CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A Heart Torn in Two
The room felt like it was spinning.
Chidimma stood there, frozen, her mind struggling to process everything Vanessa had just said.
A contract.
An engagement.
A future already decided.
Without her.
She slowly turned to Julian.
Her eyes searching his.
"Is it true?" she asked quietly.
The silence that followed was all the answer she needed.
Her heart sank.
"Say something," she whispered.
Julian ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"It's not what you think," he said.
Chidimma let out a painful laugh.
"Then explain it to me," she replied. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks exactly like what she said."
"It was an arrangement," Julian said. "A long time ago. It doesn't mean anything."
"Doesn't mean anything?" she repeated. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
He had no answer.
And that hurt more than anything.
"So while I was here… fighting… getting dragged into your problems," she continued, her voice shaking slightly, "you were engaged to someone else?"
"Chidimma—"
"Don't," she said quickly, stepping back. "Don't say my name like that."
The room went silent.
Even Julian's father watched quietly now.
Interested.
"I trusted you," she said softly.
Julian's expression softened.
"And I'm trying to fix this—"
"You don't fix something by hiding the truth," she cut in.
Her chest felt tight.
Like it was hard to breathe.
"For two years, I thought you left me because you didn't love me enough," she said.
"But now I see… maybe I was never even an option."
"That's not true," Julian said firmly, stepping toward her.
But she stepped back.
Again.
"Then prove it," she said.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"Walk away from this," she added. "From her. From the contract. Choose."
Julian froze.
Because this wasn't a simple decision.
Not anymore.
"Chidimma…" he said slowly, "it's not that easy."
Her heart broke a little more.
"It was easy when you walked away from me," she said quietly.
That hit him hard.
Vanessa smiled faintly, watching everything unfold.
"This is exactly why I told you," she said calmly. "He doesn't belong to you."
Chidimma turned sharply.
"And he doesn't belong to you either," she said.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"But he will," she replied confidently.
Julian's father finally spoke.
"This conversation is over," he said. "Julian, you know your responsibilities."
Chidimma shook her head slowly.
"No," she said. "This isn't over."
She looked at Julian one last time.
Her eyes filled with pain.
But also strength.
"I won't fight for someone who isn't ready to fight for me," she said.
Those words landed hard.
Very hard.
Then—
She turned.
And walked away.
This time…
Not running.
Not crying.
But choosing herself.
Julian stood there, unable to move.
Because for the first time—
He felt it clearly.
He was losing her.
Again.
And this time…
It might be for good.