Chapter 2
The next afternoon, I got a friend request from Vivian Blake on social media.
Her profile pic was her in a fancy evening dress, makeup on point, with some high-end party in the background.
I hit accept.
She messaged me almost instantly. [Is this Ms. Winters? Hi, I'm Vivian.]
Her opening was all polite and formal, like we were total strangers meeting for the first time.
I didn't reply, just stared at the screen.
She didn't care about my silence; she kept going and sent another message. [I know it's a bit forward to reach out to you now, but I still wanted to apologize for what happened with Jason.]
An apology?
Now that was a fresh word.
She snatched someone else's fiancé and thought a quick "sorry" was enough to wipe it all away?
[Jason told me everything. He said he'd already tried to break up with you, but you just wouldn't let go. I get it; you two had five years together, so it's totally normal that you can't accept it right away.]
Wow, she was slick with her words.
Just a few lines and she washed her hands of all responsibility.
Jason supposedly tried to break up with me.
I was the one who couldn't let go.
And Vivian? She was the poor, innocent victim who got played.
Classic innocent girl.
I still didn't reply, just tapped my phone case, like I was watching a bad solo performance.
When I kept quiet, Vivian finally got to the real reason she messaged me.
Her tone switched from fake apologies to straight-up bragging, dripping with superiority.
Vivian: [Honestly, my parents weren't on board with Jason and me at first. You know how it is with my family; they just thought we weren't a good match.
[But Jason really loves me. He stood up to all the pressure for me. He told me he's never loved anyone the way he loves me.
[He even gave me his salary card to keep, and we decorated our new place exactly the way I wanted.]
She sent a photo.
It was the "home" we once planned together.
The sofa I picked out, the renovation sketches I stayed up late drawing, all the little touches I added piece by piece.
Now, right in the middle of the living room, there was a giant wedding photo of her and Jason.
She was snuggled up in Jason's arms, smiling so brightly that it almost hurt to look at, like she was marking her territory.
And like she was giving me, the ex, the most brutal slap in the face.
It felt like someone was squeezing my heart so tight I could barely breathe.
But I didn't let any emotion show.
I stared at the photo, then saved it.
Vivian's performance wasn't over yet. [Ms. Winters, I know you're smart. Jason chose me now, and it's the future my family can give him. Let the past stay in the past.
[If you keep clinging to this, it won't do either of us any good. It'll just make you look even more pathetic.]
She finally showed her true colors.
All that setup was just for this final stab, basically telling me to get lost and know my place.
Vivian: [Oh, by the way, I heard Jason's dad is sick? Jason's been really stressed about it lately.
[If you're willing to use the money you and Jason saved together for his dad's treatment, I can make the call and consider it your breakup fee from us.
[After all, you were with Jason for five years. We can't just let you walk away empty-handed, right?]
Breakup fee?
Using my own money as my breakup fee?
I actually laughed at her logic.
Was this woman clueless, or just plain dumb?
She probably thought I was still that pushover who did whatever Jason wanted.
She figured a little handout would make me disappear.
I didn't bother reading any more.
I took a long screenshot of every single message she sent, word for word.
Then I sent her my first and last reply. [Screenshot saved.]
After sending those three words, I blocked and deleted her right away.
I wasn't about to waste my breath arguing with her.
No point.
The best way to deal with someone who thinks they're so clever is to let them fall right into their own trap.
And these screenshots? That's just the first present I've got lined up for her.