Former "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Elizabeth Vargas is "doing better than expected" after being held at gunpoint inside her home this week.
On Feb. 2, a mere 24 hours after surviving the incident, the reality TV alum told TMZ, "I have great people around me and I have a good ecosystem of positive people, and I think that's what needs to happen."
Her positivity is commendable, particularly given the terror she had just endured.
On Feb. 1, a man named Ryan Geraghty entered Elizabeth's Newport Beach, Calif., home with a gun. Ryan, who Elizabeth briefly dated, was trying to extort her and pressure her into helping him financially, the "RHOC" alum said.
Just moments before the barricade situation, Elizabeth felt that things were coming to a head, as she called police to report Ryan for alleged extortion. She also told authorities that she believed her ex was coming to her house at some point that day. He did, and Elizabeth was reportedly "roughed up" after he found his way into her home. Police quickly swarmed the beachfront home and a standoff ensued.
For a while, the gun-toting suspect refused to let Elizabeth leave, but he eventually released her. However, he then barricaded himself in the house.
In the midst of the terrifying situation, Elizabeth said she thought, "Please somebody help me."
"It escalated really quickly and I didn't understand it, and when someone takes advantage of someone by manipulating them and extorting, you just kind of don't realize it's happening," she said as she was surrounded by friends. "I'm just happy that it's over. We're going to move on."
Although Elizabeth and Ryan briefly dated, she claims she didn't know he was a felon. Elizabeth, who starred in season 15 of "RHOC," is now considering getting a gun and hinted that she will run background checks on potential suitors going forward.
"I'm just glad I'm alive to be able to show people the positivity in life," she said on Wednesday night.
Ryan was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, felon in possession of a firearm and extortion for the incident.