Chapter 30: End This Charade
Lara took another breath before speaking the words that had been buried in her chest for so long.
"You deserve to be happy, too," she forced a small, genuine smile. "For three years, you stayed with me in this loveless marriage. You sacrificed your own happiness. You even had to make the woman you love your mistress."
Her voice softened. "I'm sorry, Lucas. I'm sorry it took me this long to let you go. But it's okay now," she smiled faintly. "You can finally be with her."
Lucas' fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. He took a step toward her, his expression darkening. "Lara, please—"
Lara turned away, her gaze falling to her lap as she continued, "This marriage taught me something, too." She lifted her chin, her voice growing steadier. "It made me realize that I deserve better."
She met his gaze, her eyes filled with a quiet strength. "I used to think that loving you and being by your side was enough, but it's not. I deserve to be loved back. I deserve someone who will never make me feel unwanted. Someone who will see my worth."
She took a deep breath, her fingers clenching at her sides. "But I'm not letting you go for that reason alone," her voice softened, but the weight of her words hung heavily between them. "For years, I neglected myself. I gave you all my love until there was nothing left for me. But not anymore."
A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she didn't wipe it away.
"This time, I'm finally choosing myself."
A heavy silence stretched between them, but Lara no longer feared it. For the first time, she felt light, as if a massive weight had been lifted off her chest.
Lucas' lips parted slightly, but no words came out. He looked at her, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes. Something vulnerable. Something that almost looked like pain.
But it was too late for that.
"So let's get an annulment, Lucas." She let the final words fall from her lips like the closing of a chapter. "It's time for us to end this charade."
Lucas just stood there, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his posture tense. His usual cold, impassive mask was cracking, but Lara didn't care to decipher the emotions beneath it. She had already made her decision. This wasn't for him. It was for herself.
A few moments passed before Lucas finally spoke. "Lara..." his voice was quieter than she expected, almost hesitant. "You don't mean that."
Lara stared at him, disbelief etched across her face.
What's this? Why was he acting like this? Wasn't this what he wanted all along? Didn't he spend years tormenting her, making it clear that he never wanted this marriage, just so she'd give up? And now that she's finally giving him his freedom, he's acting like this isn't what he wanted?
What kind of bullshit is this?
Don't read into this, Lara. Her mind warned. Don't let him confuse you. He's just probably making sure that you're serious. This is a game. Don't fall for it.
A bitter smile curled on her lips. "I do mean it, Lucas." She said firmly. "I meant every word."
Lucas' jaw tightened. His hands balled into fists again. "No. You're drunk," he insisted. "You're just saying this because you're not thinking straight. This is just the alcohol talking."
Lara let out a soft, humorless laugh. Seriously?
Was he really going to dismiss her like this? Was it so hard for him to accept that she was finally done?
"God, Lucas. Is that really how little you think of me?" she said, her voice growing colder. "That I'd say all of this just because I had a drink?"
She stood up from the bed and took a step closer, standing in front of him.
"I'm not drunk. Not on alcohol, and definitely not on the illusion that I can make you love me."
Her eyes met his, unwavering. "For the first time in years, I'm thinking straight. I see everything clearly now, Lucas. And I'm done."
Lucas turned away from her, dragging a hand down his face and rubbing at his temple like her words were giving him a headache.
"This isn't something we can just decide in one night," he muttered.
Lara frowned, frustration bubbling in her chest.
"What do you mean we can't?" Her voice rose slightly. "Wasn't this what you wanted? I'm giving it to you now, Lucas! Why are you making this hard for me?"
Her throat tightened, the ache creeping in despite her best efforts to stay composed.
"Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep?" her voice cracked, raw and trembling. "How many times I had to convince myself to keep fighting for this—" she gestured between them, "—for something that was never even real?"
She huffed, her chest heaving up and down from all the emotions she tried to suppressed. "I gave you everything. My love, my loyalty, my patience. And all I ever got in return was a cold shoulder and silence. I've had enough!"
She hadn't meant to raise her voice, but the words kept pouring out. She had buried them for too long.
"I'm done, Lucas!"
She turned away, breath trembling as she tried to collect herself. This wasn't how she wanted the conversation to go. She wanted it to be civil, mature. But he was making it impossible.
Does he really have to make everything hard for me?
Lucas finally looked at her. "Is this really what you want?" his voice was low, almost unreadable.
Lara shut her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, there was clarity in them.
"I want to be free from this pain," she said. "I want to stop chasing after someone who will never love me back."
Her voice softened, but it didn't falter. "I deserve love, Lucas. The kind that isn't forced. The kind I don't have to beg for."
For a split second, an emotion flickered in his eyes again. Pain? Regret? Hesitation? She didn't care anymore. It didn't matter because it wasn't love. And she refused to settle for anything less than that anymore.
"I'll contact my lawyer first thing tomorrow to have the papers drafted," she said, her tone steady despite the tremor in her chest. "We can go through the legalities and make this as smooth and clean as possible."
Lucas swallowed hard. "And after that?"
Lara gave him a faint smile, one that didn't reach her eyes.
"After that, you can finally be with her," she said simply.
Then, more softly, "And I can finally start learning how to love myself."
A long silence stretched between them, heavier than before. Lara didn't wait for his response. She turned on her heel and walked toward the door, her steps slow but determined.
She didn't look back.
Because she didn't need to anymore.