Chapter 4: The Breaking Point

When Ugo called me later that evening, my heart sank. I could tell by the urgency in her voice that things were about to escalate.

"My elder sister wants to talk to you," Ugo said, her face lined with worry.

I hesitated. I didn't know what to expect. I'd always tried to keep my relationship struggles away from his family, but they knew. They had seen the cracks — and this time, those cracks had become too wide to hide.

When I heard his elder sister's voice on the phone, there was no judgment — just concern.

"Lena," she said softly, her tone gentle but firm. "I know what's been happening. I've heard everything from Ugo and Andy. You don't deserve this. You need to leave this relationship before it gets worse."

Her words made my chest tighten. I wanted to leave — I really did — but there was this part of me still clinging to the hope that Dami would change. I believed in the good moments, the apologies, the promises. But they were always short-lived.

"I… I don't know," I whispered, my voice breaking. "He says he's going to change."

"Lena, how many times has he said that? And how many times has he hurt you again after saying it?"

I had no answer to that. Because the truth was, she was right.

When Andy called shortly after, his words were even more direct.

"Lena, leave him. This is my brother, and I know him better than anyone. If you stay, it's only going to get worse."

I closed my eyes as the tears slipped down my face. I wanted to listen to them I did. But Dami's hold on me was so strong, his words always found a way to drown out the voices of reason.

That night, when Dami finally called, his voice was soft, full of remorse.

"Baby, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know I went too far. I hate that I hurt you. I swear I'll change. I'll even leave the apartment if that's what you want."

And just like that, I believed him again.

He moved out a few days later, going to stay with his friends — the same friends who had caused him so much trouble before. I should have known then that nothing good would come of this.

A week later, the calls started.

"Lena, my friends want to visit me," Dami said one evening.

"That's not your house, Dami," I said carefully. "It's your friend's place. Bringing more people there… it's not fair."

But he didn't listen. They came anyway. And as I feared, it didn't take long for things to fall apart.

One night, Dami called me in frustration.

"They're asking us to leave," he said bitterly. "They said we're bringing too many people over."

I sighed, already feeling the headache coming.

"Maybe you should just find your place," I suggested. "It'll be easier that way."

But he didn't want to listen. Instead, they started lodging in a hotel, spending money they didn't have, and his mood grew darker by the day.

One evening, I called him, hoping to calm him down, but the conversation quickly turned into an argument.

"You never support me!" he yelled. "You always think you know better!"

"I'm just trying to help you, Dami. You're making things harder for yourself—"

Before I could finish, he hung up.

I sat there staring at my phone, the silence around me heavy. I knew what was coming next. And I was terrified.

The next day, Dami showed up at my apartment, his face thunderous.

"Why are you always against me?" he demanded, his voice rising.

"I'm not against you!" I said, my own frustration spilling over. "I'm trying to help you!"

But he wasn't listening. The fight escalated quickly, and before I knew it, his hand was around my wrist, squeezing hard.

"Dami, you're hurting me!" I cried, trying to pull away.

But his grip only tightened.

That night, I ran again. Barefoot, tears streaming down my face, I found myself at Ugo's door once more.

She didn't say anything she just held me while I cried.

"I can't keep doing this," I whispered. "I can't."

"Then don't," she said softly. "You deserve better, Lena. You always have."

But walking away from Dami wasn't easy. The next morning, his calls started again — apologies, promises, pleas.

And once again, I found myself pulled back into his orbit.

But this time… this time felt different. This time, I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take.

For the next few days, I stayed at Ugo's place, trying to figure out what to do next. My phone kept buzzing with Dami's calls and messages — apologies, pleas, promises to change — the same cycle I had been stuck in for so long. But this time, I didn't pick up. I just couldn't.

"Lena, you can't keep living like this," Ugo said one evening as we sat in her room. "This isn't love. You're afraid of him. That's not normal."

I knew she was right. Every time Dami got angry, I felt like I was walking on glass, waiting for it to shatter beneath me. But I was still holding on to the memories of the man I had fallen for — the sweet words, the laughter, the way he made me feel special… before everything turned dark.

"He said he's sorry," I whispered, more to myself than to Ugo.

Ugo sighed, clearly frustrated. "He's always sorry, Lena. And then he does it again. You deserve more than this — more than living in fear."

Her words stayed with me that night. I lay awake in her bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering when things had gotten so bad. I remembered the first time Dami had raised his voice at me — how shocked I'd been. And then the first slap, the first threat, the first time I ran barefoot into the night just to escape his anger.

This wasn't love. It couldn't be.

The next morning, I finally turned my phone on and saw his messages.

Dami: Please pick up, baby. I'm sorry.

Dami: I can't sleep without you. Please don't leave me.

Dami: I promise I'll change.

And then…

Dami: If you leave me, I swear you'll regret it.

My heart pounded in my chest. I knew that tone — the shift from desperation to anger. It was the same pattern every time. And still, part of me wanted to believe the apologies more than the threats.

Against my better judgment, I called him back.

"Lena!" His voice broke with relief when he answered. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean any of it. Please come back. I miss you."

"I… I don't know, Dami," I whispered. "You scare me."

"I'll change," he said quickly. "I swear. I'll even stay away from my friends. I'll do whatever you want. Just come back, please."

And I believed him. Again.

When I returned to my apartment, Dami was waiting for me, arms open. He held me tightly, whispering over and over how much he loved me and how sorry he was. For a few days, things were peaceful. He was sweet, attentive, everything I had fallen in love with.

But the peace never lasted.

A week later, Dami's friends started coming around again — the same ones who had caused him so much trouble before. They stayed late into the night, drinking, laughing loudly, and leaving a mess behind. I tried talking to Dami about it, but he brushed me off.

"They're my friends," he said. "You never complain when your friends come over."

"My friends don't trash the place," I argued. "And they don't make you angry."

That was the wrong thing to say. His eyes darkened immediately.

"Are you saying I can't control myself?" he snapped.

I backed down quickly, recognizing the warning signs. "I didn't mean it like that."

But it was too late. The damage was done.

That night, when his friend made a joke I didn't quite hear, Dami turned on me.

"Why are you acting so stuck up?" he demanded, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "You think you're better than my friends?"

"I didn't say that," I whispered, embarrassed and afraid.

But he didn't stop. He kept going, tearing me down in front of everyone until I could feel the tears threatening to spill. When I finally got up to leave, he grabbed my wrist tightly.

"Sit down," he hissed.

I froze, my heart racing. His grip tightened, and I knew if I didn't sit, things would only get worse. So I stayed, silent and humiliated until his friends finally left.

That night, after another fight, I ran again. This time, I didn't stop at Ugo's. I called Andy.

"Please," I begged, my voice shaking. "I don't know what to do."

"Leave him," Andy said without hesitation. "I'll help you. Just leave him, Lena."

But leaving wasn't as easy as it sounded. Dami had a way of pulling me back, of making me feel like I couldn't live without him. And every time I tried to walk away, he found a way to convince me to stay.