He Was Blind to the Truth, But I Was Not

Vivica's POV “Owen, I really like it,” Delilah said sweetly. “Buy me the same necklace, will you? Then I can die without regrets.” Owen chuckled softly and pulled her closer. “Don’t say things like that. Besides, that necklace isn’t worth anything.” Then he turned to me. “Vivica, since she wants it, just give it to her.” For a moment, I didn’t even know how to respond. From the age of eighteen, I’d followed him without asking for a title. Five years of keeping our relationship underground, we’d tried everything lovers could try. He liked me in spaghetti-strap dresses, so I stopped wearing my usual white T-shirts. He wanted the thrill of secrecy, so I stayed hidden for him. But at that moment, standing there, I realized that the love I had cherished for five years meant absolutely nothing to him. Still basking in his affection, Delilah grabbed his collar and, encouraged by the crowd, kissed him. Yet, I didn’t cry. I didn’t argue. I simply unclasped the necklace, placed it on the table, and said, “Mr. Chase is right. It’s not worth much. You can have it.” Owen’s eyes locked onto me, burning with anger. He only loosened his grip on his glass when Delilah complained that he was hurting her. He let out a cold laugh and said, “Since Vivica is so generous, Delilah, go ahead and take it.” Delilah picked up the necklace, turned it over a few times, and wrinkled her nose. “It’s not even that pretty. It’s nothing like the things you’ve given me.” With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it to the cleaning lady, clearing the table. “Lucky you. Maybe you can sell it for a few bucks.” I watched as my necklace landed among leftover food scraps, and my entire body went cold. Owen glanced at my pale face and said, voice clipped, “What are you standing there for? Tonight, we’re celebrating my wedding. Everyone drinks. No one leaves early.” But my voice was barely steady as I refused, “No need. You all have fun. I have something to do.” The moment I finished speaking, his expression darkened. Still, I ignored him and walked out of the private room. When I reached the parking area of the villa, my phone was still empty. No messages. No explanation. Nothing from Owen. But he did post on his social feed. I opened it instinctively. It was a video where he and Delilah were biting the same cookie, pushed by the crowd to kiss. When their lips met, everyone cheered, saying how tragic their five years apart had been. No one knew about Vivica Rhodes, who had been hidden for those same five years. In the video, Delilah blushed prettily and kissed his throat. Owen didn’t push her away and even looked at her with that wild, dangerous look in his eyes, which was how he looked in bed when he lost control. Once, that look had belonged only to me. Now it belonged to her. Owen, if this were your choice, then I’d give you what you want. I let out a sharp, bitter laugh and liked his post. After that, I quietly gathered all my belongings from the villa. Over the years, I’d begged him more than once to make our relationship public. Sometimes sweetly, sometimes threatening, sometimes half-conscious in his arms after we’d exhausted each other, always asking when we would go public. And every time, he found a new excuse. But when Delilah appeared, he took her to meet his closest friends, let them curry favor over her, and publicly announced their marriage. At that moment, everything finally made sense. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go public with me. He simply didn’t love me. After packing up the last of my things, I went back to my own apartment. The moment I opened the door, my parents video-called from abroad. “Sweetheart, do you still remember Caleb, the boy who grew up with you? He recently came back to the country. You two should meet up when you have time.” During my years with Owen, my parents had introduced me to all kinds of good men.

Vivica's POV My parents kept waiting for me to nod. But every time, I turned down their suggestions. Now, I was twenty-four. Starting a new relationship wasn’t too late. Seeing the careful look in their eyes, for once, I didn’t refuse. “Alright,” I said. After that, I submitted my resignation to the company. Because I loved Owen so much, I stayed at his company right after graduation. To help him win bids, I pulled all-nighters doing research, writing proposals, and gathering data. I lost more than five kilograms during those months. Back then, he used to look at me with such concern, even having his chef cook meals and deliver them to the office for me. Even though our relationship was kept secret, he never hid his affection. But from now on, that special treatment would belong to Delilah. Not long after I sent my resignation email, Owen called. When I picked up, neither of us spoke. Usually, no matter who called first, I was always the one to find something to say. But this time, I didn’t have the strength to start. Just as I thought he would stay silent and I was about to hang up, his cold, irritated voice came through. “Vivica, what’s with you? Liking my post and then handing in a resignation? Delilah only has one month left to live. You can’t wait that long? Aren’t you afraid I’ll actually break up with you?” I used to be terrified. That was why I always acted obedient in front of him, always careful, always pleasing. But now, I was tired. “Then,” I said, “let’s break up.” The next day, HR emailed to say my resignation was approved. With an icy tone, they told me to clean out my things today and never set foot in the company again. Clearly, Owen was furious. As I walked through each department, I heard some whispers. “Mr. Chase only took care of her because she’s the partner’s little sister. Did she really think she could become his wife? Look at her now, tail between her legs.” “So, what if he spoiled her before? She embarrassed Mrs. Chase the other night. Getting kicked out is what she deserves.” Despite that, I ignored every insult and continued the handover. Once the paperwork was stamped, I would have nothing to do with Owen ever again. “Stop.” His cold voice echoed behind me. Delilah leaned against his chest, smiling at me with open challenge. “This morning’s bidding documents were leaked,” she said. “I heard you handled those.” I looked at Owen and asked, “You think it was me?” “We’ll know once we check your computer,” he said. He gave a single look, and the company’s IT staff immediately sat down at my desk. It felt like a slap across my face. Those files, those sleepless nights, I had created all of them myself. And he actually suspected me. “Don’t touch my computer!” But they ignored me, planning not only to search my files but also to restore anything I deleted. If they restored everything, those deleted photos, the evidence of our five-year relationship, all of it would be exposed. But with the security guards blocking me, I couldn’t do anything. “Owen,” I said, shaking, “tell them to stop. I didn’t leak anything.” Yet his face darkened as he grabbed my wrist. “Was it really you?” Around us, people started whispering. “It’s definitely Vivica. Why else would she react like that?” “She couldn’t have him, so she sabotaged the project out of spite. She’s disgusting.” Owen cut everyone off, his voice cold and sharp. “Enough. All of you, shut it. Did you restore the files?” “They’re restored!” the IT staff replied. I snapped my head around. “No! Don’t open them, Owen.” He tightened his grip on my wrist, fingers digging painfully into my skin. “Open it.” And in the next second, photo after photo flashed across the screen—our selfies, our secret moments, every memory I had tried to bury. It felt like someone had ripped away the last shred of dignity I had left. Humiliation crashed over me so hard that I almost cried right there. On the other hand, Owen’s face was unreadable—dark, cold, impossible to decipher. Then, after a long moment, he laughed.

