2. Exodus.

2. Exodus 

Lucien returned to the Voss manor at six in the morning. He met Dahlia seated at the dining, with some papers in front of her. 

"Good morning" he greeted, his tone cold. 

Dahlia curled her fists on her knees. "Mm" she said. 

He didn't say anything else. He didn't bother explaining his reason for staying out last night and just turned to go upstairs. He didn't even notice the change in her attitude. 

Dahlia secretly laughed at herself bitterly. Perhaps, he never actually saw her. 

"Yesterday was our anniversary" Dahlia spoke, her voice thick with emotions. 

Lucien halted in his steps. He didn't turn to look at her. Just his cold back facing her. "Didn't Camille relay my message to you?"

"Is Camille your wife?" her voice shook. "I'm your wife Lucien!" 

Lucien balled his fists and clenched his jaw tightly. "And so? Does that mean I can't go to places I want to go to?"

"And does those places include Sasha's hospital room? Feeding her the cookies I made?" Dahlia asked.

"I wasn't hungry. So, I gave them to her. I didn't want it to go to waste" he replied. "Why are you suddenly being difficult this morning?" He turned around to face her. 

"Difficult? I'm being difficult?" Dahlia couldn't help but scoff. 

"Aren't you?" 

"Lucien you spent the night with another woman and on our anniversary! Yet you say that I'm being difficult?"

"That woman was in an accident!" Lucien spoke with exasperation. "I told you that!"

They stared at each other. Long and hard. Dahlia reached for the papers on the table and threw them at him. 

"Then, explain this...what are these papers?" she asked. 

Lucien lowered his gaze at the papers coldly. Then at her. "Divorce papers" he replied. 

Dahlia sank her teeth into her lips. Tears spilled from her eyes. For a moment, she hoped that this was all a sham. But maybe, it wasn't. 

"Why are they here? Are you divorcing me?" she asked 

Lucien didn't speak immediately. He looked at the papers again and then at her. "Yes"

Dahlia's footing quivered. She held unto the seat closest to her. "Why? Why would you do that?" Her voice was painful murmur. 

"Do I need a reason Dahlia?"

"What?" Disbelief filled her. It was as if the man before her was a whole different person. She'd never known him. 

"Alright. Since you want me to spell it out..." he said as he took calm steps towards her. The papers scrunched under his feet as he approached. When he was satisfied with the distance, he stopped. 

He looked into her eyes, mirroring them with his cold ones. "You don't excite me Dahlia. Not as a wife. Not as a partner".

"Lucien...." she shuddered. 

"And, thanks for making it easier for me. Hurry up and sign the damn papers" he dictated. 

"Lucien...why..." she sobbed

"And stop it with this little act of yours. We both know you're here for the money. My money" he mocked. 

Without thought, Dahlia raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "Idiot! Jerk!" 

"Whatever. I want you out by the end of the day"

"Then....if I leave, she comes in then?" 

"What's it to you anyways? Stop with your acting Dahlia" he said and turned to leave but Dahlia held him back. 

"Lucien...did you...have you ever...loved me? Even once?" she asked. 

A heartbeat. 

"No. And you know that. Sasha has always been the woman before you. I only married you to fufil an obligation and now I have" he answered. 

Dahlia knew that already but she had thought, time changes one's heart. But maybe not his. 

"Also, don't worry about the company. Sasha will take your spot and she will do a very good job". 

Without waiting for another retort from her, he left for his room. Dahlia stood frozen, staring at the staircase he disappeared into. Her chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, her hands trembling violently. For a moment, she thought she might collapse there. 

But then, her gaze fell on the divorce papers scattered across the marble floor, his footprints smudged over them. A bitter laugh tore from her lips. So, this was all she was worth? A few signatures and a replacement already lined up? 

She wiped her tears off with the back of her hand and pushed herself upright. This was her fate. Three wasted years and a divorce paper. But it was alright. She would be fine, she thought. 

By noon, the Voss manor staff watched in silence as she descended the grand staircase with her suitcase in hand. Not one of them dared to speak. No...not when Mr Voss had already given the order. 

At the door Dahlia paused. She looked around the house one more time, every polished surface mocking her years of devotion. 

"Goodbye Lucien...and I hope, we never meet again" she muttered, her voice breaking but firm. And then she stepped out, the heavy doors shutting behind her, sealing the end of her life as Mrs Voss.