The bitter air of the night was like a cold slap across Vivian's face as she stood on the balcony, her hands gripping the railing. The city stretched out before her, the lights flickering like stars trapped on the earth. The hum of distant traffic was a reminder of the world outside, a world that felt increasingly foreign. Her mind was no longer consumed by the remnants of her past with Julian. The wound he had left had festered, turning into something darker, something she wasn't sure she could heal from. But this wasn't about healing anymore. It was about something else entirely.
The last few days had felt like a blur of confusion. Damien had been there for her, patient, understanding, offering solace in ways Julian never had. But the truth was, Vivian didn't know if she could trust anyone anymore, not after everything Julian had done, not after Aurora had torn through her world like a hurricane.
A soft knock on the door behind her broke her thoughts. She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"Vivian," Damien's voice was soft but unwavering, the one person she hadn't pushed away completely. "We need to talk."
Her heart beat faster at his words, but she forced herself to remain still. She had wanted this conversation, needed it, but now that it was here, she wasn't sure if she was ready.
Turning slowly, she met his gaze. There was no pity in his eyes, just understanding. But that didn't make things easier. She stepped back from the balcony, closing the door behind her, the sudden isolation a stark contrast to the wide-open space she had just left. "What is it?"
Damien walked in, his gaze never leaving hers. He crossed the room in three long strides and stopped just a few feet away. The tension between them was palpable, and for a moment, Vivian thought he might say something comforting, like he always did. But this time was different. His expression was serious, almost unreadable.
"I think you know why I'm here," Damien said, his tone low and steady. He didn't wait for her to respond before continuing. "It's about Julian. You can't keep pretending that he's not part of this. He's part of your past, but he's also part of your present. You need to face that, Vivian."
Vivian felt the words hit her like a slap. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready to face Julian, not after everything that had happened. But Damien was right. She couldn't avoid it forever.
"I've faced him," she replied, her voice colder than she intended. "I've faced him in every way possible. And I'm done with it."
Damien's eyes softened, but the intensity in his gaze remained. "You think you're done with him? I don't believe that for a second. He's still in your head, Vivian. And you can't move forward if you don't let go of what he's done to you."
Vivian's chest tightened. She had spent so long building walls around herself, blocking out the memories, trying to forget the man who had once been everything to her. She had tried to bury the rage, the hurt, the betrayal that had eaten at her for months. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape it. And now, Damien was right in front of her, calling it out.
She shook her head, her voice shaky. "What do you want me to say, Damien? That I'm fine? That everything is okay and I can just move on from what he did to me? It's not that simple."
Damien stepped closer, his presence imposing but comforting all the same. He was close enough that she could feel the heat from his body, and yet, he wasn't pressing her. He was giving her the space to decide how to react.
"No one is asking you to move on in an instant," he said gently, his voice steady. "But you can't pretend that what Julian did to you isn't affecting everything you do, everything you feel. And you can't keep using that as an excuse to push everyone away. You're stronger than that."
Vivian felt her emotions begin to bubble up, but she fought to keep them under control. "I don't want to hear you defend him. Not from you, Damien. Not from anyone."
Damien's expression hardened. "I'm not defending him, Vivian. I'm asking you to face the truth. You can't hide from this forever. The truth about Julian. The truth about your feelings. About what you really want."
Vivian didn't know what she wanted anymore. All she knew was that Julian's betrayal had shattered everything. It wasn't just the affair with Aurora. It was the lies, the manipulation, the way he had twisted her trust and turned it into something unrecognizable. She had given him everything, and in return, he had given her nothing but pain.
"I don't know what I want," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Damien's hand reached out, gently cupping her cheek. "Then let me help you figure it out. You don't have to do this alone."
She looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of insincerity. But there was none. His eyes were unwavering, his words soft but firm.
"I'm here for you," he continued. "But I can't do this for you. I can't fight your battles. Only you can decide what to do with this. Only you can decide how to move forward."
The silence between them was thick, the weight of his words settling over Vivian like a heavy blanket. Her heart ached, torn between the past and the present, between the man she had loved and the one who had betrayed her. She wanted to let go. She wanted to be free of the pain. But how could she, when it felt like the betrayal was still clawing at her from every direction?
"I can't forgive him," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Damien nodded, his expression solemn. "Not yet. But you need to forgive yourself. You need to stop carrying this weight around. It's not helping you. It's only holding you back."
Vivian felt a tear slip down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. She wasn't ready to cry, not in front of him. Not now.
Damien's hand dropped to his side, but he didn't step away. "I know this isn't easy. And I'm not asking you to forgive Julian today or tomorrow. But you can't keep living like this. You have to take control of your own future, Vivian."
Vivian took a deep breath, her chest heavy with the weight of it all. She wanted to tell him she was fine, that she could handle it, but she couldn't. She wasn't fine. And she didn't know if she ever would be. But for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel completely alone. She had Damien, and that made all the difference.
"I'll try," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damien smiled, though it was a small, understanding smile. "That's all I'm asking."
There was no easy answer, no quick fix. But for the first time in what felt like forever, Vivian felt like she had a choice. She could move forward, or she could stay trapped in the past. And as much as it terrified her, she knew which path she had to take.
But that didn't mean it would be easy.
---
As Vivian stood there, trying to come to terms with the reality of her situation, she felt a presence in the doorway. She turned, her heart sinking when she saw the familiar face standing in the frame.
Julian.
His eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension so sharp it could cut through steel.
Vivian felt a surge of anger rise up in her chest. What was he doing here? After everything, how dare he show up now?
Damien's posture stiffened beside her, and she could see the protective instinct flash in his eyes.
"What do you want?" Vivian asked, her voice cold and sharp, the anger she had been holding in finally breaking free.
Julian didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped into the room, his gaze never leaving hers. "I need to talk to you," he said, his voice steady, but there was something else behind it. Something that made Vivian's stomach turn.
"I don't have anything to say to you," she shot back, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
But Julian wasn't backing down. "We need to talk about what happened, Vivian. About what I did."
Vivian's breath caught in her throat. How dare he? How dare he come here, after everything? After everything he had done?
"I don't think there's anything to say," Vivian replied, her words thick with disdain.
Julian took another step forward, his eyes intense. "I know I fucked up. I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. But you have to hear me out."
Damien stepped forward, positioning himself between Vivian and Julian. His stance was protective, his eyes dark with warning.
"This isn't the time," Damien said, his voice low. "Vivian doesn't owe you anything. You lost that right when you betrayed her."
Julian's gaze flicked to Damien, but he didn't back down. Instead, he met Vivian's eyes once more. "You deserve the truth, Vivian. I know I fucked up, but I need you to listen to me."
Vivian felt the rage boil inside her again. "The truth?" she spat. "You've lied to me from the very beginning. I don't need anything from you, Julian. Nothing. You've ruined everything."
The room was filled with tension as Julian stood there, his eyes still locked on Vivian. He was waiting for something, but Vivian didn't know what. All she knew was that this was the beginning of the end, and she wasn't going to let him break her again.