Chapter 24
In “Hands Trembled Before Goodbye,” the story unfolds in a tense morning setting where Vivian grapples with her emotions and insecurities regarding her relationship with Adrian. As she scrolls through her phone, a notification from Adrian’s phone ignites her curiosity, leading her to impulsively check it. This act of invasion is met with a fierce confrontation when Adrian emerges from the bathroom, furious and hurt. His cold reprimand leaves Vivian feeling small and guilty, as he emphasizes the importance of privacy, even in their marriage. This moment marks a significant emotional turning point for Vivian, who is left shocked and trembling from the weight of his words.
The narrative shifts as Fiona, Vivian’s friend, enters the scene, sensing something is amiss. Vivian’s frustration spills over as she recounts the incident with Adrian, but Fiona’s response is one of disbelief and concern. She chastises Vivian for her actions, highlighting the boundaries that should exist in a relationship. This conversation reveals Vivian’s inner turmoil, as she defends her curiosity while also feeling the sting of Fiona’s harsh truths. Fiona’s insistence that Vivian should reconsider her relationship with Adrian adds another layer of conflict, forcing Vivian to confront the reality of her situation.
As the dialogue progresses, Vivian’s defenses begin to crumble under Fiona’s pointed observations about Adrian’s lack of communication and her own misplaced priorities. Fiona urges her to focus on her studies and consider moving on from a relationship that seems one-sided. This moment of reflection challenges Vivian’s perception of love and commitment, as she desperately tries to cling to the belief that their relationship can be salvaged. The emotional weight of the conversation leaves Vivian feeling guilty and conflicted, as she grapples with her love for Adrian and the harsh realities of their situation.
Ultimately, the story captures a pivotal moment in Vivian’s journey, where she must confront the boundaries of love, trust, and self-worth. The tension between her desires and the reality of her relationship with Adrian creates a poignant exploration of the complexities of love and the importance of personal boundaries. As the chapter concludes, Vivian is left in a state of introspection, faced with the difficult choice of whether to continue pursuing a relationship that may not be healthy for her.
**Hands Trembled Before Goodbye — Ryan Ellis 24 p>
024
The morning sun crept in through the partially drawn curtains, casting a soft, muted gray hue across the room. The soothing sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, where Adrian was busy. Vivian, on the other hand, was already awake, propped up against the headboard of the bed, her posture straight yet her thoughts tangled. She absently scrolled through her phone, her expression serene, but inside, a storm of anxiety brewed.
Suddenly, a ping! A notification lit up Adrian’s phone, resting innocently on the dresser.
Vivian’s heart skipped a beat. Her gaze instinctively shot toward the closed bathroom door, steam curling from its edges. Adrian was still inside, and she could feel the tension tightening in her chest. Reluctantly, her eyes returned to the phone.
A wave of unease washed over her.
“No… don’t,” she whispered to herself, but the gnawing curiosity was relentless.
With a silent resolve, she slid off the bed, her bare feet whispering against the soft rug as she tiptoed toward the dresser. Her eyes flickered nervously back to the bathroom. The water continued to run, a steady reminder of Adrian’s presence.
When she reached the phone, she hesitated, her hand hovering above it as if it were a fragile artifact. Then, in a moment of impulsive urgency, she snatched it up as if it might vanish. She flipped it over in her palm, her thumb hovering over the screen, her heart racing wildly in her chest.
Just one swipe… just one.
But then—
“What are you doing p>
The voice boomed from behind her, slicing through the silence like a knife. Vivian flinched, the phone slipping from her grasp and landing with a muted thud on the dresser. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock. Adrian stood there, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water cascading down his hair, his expression dark and furious.
“I… I—” she stammered, her words tumbling over each other in a desperate attempt to explain, “a message popped up, so I… I just thought… I should check p>
Her voice sounded small, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, guilt etched across her features.
Adrian stepped closer, his jaw set tight, his gaze piercing into her. They were now standing mere inches apart, the air thick with an unspoken tension.
