As planned, today was the scheduled meeting for all division heads and some executives working under the Vortex Group. Veronica had already made sure to Darwin that Vivian would be present at her father’s office today.
They had discussed this earlier. Veronica even suggested that Darwin should meet Vivian later in the afternoon after work hours.
That’s why, during the lunch break, Darwin, who was attending the meeting, immediately approached Vivian. Without much preamble, he invited the woman he once loved so deeply to meet him after work hours at their usual place.
“Did I hear this correctly? You want us to meet at the usual place?”
From her expression, Vivian appeared quite puzzled. After nearly two months of being deliberately kept apart, Darwin suddenly had the opportunity to ask her to meet.
Initially, Vivian was scared and wanted to refuse. Not without reason, she was worried that meeting Darwin might result in her job or her living situation, which she had recently obtained, being forcibly taken away again. Vivian certainly hadn’t forgotten what Veronica had done to her in the past. And she hoped to avoid experiencing that again.
“Yes, after work hours, let’s meet at the Terrace. There’s a lot I want to discuss with you.”
Vivian didn’t immediately agree. She seemed to be weighing her options before making a decision. Making sure that it wouldn’t affect her job, whether the meeting with Darwin later would impact her work or not. Truly, Vivian had to carefully consider everything right now. After all, she didn’t want to put herself in danger.
“But, are you sure it’s okay for us to meet outside of working hours?”
Darwin nodded. He tried his best to convince Vivian to agree to his invitation to meet up. On the other hand, it was understandable that the woman with long hair was afraid or worried that something might happen between them if they dared to meet.
“Relax. I assure you, nothing will happen between us. So, you don’t need to worry, let alone be scared.”
After successfully persuading her and seeing Darwin’s serious expression, Vivian agreed to the invitation.
Meanwhile, Darwin, who had returned to his office, once again asked Veronica for permission. He didn’t want their upcoming meeting with Vivian to cause any misunderstanding or discomfort for his wife.
“Darling, are you really sure about giving me permission to meet Vivian soon?”
Veronica nodded. Having made a decision, she hoped that Darwin would resolve everything today without exceptions. And in the future, she didn’t want to see Vivian becoming an obstacle or disturbance in the marriage they had built.
“Yes, you can go. As we agreed, resolve everything thoroughly. I don’t want to see you meeting Vivian again for any reason in the future.”
This time, Darwin nodded in agreement. Before meeting Vivian, he decided to accompany Veronica home first. Making sure his wife arrived home safely, Darwin then drove his car quickly. His destination was none other than a famous restaurant he used to visit when he was still involved with Vivian.
There was a nervous feeling that Darwin was experiencing throughout the journey. It wasn’t fear or worry about falling in love again due to Vivian’s charm. It was just that he couldn’t shake the thought and feeling of not wanting to remove the woman who had been his companion for years.
“I’m sorry, Vivian. I have to do this,” Darwin mumbled during the trip.
Upon arrival at the location, Darwin hurriedly searched for the reserved spot. Scanning the area, his eyes immediately focused on the familiar woman sitting in a row of chairs right next to the window.
“Sorry I’m a bit late,” Darwin greeted first.
Vivian nodded and then smiled. She gestured for Darwin to sit in front of her.
“No problem. Just five minutes late,” the woman replied. “I’ve ordered your mocha float. Your favorite drink hasn’t changed, has it?”
Darwin smiled faintly and shook his head. It wasn’t surprising that Vivian remembered his likes and dislikes.
“So, what’s the reason you asked me to meet?” Vivian asked impatiently.
However, from Darwin’s perspective, he felt that the woman who used to be his girlfriend seemed a bit uncomfortable. Maybe she was still scared and worried, or there was something else on her mind.
“Here’s the thing,” Darwin began. He slowly started the conversation while trying to convince himself to stay steady. “After thinking it over, I think it’s best if we end our relationship.”
From Darwin’s eyes, Vivian seemed incredibly surprised. She even squeezed the napkin next to her. She didn’t answer right away. The beautiful woman remained silent for a moment, perhaps trying to process what she had just heard.
“You’re breaking up with me?”
Those words finally escaped Vivian’s lips. Blinking, she shook her head repeatedly. “So, you asked me to meet just to break up with me?”
“Vivian… please listen to my explanation first,” Darwin said with a heavy heart. He could even see that Vivian’s eyes were becoming teary.
“Actually, I was sure this would happen, Win. But I tried to push away negative thoughts and believe that you would still choose me. The reality? I’m still being pushed aside. All the sacrifices I’ve made all this time were useless.”
“Vivian…” Darwin called out again. “I beg you, please listen to me first-”
“What else needs to be heard?” Vivian interrupted. “I’m sure your decision will remain the same. You’ll still choose Veronica and let me go, right? What did I do wrong, Win? Is it because I’m not as wealthy and compatible as Veronica?”
Darwin sighed deeply. For a moment, he allowed Vivian to vent her tears and frustration. After she calmed down a bit, he spoke again.
“I was in the wrong here, purely my fault. That’s why I’m truly sorry,” Darwin said cautiously. “I should have been clear about the relationship between us from the beginning.”
“Our relationship has come a long way. And now? You’re just casually apologizing and leaving me like that? Typical of you!”
Vivian continued to express her frustration. She knew that a situation like this could happen at any time. However, Vivian never expected it would hurt this much.
“I really apologize, Vivian. From the beginning, it was my fault for not being firm. But by continuing our relationship as it is now, I don’t think it’s the right choice either. I don’t want to keep hurting you and Veronica.”
Vivian wiped away tears that streamed down her cheeks. Looking angry, she struggled to keep speaking.
“You’re so heartless, Win. There’s no value in my years of loyalty to you!”
Darwin continued to gaze at Vivian’s face. He knew that ending all this gracefully wouldn’t be easy.
“Once again, I sincerely apologize for ending all of this. Honestly, I did everything for our well-being together. And I’m sure, after this, you’ll find a better man than me.”
Feeling like there was nothing left to discuss, Darwin chose to say his goodbye. He thought it wouldn’t be good to prolong the conversation. What mattered was that he had conveyed everything he wanted to say clearly.
Meanwhile, Vivian looked sad. She watched from a distance until Darwin’s figure disappeared completely from view. She closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly recalling something. Should she accept the offer that had been made to her? Or should she just accept what Darwin had decided for their relationship?