Chapter 17 Don't Treat Me Like a Fool

As the saying went, when love failed, work prevailed. Talia thought it made perfect sense. The report that had haunted her for over two months was finally finished after a single, caffeine-fueled all-nighter. At 5:30 am, Abigail called her. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in about an hour." Talia was touched. "You didn't have to come so early. You could've left around seven." "Around seven?" Abigail scoffed. "Morning traffic is a nightmare. No thanks." "Well, thank you. Lunch is on me later." "Oh, please. Since when do we keep a score? Just hurry up and pack. I hate waiting on people." Talia barely had anything to pack—just her phone charger and a few personal items, which had already been stuffed into the bag waiting on the coffee table. She could just grab it and leave. She hadn't planned to work on her report during this trip, so she hadn't brought her laptop. Every word had been typed on her phone, which left her eyes aching and sore. With some time to spare before Abigail's arrival, Talia walked out onto the balcony. The morning air in the mountains was chilly and crisp, but it left her feeling refreshed. She took several deep breaths, as if trying to expel all the stale air from her body. Luxury suites had their perks. This one came with a panoramic terrace offering a full view of the surrounding mountains. But there was one downside. Someone was arguing upstairs. In the hush of dawn, Talia stood on the second-floor balcony. She could hear the quarrel from the eighth floor with unsettling clarity. There was no need to ask how she knew it was the eighth floor. She'd become very attuned to Thalia's voice lately. Even the slightest sound was enough for her to identify it with certainty. Thalia seemed to be crying. "So now you're saying you don't want me anymore?" "I'm already married." Lucien's voice was cold and distant. "But I'm the one you love." Her words were followed by silence. "Lucien, you even married a woman named Talia. Can you honestly say that wasn't because of me?" Lucien let out a sarcastic laugh. His next words were laced with mockery. "And what identity are you using to ask me that? Your best friend badge?" "Lucien, you're blaming me." He gave a scornful laugh. A faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air—he was smoking again. "You should blame me," Thalia continued. "You were so nice to me growing up, and I was the one who let you down first. But now… I know I was wrong—so, so wrong." Lucien's response was sharp and aggressive. "You're never wrong. How could you ever be wrong?" At that, Thalia's voice softened more and more. "Lucien, let's stop being just friends, okay? I want to be your woman." There was a long moment of silence. "This time, let me be the one to take the initiative. Let me propose to you." Talia couldn't bear to listen any longer. That "best friend" label had hung between them like a paper-thin veil. She'd waited so long to tear it apart, and now, at long last, it was torn apart. She turned and went back to her room, sat on the bed, and casually scrolled through her phone as she quietly waited. No matter what choice Lucien would make, she knew he would come to her. After she spent some time scrolling through industry news, there was still no sign of Lucien. Instead, a message from Brenda came. "Talia, which of these wedding dresses do you think looks best?" Brenda had sent over a dozen photos, one after another, all showcasing elaborate bridal gowns. "Mom, why are you suddenly looking at wedding dresses?" Talia asked. "I was just thinking that you never had a proper wedding back then. Now that you're on annual leave and finally have some time, it's the perfect chance to make up for it. You've had your honeymoon, so we should arrange the ceremony too. The Reeses owe you this. We won't let you be shortchanged." Talia's nose tingled slightly with emotion. "Here are some invitation designs, bomboniera box ideas, and gift selections for wedding favors. Pick what you like and let me know. I'll handle everything else. You won't need to worry about a thing." Just then, a knock at the door came as Talia's phone buzzed relentlessly. Brenda had flooded their chat with wedding supplies, complete with neatly labeled numbers for her to choose from. "Talia, are you awake?" It was Lucien's voice. Talia set down her phone, walked over, and opened the door. Lucien stood outside. His eyes were slightly red, and he looked conflicted. "Talia…" "You have something to say?" "...Yeah." "Then come in." She turned back into the room and sat down on a chair in the living area, gesturing to the seat across from her. "Sit." Lucien pulled out the chair and slowly sat down. He glanced around the room and asked, "Why haven't you changed out of your pajamas?" "Lucien Reese." It was the first time Talia had called him by his full name since they got married. "If you have something to say, just say it. Small talk is a waste of time." He lifted his head to look at her, his lips parting several times as if to speak, but no words came. Talia didn't rush him. She simply waited silently. After a long pause, Lucien finally spoke with difficulty. "Let's… get a divorce." "Alright." Her response was immediate, and she said it with a smile on her lips. It was as if he'd just said something completely ordinary. Lucien stared at her in disbelief. "You're not going to ask why?" "I already know why," she said. "Lucien, don't treat me like a fool." He buried his face in his hands and exhaled heavily. "...I'm sorry." "Congratulations," Talia replied. Lucien gave a bitter smile. "For what?" "For finally getting rewarded for your 20-plus years of waiting. You've finally won the girl you always loved." "You knew?" he asked quickly. "Did Thalia tell you?" "No one told me, but it's not hard to guess." Lucien looked pained. "I truly wanted to spend the rest of my life with you—" Talia finished the sentence for him. "If Thalia hadn't come back." There was no reply from him. "So that's it, right? If that's all you have to say, then please leave. Let me know when you'd like to finalize the paperwork. As you know, doctors are busy, and I only have free time during this short annual leave. So, let's get it done soon." "I'll transfer our apartment to your name as compensation," he offered. "I'm not interested in your premarital assets," Talia rebuked. "If I need a house, I'll buy one myself." Lucien's words were caught in his throat. He backed down again. "If you ever need money, you can come to me. And if you run into any problems in life, you can still call me." "Lucien, once we're divorced, let's not contact each other again." He gave a bitter smile. "Talia, you're a good woman. Even if we're no longer married, we can still be friends—" "Friends?" she sneered. "What kind of friends? Best friends?" This time, Lucien was silenced entirely. Talia sighed and gave one final dismissal. "I have plenty of friends. I don't need another." Right then, her phone rang. It was Abigail. "Traffic was smooth all the way. I'm already here. Come on down." "Okay, give me two minutes." "Great. I won't park my car then. I'll wait right in front of the hotel." "Got it." Talia picked up the bag she'd packed earlier, stood up, and prepared to leave. Lucien asked, "Who called?" "A friend." Her hand was already on the doorknob. She paused, looked back, and smiled. "A real friend."