“Don’t you ever… go through my phone again.” His voice was cold, each word sharp and final, echoing in the stillness.
Vivian’s mouth fell open, stunned into silence. She had braced herself for irritation, perhaps even a mocking tone, but this was something altogether different.
“Even my wife,” he continued, his voice lowering yet somehow sharper, “doesn’t invade my privacy like that. It’s a boundary I will not tolerate p>
Her heart felt like it had been squeezed in a vice, the weight of his words pressing down on her. For a fleeting moment, she struggled to breathe. ‘Even his wife p>
“I-I’m sorry,” she managed to stutter, her voice trembling, “I didn’t mean to… upset you. It won’t happen again p>
Adrian didn’t waver, his eyes still locked onto hers with an intensity that felt unforgiving. He bent down, retrieved his phone, and turned away, striding past her without uttering another word.
As he left, the air seemed to chill, the soft sound of his footsteps fading into the distance of the corridor. Vivian stood frozen beside the dresser, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her lips parted in shock, yet no words emerged.
Her heart raced, no longer from curiosity, but from the sting of his reprimand.
Fiona was curled up on the seetee, her eyes glued to the scattered lecture notes that lay across her lap. She had just returned from classes, fatigue pulling at her, but determination kept her focused on catching up. Instead of heading straight home, she had made a stop at Vivian’s apartment. Her instincts told her something was off; Vivian had been missing from class not only today but also the previous Friday.
The creaking of a door interrupted her thoughts. Vivian emerged from her room, phone clutched tightly in her hand. The sharp beeping of repeated dialing filled the air, but it was clear that whoever she was trying to reach was not picking up. Frustration etched deep lines on Vivian’s face. After yet another unanswered ring, she hissed in exasperation, her shoulders slumping as she collapsed onto the sofa beside the television.
“What’s going on?” Fiona asked, her tone calm but laced with concern.
That single question was all it took to unleash Vivian’s pent-up emotions. She turned to Fiona, her words spilling out in a rush.
“Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with Adrian,” she said, her voice a mix of worry and indignation. “Because I checked his phone, he’s now acting like I committed a crime! Telling me his wife never does that p>
Fiona blinked, taken aback. She closed her notebook slowly, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Girl, you went too far p>
“Huh?” Vivian’s head snapped up, her brows knitting together in confusion.
“Yes,” Fiona replied firmly, “why would you even think that was okay p>
Vivian scoffed, a dismissive laugh escaping her lips as she tossed her head back.
Fiona narrowed her eyes, determination set in her expression.
“No man appreciates their phone being checked, whether they’re married or single p>
Vivian rolled her eyes dramatically, waving a hand as if swatting away the conversation.
“Please. It’s not like I was trying to trap him. I was just curious. Just a moment of curiosity, that’s all p>
Fiona dropped the notes onto the table and stood, moving closer to her friend. Her voice sharpened, cutting through the air.
“Curiosity? Curiosity kills the cat, babe, and it gets women embarrassed all the time. This man left Arizona just last Sunday, right p>
Vivian’s lips tightened as she nodded, her heart sinking.
“And he hasn’t called you? Not even once p>
Vivian’s voice cracked as she replied, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He hasn’t even checked to see if I’ve taken my medications after the malaria diagnosis. Just silence p>
Fiona folded her arms, her tone softening but her words still striking.
“Then you should take that silence seriously and let this man be with his family p>
Vivian exhaled sharply, her gaze dropping, pretending the words didn’t sting as much as they did.
“Look,” Fiona pressed on, unwilling to let her friend sidestep the truth, “this is the part where you start planning your exit p>
Vivian’s head whipped back, her eyes flashing with disbelief, but no words came to her defense.
“I mean it,” Fiona continued, “wrap this whole thing up and move on. Focus on your studies, find yourself a single boyfriend, and you’ll be fine p>
Vivian erupted into laughter, sharp and derisive.
