The city had never felt so suffocating.
Vivian stood on the balcony of Julian's penthouse, the cold night air biting at her skin, but she barely noticed. The weight in her chest had grown heavier since last night. Her mind kept replaying Aurora's words at the café, the way she had hesitated before telling her about Paris. There was something off, something that didn't quite add up, but she couldn't place it. Maybe it was the way Aurora had looked at her, like she was holding something back.
Or maybe it was the way Julian had barely spoken to her all day.
Vivian turned her head, glancing through the glass doors. Julian was inside, sitting on the couch with a drink in his hand. His posture was tense, his jaw tight. He had been distant since their last conversation, like there was an invisible wall between them. She wanted to ask what was wrong, to demand answers, but she was terrified of what he might say.
She took a deep breath and stepped back inside. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable. Julian didn't look up as she approached, swirling the amber liquid in his glass like he was lost in thought.
"Julian?" she said softly.
He finally glanced at her, but his gaze was unreadable. "Yeah?"
Vivian hesitated. "Are we going to talk about this? About us?"
Julian let out a slow exhale and set his drink down. "Vivian, I don't know what you want me to say. I told you—I love you. But things feel... complicated."
Complicated. The word twisted in her chest. "Why? What's making it complicated?"
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering in his eyes. "I don't know. Maybe it's just everything happening all at once. Work, your doubts, Aurora leaving… I feel like I can't breathe sometimes."
Vivian studied him, searching for the man she used to know so well. "Is it just that? Or is there something else you're not telling me?"
Julian's gaze flickered, just for a second. It was barely noticeable, but Vivian caught it. A hesitation. A crack in his carefully controlled expression.
Before he could answer, his phone vibrated on the table. Julian reached for it, but when he saw the name on the screen, he hesitated. His grip tightened around the phone, and instead of answering, he flipped it over.
Vivian's stomach twisted. "Who was that?"
"No one," he said too quickly.
"Julian."
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "It was Aurora."
Vivian felt a rush of emotions she couldn't quite name. "Why is she calling you this late?"
"I don't know, Viv," he snapped, then immediately looked regretful. "I just… I don't have the energy for this right now."
The words stung more than they should have. Vivian took a step back, nodding slowly. "Right. You don't have the energy for me. Got it."
She turned away before he could say anything else, walking toward the bedroom. She needed space. She needed to think.
---
The next day, she met Aurora for lunch. A part of her didn't want to—something deep in her gut told her that whatever was happening, Aurora was more involved than she was letting on. But she needed clarity. She needed to know if she was being paranoid or if her instincts were right.
Aurora was already waiting at their usual spot, dressed impeccably as always. She smiled when she saw Vivian, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You look tired. Didn't sleep well?"
"Something like that," Vivian muttered, sliding into the seat across from her.
Aurora took a sip of her coffee, watching her carefully. "Things still tense with Julian?"
Vivian's fingers tightened around her fork. "You tell me. You're the one calling him late at night."
Aurora didn't flinch, but there was the slightest pause before she spoke. "I was just checking in. I know things have been weird lately. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"That's funny, because he didn't seem to think it was about me."
Aurora tilted her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "Viv, are you jealous?"
The question was so casual, so effortless, yet it sent a jolt of unease through Vivian.
"Of you?" Vivian let out a short laugh. "Don't be ridiculous."
Aurora shrugged, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "I don't mean it like that. I just think… maybe you're overthinking things. You and Julian have been through a lot. Maybe the distance isn't about me at all."
Vivian narrowed her eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe it is."
For the first time, something flashed across Aurora's face—something dark and fleeting. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by her usual easygoing demeanor.
"You know I love you, right?" Aurora said softly. "I would never do anything to hurt you."
Vivian wanted to believe her. She really did. But the sinking feeling in her gut refused to go away.
---
Later that night, she sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone, trying to distract herself. Julian was in the shower, the sound of running water filling the silence of the room. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—Aurora's words, Julian's distance, the way things felt like they were slipping through her fingers.
A message popped up on her screen.
Aurora: Can we talk?
Vivian hesitated before typing back.
Vivian: About what?
Aurora: Just… everything. Please.
Vivian stared at the message, her heart hammering in her chest. She didn't know what Aurora wanted to say, but something told her it wouldn't be good.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Aurora sat in her dimly lit apartment, staring at her phone. Her hands were trembling. She wanted to tell Vivian the truth—but she also wanted Julian. And that was the problem.
She had spent years suppressing it, burying it beneath layers of friendship and loyalty. But now, with the cracks in Vivian and Julian's relationship widening, it was becoming harder to resist. She told herself she wasn't a bad person. She had tried to be happy for Vivian. She had tried to push Julian out of her mind.
But every time he looked at her, even for a second too long, it felt like an invitation.
She swallowed hard, gripping her phone tighter. She didn't want to hurt Vivian.
But she also didn't want to let Julian go.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure which mattered more.
---
To be continued…