Semua Bab The Unwanted Wife: Bab 61 - Bab 70

When they finished their food, Lara pulled him along to the next stalls, pointing at skewers. “Okay, what do we have here? Hmm.. we got isaw, betamax, pig’s ears, adidas—” Reagan stopped short. “Wait. ‘Adidas’?” “Chicken feet,” she replied like it was no big deal. His brows furrowed. “Why is it called that?” She shrugged. “Because it looks like a tiny shoe? I don’t know. We should just eat.” She picked up a stick of betamax, dipped it in barbecue sauce and handed it to him. “Here, try this first.” Reagan eyed it warily. “What is it?” She grinned. “Coagulated pork blood.” He blinked at her. “That’s… very specific. Is it safe?” “Of course it is. I've been eating this for years and look—I’m still alive. C’mon, try it. You won’t regret it, promise.” He gave her a long, suffering look but eventually took a cautious bite. Lara watched his face closely, lips twitching. “I don’t like it,” he said flatly. She burst out laughing. Reagan narrowed his eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”

It took nearly half an hour before they reached the bar. Reagan parked by the curb, casting a glance at Lara before they stepped out of the car. The place was packed and loud—music pounding from the speakers, laughter spilling over the chatter, the scent of alcohol and smoke heavy in the air. Reagan instinctively moved closer, his hand gently resting on her shoulder, shielding her from the jostling crowd. Lara was grateful for the small gesture. Her nerves were already frayed, and his quiet steadiness was the one thing keeping her grounded. When they reached the counter, Lara spotted them immediately. Izek sat sideways on a barstool, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. And beside him—slumped pathetically over the counter—was Lucas. But what made Lara stop cold in her tracks wasn’t either of them—it was the woman standing in front of them. Riah. Her chest tightened, a sick feeling rising in her stomach. What the hell is this? Why was she here? Did Lucas call h

The next day, the sun had barely started its descent when Lara stepped out of the building, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. The soft breeze tousled her hair as she walked across the school grounds, heading toward the parking lot where her car was parked.Her mind was still in a daze from the long day of lectures. She was planning to head straight home and maybe decompress with some chamomile tea and a quiet playlist—until she caught sight of a familiar black SUV parked a few meters away. Leaning casually against the hood was Duke—arms crossed, one ankle lazily over the other, as if he had all the time in the world. And inside the car, popping gum and scrolling on her phone like she owned the world, was Ali.Lara blinked, startled. “What the—?”Duke spotted her instantly and raised a hand with an easy grin. “Hey, stranger!”Lara approached them, still caught between confusion and amusement. “You guys, what are you doing here?”Before Duke could answer, Ali’s head popp

When Lara got home that evening, she slipped out of her shoes, feeling the comfort of her condo wrap around her like a warm embrace. She set her bag down and walked into her bedroom, pulling her phone from her pocket to check any missed messages. A notification caught her eye—a message from Atty. Mendez, sent earlier that afternoon. Atty. Francesca Mendez: Hi Lara. I’ve finished drafting your annulment petition. Let me know when you’re free to review and sign it. We can meet anytime that works for you. Lara stared at the message for a moment. Her breath hitched, not out of panic, but quiet relief. It was real now. The end wasn’t just an idea—it was moving, breathing, taking shape. She quickly typed a reply. Lara: Thank you, attorney. I’m free after my class tomorrow, around 5 PM. Would it be alright if we meet over dinner? After hitting send, she placed her phone on the nightstand and walked into the bathroom for a quick half-bath. Warm water rushed over her skin, washing away t

Lara’s jaw clenched as she took a mental step back, locking her emotions away before they could spill over. She looked at Riah, eyes cold. “It doesn’t matter,” Lara said stiffly, her voice clipped. “Whether you’re together or not—it makes no difference to me anymore. The annulment is happening. Whatever you’re trying to do here… it changes nothing.” Riah’s expression faltered. “Are you really going through with it?” she asked, her tone etched with worry and hint of desperation. “What about Lucas? I thought… you loved him.” Lara let out a slow, tired breath. “I did. God knows I did.” she admitted. “But I love myself too. And I’m done wasting my time on someone who can’t see my worth.” “But Lucas loves you!” Riah said suddenly, her voice rising slightly. Lara blinked, stunned for a moment. Then she let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Love? Really? He loves me?” Her tone dripped with sarcasm. “Come on, Riah. You’re making me laugh. Lucas has only ever loved one woman—and it sure