“Hold on, hold on. Did you just say single boyfriend? Are there even single guys out there? Please. The ones who are single are probably broke, just like your boyfriend. He hasn’t even changed your phone in how many years now? Since I met you. Please.” She waved her hand dismissively, but Fiona froze, the words cutting deeper than Vivian realized.
“My boyfriend may not have the wealth of Adrian,” she replied quietly but firmly, “but at least he is available. And we are building something meaningful for the future, something real. And that’s all that counts p>
Vivian’s shoulders sagged, guilt flooding her expression as she recognized how low she had sunk.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her voice earnest. “I didn’t mean that. I take it back p>
Fiona shook her head, disappointment evident in her eyes.
“You know, you sound like love is all about someone who can buy you designer clothes, bags, and expensive hair. What kind of mentality is that p>
Vivian leaned forward, her voice trembling with desperation.
“Babe, listen. I love Adrian. I love him so much, and I know he loves me too. Look, couples fight, they argue; that’s part of it. But at the end of the day, what happens? They make up p>
Fiona raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face.
“That’s only true when both parties are involved. Right now, it seems you’re the only one trying p>
Vivian’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she shook her head defiantly.
“I’m doing everything I can, everything within my power to fix this p>
Fiona sighed, gathering her notes again, her voice heavy with finality as she turned to leave.
“Well, do what you want. But don’t lose yourself trying to fix someone else’s husband p>
The words hung in the air like a thick fog, and Vivian remained silent, staring into the distance, her lips pressed tightly together.
Fiona settled back down, flipping open her notes once more. Without looking up, she added,
“You’ve already missed two term papers, Vee. That should be your main concern, not someone else’s husband p>
Vivian swallowed hard, the weight of her silence louder than any protest she could have mustered.
In the aftermath of the confrontation with Adrian, Vivian found herself standing at a precipice, grappling with the harsh truth of her situation. The stark realization that her actions had consequences echoed in her mind, and the sting of Adrian’s words lingered like a bitter aftertaste. She had crossed a boundary, one that had been clearly defined yet ignorantly overlooked in a moment of vulnerability. As her heart ached with the weight of his rejection, she felt the fragile threads of their relationship unraveling before her eyes. The love she believed to be strong now seemed overshadowed by doubt and uncertainty, leaving her questioning not just Adrian’s feelings, but her own worth in a relationship that felt increasingly one-sided.
Fiona’s words reverberated in her thoughts, urging her to reassess the foundation of her connection with Adrian. The notion that she might need to let go began to take root, battling against her instincts to hold on tightly. Vivian’s laughter from earlier felt hollow now, a mask for the insecurities that had begun to surface. She realized that love should not come at the cost of her self-respect or her dreams. As she sat in the silence of her apartment, the echoes of Fiona’s advice lingered, and a flicker of resolve ignited within her. Perhaps it was time to reclaim her narrative, to prioritize her own journey, and to find strength in the possibility of moving forward, even if it meant saying goodbye to a love that had become a source of pain.
In the next chapter, readers can expect the tension between Vivian and Adrian to escalate, as the boundaries of trust and privacy become increasingly blurred. With Adrian’s chilling reprimand still echoing in her mind, Vivian is left grappling with her own insecurities and the implications of her impulsive actions. As she wrestles with her feelings of guilt and the fear of losing Adrian, the stakes will rise, forcing her to confront not only the fragility of their relationship but also her own self-worth. Will she muster the courage to address the growing rift, or will she retreat further into her doubts?
Meanwhile, Fiona’s words linger in Vivian’s thoughts, planting seeds of doubt about her choices. As she attempts to balance her emotional turmoil with her academic responsibilities, the pressure mounts. Will she heed Fiona’s advice to prioritize her studies and reconsider her attachment to Adrian? The chapter promises to delve deeper into Vivian’s internal struggle, exploring the complexities of love, loyalty, and the harsh realities of a relationship built on shaky foundations. Expect revelations, confrontations, and perhaps a pivotal decision that could change everything for Vivian as she navigates this turbulent path.
Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.