Chapter 15
Althea pleads with Daven for just one month to be his wife genuinely, showing her determination despite the emotional turmoil she feels. Daven, after a moment of contemplation, agrees but warns her firmly that she cannot back out once committed. Their intense exchange reveals the tension and unresolved feelings between them, with Althea resolute in facing whatever comes without retreating.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by a phone call that pulls Daven away, leaving Althea uncertain and alone. Feeling restless and anxious, she takes a taxi back to retrieve her car and then decides to visit Lydia, hoping for news about the house or the sale, clinging to any hope as she prepares to leave the Callister estate. Despite her bitterness and doubts, she begins packing, trying to ready herself for an uncertain future.
Later, exhausted after organizing her belongings, Althea wakes up thirsty and quietly descends to the dining area, where she finds Daven unexpectedly at the fridge. He appears drained and vulnerable, a contrast to his usual sharp demeanor. Their quiet interaction is tender and tentative, with Althea offering to prepare food for him, sensing his fatigue and wanting to provide comfort.
Daven accepts her offer to wait while she cooks, and Althea decides on a simple, soothing meal—a cheese omelet with toast. The moment hints at a fragile connection between them, marked by unspoken emotions and a shared weariness.
Chapter 15
“I’m only asking for one month, Daven. Just thirty days to be your wife—for real this time.” Her voice was gentle, yet carried an unwavering resolve.
Daven remained silent for a moment, his fingers curling around the coffee cup as he took a deliberate, slow sip. It was as if he needed the quiet to fully digest what she had just said.
“If this is truly what you want, then let me be clear about one thing,” he finally said, placing his cup down with a sharp clatter that reverberated across the table. The unexpected noise seemed to press heavily against Althea’s chest, like a warning. Still, she didn’t flinch. Perhaps, she thought, she deserved some credit for standing firm.
Daven’s eyes locked onto hers, and a faint smirk played at the corner of his mouth. If she wanted to play this game, then he would make sure it was on his terms.
“You don’t get to back out,” he declared, his tone low and firm.
Althea met his gaze without wavering. “When have I ever said I would?” she replied evenly, despite the turmoil swirling inside her. Even as Daven’s stare burned into her, she refused to step back. She wouldn’t run away—not this time.
Let the world label her desperate, pathetic, or the biggest fool alive. She didn’t care. As long as—
“Prepare yourself becau p>
His phone rang, cutting through his words like a knife.
The sharp intrusion snapped the moment in two. Of course, Daven glanced at the caller ID. In his world, a phone call wasn’t just a call—it was power, deals, money hanging in the balance.
Without another word, he stood abruptly. “I can’t drive you back home. I have something I need to handle p>
And just like that, he walked away, leaving Althea sitting there, unsure of what he had been about to say.
She caught a taxi back to the office building where her car was parked, the city lights blurring past the window. Her mind was restless, filled with unanswered questions. Without much thought, she decided to visit Lydia—maybe there was news about the house, or at least the sale. She needed something, anything, to cling to as she prepared to leave the Callister estate behind.
“I guess I really don’t stand a chance,” she muttered bitterly to herself. “Get ready, Althea. It’s time to start packing p>
Later, after tidying a few shelves and organizing small cabinets in the bedroom, exhaustion finally caught up with her. The soft glow of a bedside lamp illuminated neatly packed boxes filled with some of her favorite books. She had made the decision to be prepared—just in case things didn’t turn out the way she hoped.
A sudden ache in her muscles pulled her from sleep. “Ugh,” she groaned, stretching stiff limbs and wondering if she had slept in an awkward position. Her throat was dry, adding to the discomfort.
Slipping into a light robe, she moved quietly down the stairs, careful not to disturb the stillness of the house. The silence was almost eerie, broken only by the ticking of the wall clock, which sounded unusually loud in the calm.
But as she stepped into the dining area, she froze.
The soft light from the kitchen was on.
And there, standing by the fridge, was Daven.
For a few seconds, Althea remained motionless, quietly observing him. His hair was tousled, his suit jacket discarded, leaving only a white shirt with sleeves rolled up. He looked worn out, drained—his usual sharp intensity softened into something heavier, more vulnerable.
“Daven?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, uncertain, as if needing reassurance that it really was him.
He turned his head toward her. “You’re still awake p>
“I woke up thirsty p>
He nodded slightly and closed the fridge door with a soft click.
“You just got home p>
“Yeah,” he murmured, exhaling a long, tired sigh.
Althea bit her lip, then reached for a glass, filling it with cold water. She drank half before glancing back at him.
“Are you hungry p>
There was no immediate answer.
“I can make you something if you don’t mind waiting p>
Still no response.
“Would it be a bother to wait?” she asked gently, not wanting to pressure him. She felt a pang of sympathy seeing him so exhausted. Maybe he had skipped dinner after rushing out this afternoon following that phone call. He must be overwhelmed.
“…Sure. Go ahead. I’ll wait p>
Althea nodded quietly, the faintest smile tugging at her lips as she turned toward the stove.
She decided on something simple—a cheese omelet with fresh parsley and toast—easy to prepare and comforting enough to soothe an empty stomach.
The chapter closes on a tender and fragile moment between Althea and Daven, revealing the complex layers of their strained relationship. Despite the unresolved tension and the looming uncertainties, there is a quiet vulnerability that surfaces in their interaction, hinting at a deeper connection beneath the surface. Althea’s determination to face whatever comes next, coupled with Daven’s rare display of weariness, paints a poignant picture of two people caught between past wounds and the hope for something real, even if only for a fleeting time.
In this delicate pause, the small acts of care—the offer to cook, the shared silence—serve as a subtle reminder that even in the midst of emotional turmoil, moments of understanding and tenderness can still exist. The chapter’s emotional arc gently underscores themes of resilience, hope, and the courage to confront difficult truths, leaving readers poised on the edge of what might unfold next, yet grounded in the raw humanity of these characters’ shared experience.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile dynamics between Althea and Daven, revealing more of the emotional complexities that bind them. As they navigate this tentative truce, the quiet moments shared in the kitchen may open doors to unexpected vulnerability, challenging the walls they’ve both carefully built around themselves. Will this fragile peace hold, or will the past’s shadows creep back in to threaten their fragile connection?
Tensions simmer beneath the surface, and with Daven’s phone call lingering in the background, there’s a sense that external pressures are closing in, threatening to disrupt whatever fragile hope Althea clings to. The question remains: can they find common ground before outside forces pull them apart? The next chapter will test their resolve, pushing them to confront not only each other but the choices that brought them here.
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.