Chapter 04: Learn to love me

Bryan remained quiet. His back was still turned on her, and he had made up his mind not to spear her even a glance. It was all about getting the company, but when she had asked this question, a different kind of emptiness filled him.

"You should know better, Taylor." He answered.

He tried to take another step away, but she ran to him and encircled her arms around his body. Her hold was so tight.

"Bryan, you might still have a chance, we might still have a chance to make this work out fine. I'll pretend I knew nothing. You can still learn to love me."

Because she had just spurred some emotions in him, he forced her arms away from his body and turned around to face her, while she sniffled. Her eyes were red and swollen, but that wasn't going to make him change his mind. He had come this far for Stella and he wasn't going to lose her for Taylor.

"I don't need you in my life any longer, is that so hard to understand. You of all people know how much I dislike you, and I hate it when you try to put up with me. There's no point in keeping up with this marriage when I don't love you and will never love you."

She sniffled again. If looks could kill, maybe he might have been dead. What about her did he dislike so much? Why was it so hard to give her even just a chance? He always knew she was head over heels for him in the past and she could do anything just to see his face. Why can't her hard work and hope pay off? All Taylor was asking for was a chance and nothing more than that.

She stared at the paper again which had already been squeezed half way. If she signed it now, that means everything would be over, and she would have nothing to do with Bryan anymore. Could she ever cope with the pain in the future?

One thing Taylor had always been taught by her mom was never to fight for a man's love. It would ruin her. She knew this in the past, and yet she chose to listen to her heart which yawned for Bryan alone.

As much as she wanted to take the advice of her mother, she couldn't. She dropped the paper on the table and ran up the stairs heading straight for her room.

Bryan remained quiet. There was absolutely nothing to say. He had nothing in mind and he only stared at her till she was out of his sight. There were no emotions in his eyes as he watched her.

The moment he heard the sound of her door being slammed,.he walked towards the divorce paper where she had kept it and picked it up.

He wasn't going to give up so easily. He knew his wife more than anyone in the world. She was pretty frail at heart and she was gonna give up very soon.

Before that, he needed to start preparing for his coronation and presentation in front of his father's guests and the shareholders. He dipped his hands into his pocket and headed out of the house.

He had no intention of sleeping home tonight because he simply didn't want to change his mind. It was made up right now, but who knows, Taylor might just perform some black magic on him and he might end up missing the greatest opportunity of his life.

******

Morning came by quickly, but for Taylor who was still laying on the tiled floor with her drugs scattered from the bottle it was being preserved in, the night had been slow.

Her eyes didn't move even for a second, and there was no way she could sleep as her mind had been occupied with

thoughts on how to save her marriage.

Taylor had recalled the day her father had broken the news of her marriage to Bryan, she was excited, but he wasn't. He didn't support it, but all he wanted was his daughter's happiness.

She couldn't go back to her father and ask for help. He could fix things immediately if she did so, but that would be telling him that she had been lying to him about the condition of her marriage the entire time.

Could she also tell him about her sickness and what the hell she was passing through?

Immediately her alarm began ringing, she forced herself up on her feet with a groan.

"It's all a dream, it's all in your dream Taylor, so stop worrying about it. Maybe he was only playing a prank on me."

She assured herself countless times while nodding her head. It took her so long, but in an hour and 30 minutes, she was done dressing and ready for work.

As she grabbed her handbag, her phone began ringing. It was Natalie calling. This was the only good feeling she was sure she would have this morning. She picked the call and placed the phone on her ear.

"Hey girl."

Talia had her usual cheerful voice, but no matter how Taylor tried, she couldn't fool her best friend when she spoke.

"Did something happen?" Talia asked.

"No, I'm totally fine." Taylor replied, but the mistake she had made was to answer more than she was supposed to. She had almost forgotten her best friend and this was how Talia always figured out she was lying.

"I knew it."

She sighed loudly. "Can we meet up this evening? I need someone to talk to Talia." She was almost on the verge of tears when she spoke up.

"Alright, I'll wait for you, same spot yesterday. Take care and be careful girl." Taylor heard Talia before she ended the call. This was a little reason to smile, and so she did. How could she not fall in love with Talia all over again. After her mother's death, Talia turned into more of a big sister to her. She dipped her phone into her bag and walked out of the room.

She paused when she spotted the divorce papers on the table. She had long figured it wasn't a dream no matter how much she tried to force herself to think so.

"Prepare something for my husband when he gets home. I might return late." She instructed the cook who was a few steps away from her. Once she got a nod, she stepped out of the sitting room dangling her keys after picking it from her bag.

She ignited the car and drove out of the room. She had pretended to be okay a few minutes ago, but she was not. There was no way she could go to work in this condition, especially when she had a boss who always poke around her business.

She turned the car around and took another direction. It was a favourite spot of hers. A secret place she was sure no one knew she always visited.

How long has it been? A whole fucking year.

She stepped out from the car and started walking towards the entrance. When she got in, memories of the last day she had stepped foot in here flashed back, and it was then Taylor recalled that it was only Stella who had an idea about this place.

Two days before her wedding to Bryan, she had come here to have a final drink, but Stella had traced her here. She had a huge fight back then which she was sure she won, but now, it was clear she was losing already and Stella was going to take over soon. There was no point in fighting when it was clear that Bryan wanted her too.

"I'll have two glasses of the usual please."

Immediately the server turned his back, he smiled. He was so quick to recognize her, and to him, it was disappointing that she had to come back with the same look she always had a year ago. To him, it only meant she was still the same sad,. lonely and pitiful lady of the past.

He didn't utter a word but gave her exactly what she wanted. "Thank you." Taylor said as she drew the glasses closer to herself.

As she tried to sip from it, she heard a familiar voice behind.

"Look who decided to come back after having her heart shattered into pieces."

It was the voice of the person she hated most in the world, and that voice was mocking her already.

Taylor was certain about one thing, she had lost.