Vicki Gunvalson of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and her boyfriend Brooks Ayers have split after four years of dating. In a joint statement released on the reality TV star's official Facebook page on Sunday, Aug. 17, the pair revealed their decision to go their separate ways. 

"After much prayer, thought, counseling, and consideration, we have decided to end our four year relationship," she wrote. "We both wish nothing but a great future for each other. We have come to realize that one can indeed love someone in their heart, but that the time may come for their lives to take separate paths." 

The Bravo star added that the remaining episodes of season 10 of "RHOC" will still show them as a couple, since filming took place between January and May of this year. Gunvalson also made it known that they will give no further statements or interviews regarding their relationship, and that they ask for privacy during this difficult time. 

This isn't the first time that the couple called it quits. Back in 2013, the two split up after two years of dating. They met in 2011 through Gunvalson's insurance business, and their 2013 breakup was featured in the show's reunion special. They got back together last year when they learned that Ayers had stage 3 cancer. 

This season on Bravo, the two appeared to be getting along well and there were no hints whatsoever that their relationship was in trouble. Despite her daughter Briana and her good friend Tamra Judge disapproving of their relationship, Gunvalson had always stood by her relationship with Ayers. 

Gunvalson has had her share of heartbreak this year, as she found out while filming an episode of "RHOC" that her mother, Joanne Steinmetz, had died unexpectedly. In the episode that aired on July 13, the reality star was seen looking quite consumed by grief as she prepared to go to her mother's funeral, and she was feeling doubly sad that Ayers couldn't accompany her since her family disliked him. 

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.