Vivian POV
I hung up as soon as the words left my lips as I smiled in satisfaction.
This was just the beginning, he was yet to see more of the new Vivian he never knew. Quickly, I slid my phone back into my pocket and texted Sofia but just then, another text message arrived and surprisingly it was from Max’s father.
” Come to the dinner night tommorow at the family’s house, 5pm, Expecting you dear Vivian” I read out loud the message, blinking numerously if I was actually seeing right.
Was it that Max hadn’t told his father that we were already Divorced or was Mr Norman feigning ignorance? I couldn’t help but get smeared with confusion and curiosity. I knew Max’s father would not want the marriage between I and Max to end but then, if Max had brought Ruth to the house, it could only mean the family all knew he had taken in back his first love and plans on marrying her. I shook my head, shoving the thoughts away as it was already giving me enough headache. For a twenty four years old lady like me, I seemed like someone who had gone through life cruelty of a sixty years old meagre earning woman. I married Max at 21 but mere looking at me seemed like life itself had abandoned me but it was not the fact.
I had only been blinded to the truth that I was in a wasting years of my last loving Max.
A car pulled off in front of me and Sofia stepped out.
“Hey, What’s up. I left as soon as your Mom was moved in for surgery, is everything okay?” She asked, walking to where I stood and removing her sunglasses. For a moment, I took out time to check out my best friend. She was in the best body build, glittery and transparent skin, expensive jeweleries hung around her neck and arms, the gold piercings on her ears, and the limited Louis Vuitton shirt she put on; everything screamed affluence and eloquence, one could tell that she was the happiest girl on Earth; Successful and achieved and as well has a good husband with three beautiful kids. A part of me cracked up as I realized how messed up my life had been in the past few years.
“Vivian?” She called, tapping me on the shoulder and snapping me out of my lost reverie.
“Are you alright? I got your text so I came”
“I’m fine Sofi. I just–” I Iet out a long breath, calming my emotions from spilling. “I just wanted to ask. Did you clear my mom’s surgery bills?” I inquired in a low voice. Right now, I was tired, and needed a lot of rest.
She was taken aback by my question ” No. I didn’t, you asked me not to even when I insisted. I was there when she was moved into the theatre before I left so I thought you might have sent the money for the surgery” She added.
” Someone else’s paid the bills?” She asked, catching on the hint instantly and I nodded, tears gathering in my eyes in split seconds.
“Sofia, please. Can I stay in your house for today, I’m tired” I sobbed and she smiled flinging her hands around me in a tight hug.
“It’s okay Vivian. I understand how you feel. You should stop crying Now” She stroked my back gently and I cried harder.
“We’re Divorced Sofia. He Divorced me and brought back Ruth.” I relayed and my best friend released her grip on me, looking at me with the same satisfactory contempt she once gave me about leaving Max.
“How did that happen Vivian?” She inquired, looking closely at me.
“It happened today, after I went back home. He asked me to sign the papers and Ruth already moved in to the house,” I retold with a heavy heart, the realization hurt so badly that as young as I was, I was already a divorcee, surely, by the end of tommorow, I would be making headlines on every media stations across the city.
“That son of a bitch!” She cursed out loudly, stomping her feet on the ground
“I’m so sorry Sofia, I’m sorry for everything. You really don’t deserve that asshole” She cooed, pulling me in another soothing hug.
“You know, I really like the fact that you guys are no longer together, and I’m going to help you get back on your feet trust me Vivian” She reassured and I smiled.
“We’ll deal with Max and that conniving bitch of his girlfriend. He really doesn’t deserve you. All these years, I wondered how you were able to put up with such a scumbag, you’re better than this Vivian!” Her grip tightened around me, and I knew that moment that she was fuming and angry.
Few moments later, I disengaged from the hug and wiped my tear-stricken face.
“But there’s a problem” I suddenly spoke out, making her furrow her brows at me.
“What’s that?”
“Max’s father asked me to come to the family house tommorow for dinner night, I don’t know what to do” I whined, shutting my eyes in thought and letting the cool wind envelope me.
“But why? Why would he ask you to come or didn’t Max tell him you’ve Divorced?” She asked exactly the same question that had kept me perturbed a while ago.
” It’s what confuses me the most Sofia. Mr Norman may not know that Max already Divorced me and brought in Ruth” I clicked my fingers together in thought and there was silence between us until Sofia spoke out.
” Even at that. Will it even change anything Vivian. Whether Max tells him or not will still not change the fact that you aren’t going back to that scumbag right?” She faced me with a Stern look, her eyes boring fiercely into mine and I gulped down heavily.
“You’re right. It won’t change anything Sofia and I’m definitely not going back but I’ll still go to the dinner tommorow since his father invited me.”
“Are you sure?” She asked and I laughed.
“Yes of course lawyer Sofia” I replied. My mood was already lit up.
“Alright, let’s go home” She said but as soon as we turned towards her car, a white Bentley crashed into hers.
“What the hell!!” I yelled as six heavily built men came down from the car and rushed towards me but the next person that alighted from the car left my lips hanging open.
” What are you doing here?”