Vivica's POV Looking at the photos, he amusingly said, “Vivica, are you some kind of delusional fangirl? Where’d you get these? Who did you pay to Photoshop my face into all of them?” As soon as he finished speaking, the room burst into jeers. The shame was suffocating. When he hid his marriage to Delilah, I swallowed that. When he turned my birthday into their wedding party, I endured that too. But I never imagined he’d humiliate me in front of everyone like this. Delilah smirked. “Vivica, do you like Owen? If you admit it, I can hand him over to you.” Owen frowned, annoyed. “Don’t start causing trouble with her. I’ve always treated Vivica like a little sister. Everyone knows that. If she likes these photos so much, we can have someone Photoshop a few more.” Clearly, he was punishing me for breaking up with him by denying everything we ever had. Even so, his words sliced right through me. I dug my nails into my palm to keep my tears from falling. Satisfied, Delilah laughed, “Owen, you can’t be so cruel. She’s still a girl. Don’t hurt her feelings too much. What if she runs off like I did back then? You’d have to coax her back.” But Owen clearly didn’t believe I’d ever leave, as he replied, “She won’t go anywhere. She’ll cling to her brother or come crawling back to me. Give her three days, and she’ll beg me to reinstate her.” Before, it was true. Whenever we fought, it never lasted more than thirty-six hours. I was always the first to apologize, always the one to go back to him. But the woman standing here today wasn’t the girl who loved him anymore. When would he finally realize that? The taunts around me faded into background noise. I was numb. When the IT staff finally left, I looked straight at Owen. “Mr. Chase, it’s proven that I didn’t leak anything. Don’t you think you owe me an apology?” But people immediately exploded. “Is she insane? She wants Mr. Chase to apologize?” “Her face must be made of steel. She should be thanking him for letting her walk out.” “There’s just no proof. Doesn’t mean she didn’t do it.” Owen frowned, irritated. “I followed protocol. Checking your computer before you leave is standard procedure. And you think I should apologize? Vivica, are you crazy, or am I?” My voice stayed calm. “There are over three hundred photos on that computer. You know exactly where they came from. It’s been five years. Wanting an apology isn’t too much, is it?” His expression tightened—complex, conflicted. Before he could speak, Delilah stepped forward, smiling sweetly. “Today was my and Owen’s oversight. If it bothers you, I’ll apologize.” As soon as she finished, she suddenly started coughing. Owen immediately rushed to her side, holding her up, scolding her at the same time, “Why are you apologizing? This has nothing to do with you. Where does it hurt?” Then he turned that cold, disgusted look toward me as if I were some vicious criminal. “Vivica, if you’re angry, direct it at me. She’s a patient. Why are you upsetting her on purpose?” But Delilah shook her head gently. “I’m fine. She’s young. I’ll go talk to her.” Vivica's POV As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled her arm free from Owen and walked straight toward me. But I caught the proud little smile in her eyes the moment she turned. Before I could even figure out what she was planning, she suddenly threw herself to the ground. The entire office fell silent. Everyone saw it. Everyone knew she fell on her own. Everyone except Owen. He rushed over like a madman and shoved me away with both hands. As a result, I stumbled backward and crashed into the desk behind me. A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and my face went pale. But Owen didn’t spare me a single glance. “Vivica,” he said coldly, “you'd better pray Delilah is okay. Otherwise, I’ll make your life worse than death.” The man I loved for five years was threatening me like that for Delilah. Any last bit of hope I had inside me vanished completely. Then, a scream suddenly erupted from the crowd. I looked down and saw my blood trickling down my legs. Before everything went dark, Elliot came running toward me, face tight with panic. He scooped me up, his hands trembling. “Don’t be scared. I’m here. I’ve got you.” Third Person's POV While Owen carried Delilah into the emergency room, he received Elliot’s call. For the first time ever, Elliot snapped at him. “Owen, I’ll deal with you later for what you did to Vivica. For now, get over here. The baby is gone.”