Second Chance for the Barren Luna (Talia and Jason) novel Chapter 141

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY ONE

Talla’s V

I changed quickly into a soft blue dress. I tied my hair back and put away the rowerest dace, My hands trembled with anxiety, not because i was excited, but because I was ready to get this over with

When I stepped out of my room, Jason was already waiting in the corridor, “You look beatiful,” he s

1 rolled my eyes and walked past him. “Let’s go.”

We walked in silence until we reached the car, waiting outside. The ride to Kangyale took only a few minutes, yet every second felt longer than it should have, Jason sat across from me, fidgeting with his cuffs as if searching for something to say, Ikept my gaze on the passing streets beyond the window.

Relipse was one of Pangvale’s most refined establishments. It had polished marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and gold- trimmed walls lined with portraits of Silverfang’s past rulers. The host bowed deeply when we entered, Jason had clearly reserved one of the private rooms in advance.

He pulled out a chair for me. It was a gesture that once might have felt chivalrous. Now I felt calculated. I sat without thanking

him.

The moment the servants brought out the first course, Jason’s demeanor changed completely. He served me first, carefully pouring sauce onto my plate and arranging the cutlery as if the gesture could erase years of betrayal,

“You still take your tea with honey, right?” he asked, pouring it before I could answer, “I remember you used to say sugar ruined the flavor.”

1 picked up my fork but didn’t respond.

He smiled, pretending not to notice my silence. “Do you remember the last Moon Festival we spent together? You couldn’t stop laughing when 1-”

“Stop it,” I said flatly.

He froze,

“Don’t talk about the past.”

The cheer faded from his face. He lowered his gaze to the table, his fingers tightening around his cup. “You’re still angry at me,” he said quietly.

“I’m not angry,” I said. “I told you that I am done.”

“Talia, I owe you more than an apology. I was wrong, and I regret everything I did. I hurt you, and I hate myself for it,” Jason said.

“Regret doesn’t change what happened.”

“I know,” he said. “But if you could give me one chance, I’d prove I’m not the same man.”

I almost laughed. “You think one conversation over lunch fixes everything?”

“I think it’s a start,” he said, meeting my eyes again. “When I agreed to marry Viki, it wasn’t because I stopped caring about you. I thought it would help Shadowclaw. I thought…”

“Don’t,” 1 interrupted, “Don’t twist it into something noble. You didn’t do it for Shadowclaw. You did it for your own pride. You don’t get to try to change the narrative now that you know my identity.”

Jason’s expression shifted into that practiced look of sincerity that had fooled me before. I wondered how many times he had tricked me. How many times he talked about me behind my back.

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“It’s almost funny, isn’t it?” he said softly. “After all this time, I found out you were the princess all along. Maybe fate was giving me another chance.”

I set down my fork. “You think this is fate?”

“Maybe not fate,” he admitted. “But it’s something. A happy coincidence that makes sense. You were always meant to stand beside me. Now you can return to my side.”

My appetite disappeared. His shameless tone made my stomach turm. I had to believe that the Moon Goddess was not talking about Jason when she said I still have a path to walk. I refused to go back to Jason. I would rather be mateless for the rest of my life than go back to his lying, cheating ass.

“Eat first,” I said quietly. “At least make this meal useful.”

Jason obeyed at first, but the silence clearly unsettled him. Halfway through the meal, he pushed his plate away and suddenly moved to my side. Before I could react, he went down on one knee beside the table.

“What are you doing?”

“Talia, please,” Jason begged “Give me another chance. Don’t choose Nolan or Colin. Don’t make a mistake you’ll regret.

I looked down at him. Before this type of gesture may have moved me, but now, it only made me sick. “The only thing I regret,” I said calmly, “is marrying you.”

“You…you don’t mean that,” Jason stammered. “You gave up everything to be with me.”

“And I regret that the most,” I countered. “I missed my family’s life for three years for someone who was so unworthy. I will make peace with that eventually, but you and I are over Jason. My answer will not change.”

“You can’t mean that. We had so many good memories,” Jason argued.

“From the moment you chose Viki over me, you ruined those memories and shattered the love I had for you,” I continued. “You lied. You humiliated me. You broke your vows and your word. Only a fool would go back to you, and I am no fool”

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