C1 The breaking point

CHAPTER ONE – The Breaking Point

“Vivian… Vivian…”

The voice echoed again, breaking through the fog in her mind. After the fourth call, she finally turned around. Her face was calm, but her eyes looked distant …like someone holding herself together by a fragile thread.

“Sorry to disturb you,” Samuel said quickly, clutching his files. “But I really need to talk to you about the group project.”

Vivian blinked and checked her watch. “Uhm… okay. Let’s go to the leisure bench. But I hope it won’t take long — I’ve got somewhere important to be.”

“It won’t, Miss Dary,” he replied with a polite smile, falling in step beside her.

They walked in silence, the afternoon breeze brushing past them. Vivian barely noticed. Her thoughts were elsewhere….on Victor. He’d called earlier, his voice tight, saying there was an emergency. Something in his tone hadn’t felt right.

They reached the bench, and Samuel began talking. “So, Miss Dary, I think we should add some animations. The background looks too plain, maybe something bright and lively…”

He stopped mid-sentence. Vivian wasn’t listening. Her gaze had drifted past him, fixed on the far end of the field.

Her body froze.

Her chest tightened.

Then, her world stopped.

Victor stood there …his hand cupping another girl’s face, their lips meeting like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Belinda.

Vivian’s mind went blank. Her pulse roared in her ears, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

“Miss…?” Samuel’s voice felt miles away.

Then, before he could speak again, she shot up and ran.

“How dare you?!” she screamed, throwing herself at Belinda. The two fell to the ground, tangled in fury and heartbreak.

“Vivian! Stop this!” Victor yelled, pulling at her arms. “Are you insane?”

But she couldn’t stop. She clawed at Belinda, shouting words that barely made sense, tears burning down her cheeks.

It took both Victor and Samuel to drag her away. Vivian trembled violently, her breath coming in sobs.

“Victor, you told me you had an emergency,” she cried, voice breaking. “And this is why? To cheat on me with this filthy liar?”

Belinda straightened, brushing the dust from her dress. “Hey, Vivian or whatever your name is,” she sneered. “You seriously attacked me over a guy? Have some shame. You walk around like you’re the richest, prettiest girl alive — look at you now. Pathetic.”

“Shut the fu…”

“Enough!”

Victor’s shout cut through everything. The noise around them faded into silence. His face was hard …no guilt, no remorse, just anger.

“You’re always creating scenes,” he snapped. “Do you realize someone could record this? You’ve embarrassed me again!”

Vivian’s lip trembled. “I’m sorry, Victor,” she whispered, her voice barely holding. “I just… I couldn’t control myself. I saw you with her and I…”

“Save it,” he muttered.

Samuel looked between them, disbelief etched across his face. She’s apologizing? After what he just did?

Victor turned to Belinda. “Let’s go.”

“What?! You’re leaving with her?” Vivian’s voice cracked as she stumbled forward, knees hitting the ground. She grabbed his hand, clinging like she could hold the moment together. “Victor, please. I’m your girlfriend. Not her. Please don’t do this…”

He yanked his hand free. His silence stung more than words ever could. Then, without even looking back, he walked away …with Belinda beside him.

Vivian tried to follow, but her legs gave out. The field spun around her. Whispers rose from the crowd, but she didn’t hear them…all she could hear was the sound of her own breaking heart.

“This is all your fault!” she suddenly screamed, turning on Samuel. “If you hadn’t brought me here, none of this would’ve happened! Leave me alone!”

Samuel stared at her, hurt flashing in his eyes. “Are you even listening to yourself, Miss Dary? You caught your boyfriend cheating, and somehow this is on me?” He shook his head. “Fine. Believe whatever you want. But I’ll say one thing … that guy isn’t worth your tears.”

“Fu*k you!” she shouted through the sobs.

⸻

Later that evening…

“Vivian, guess what…!”

Cecilia’s excited voice filled the room, but the moment she saw Vivian, she froze. Her best friend sat on the couch, her face swollen and eyes red-rimmed.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, rushing over. “What happened to you?!”

She called for a maid, who hurried in with a first aid box.

“You can leave,” Cecilia said softly, and the maid nodded and left.

Kneeling beside her friend, Cecilia reached for Vivian’s hand. “Talk to me. Did you fall?”

Vivian shook her head, tears spilling silently.

Cecilia’s stomach twisted. “Don’t tell me… it’s Victor, isn’t it?”

“It wasn’t his fault,” Vivian murmured, voice trembling. “I overreacted. I should’ve known better.”

Cecilia paused, staring at her in disbelief. “Start from the beginning. What happened?”

Vivian’s lips quivered. “I saw him… kissing another girl.”

“Again?” Cecilia’s voice rose. “Vivian, how many times are you going to let him do this to you?”

“Stop, Cecilia. Don’t make me regret telling you.”

“Telling me?” Cecilia scoffed. “Tomorrow it’ll be all over school. Everyone will know he cheated, and you fought for him. Look at you …he’s the one who did wrong, and you’re the one bleeding.”

“Don’t talk about him like that!” Vivian snapped, her voice breaking halfway.

“Why not? It’s the truth!” Cecilia shot back. “You’re the Dary heiress …rich, beautiful, intelligent …and yet you’re crumbling over a guy who doesn’t deserve your time. He’s using you, Vivian!”

Vivian’s eyes glistened. “You don’t understand. You’ve never been in love. You don’t know what it’s like to have someone who makes you feel seen… who makes you feel alive. You can’t just throw that away.”

“Vivian,” Cecilia said softly, her anger fading into sorrow, “love isn’t supposed to hurt like this. It’s not supposed to make you forget your worth.”

Vivian turned away. “Shut up. I love him. That’s all that matters. If you have a problem with that, go burn the sea.”

Cecilia gave a bitter laugh. “Love is truly blind. My Nigerian friend would say, ‘See me see wahala.’ Fine. Keep him. But one day, when he’s taken everything from you, maybe then you’ll understand.”

“Get out,” Vivian whispered.

“You’re kicking me out? Over Victor?”

“Get. Out.”

Cecilia exhaled, defeated. “Fine. I’m sorry for insulting your prince charming,” she said, voice heavy with irony. “May he remain yours forever.”

She hesitated at the door, then turned back, her tone softening. “But first, let me treat your bruises before they leave scars. Please.”

Vivian didn’t answer, but she didn’t move away either. Cecilia returned to her side, quietly tending to the marks on her face. The room was silent except for the soft clink of the ointment bottle.

After a long pause, Cecilia asked gently, “So… do you have your dress for graduation? Will you sew one or just buy?”

Vivian let out a faint, broken laugh. “I’ll buy. Sewing’s too much work. It’s just one day, anyway.”

Cecilia smiled sadly. “Yeah,” she murmured. “Just one day.”

But deep down, she knew that day would change everything.