. He believed that someone as noble as him, humbling himself to express his love, would surely make Vivian regret her decision and return to him. He was convinced she still loved him deeply.

Leaving the ring behind, Brian exited Vivian's apartment.

Vivian and Kristen breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Vivian sank wearily into a nearby chair, utterly exhausted after an emotionally draining day. She hoped that, with time, things would slowly return to normal.