She then chose another two standout dishes and called for their order.

She set down the menu, her eyes scanning Lucille from head to toe.

“Why did you suddenly cut your hair?" she asked.

Lucille lifted her glass, had a drink, and said, “The summer heat made me cut it short. It felt so nice after I cut my hair short, that I decided no more long hair for me."

Claudia recalled that Lucille used to have long, waist-length hair.

During one of their late-night conversations, Lucille had shyly confessed that she kept her hair long because of a boy she had once liked.

The boy promised to marry her once her hair reached her waist.

Lucille explained that she always kept her hair waist-length so that he wouldn't have to wait for her.

However, Lucille had now cut her hair short, opting for a bob hairstyle.

Claudia felt curious about it but refrained from asking any questions, not wanting to bring up any sensitive topics.

"Your short hair suits you!"

Claudia touched her long strands. “I'm thinking of going short hair too."

“Crop it then. With your beauty, you'll still look good even without long hair!"

Caught in shy surprise, Claudia was about to retort when Lucille said, “Oh, I got divorced, by the way."

"Ah. ..Congratulations!"

Upon hearing this, Claudia froze momentarily. Grasping the situation, she felt happy for Lucille too.

Even though Lucille didn't explicitly say it, Claudia sensed that her marriage had been quite unhappy over the past two years.

That must be why she had avoided catching up until now.

“I've broken free at last. What a rough time it was!"

Only after her burdens lifted did Lucille find the courage to talk about her troubles to her friend.

“Everything in the past now, and new beginnings are on the horizon for you!"

“Of course!"

While speaking, Lucille gave Claudia's cheek a playful pinch. “Aren't you itching to tell me on how you ended up Mrs. Dreskin? God knows how surprised I was when I saw your rumors online. I thought it was someone with the same name!"

Lucille had always seen Claudia as a stickler for slow and steady romance, staying in a non-physical relationship for three years.