Chapter 26
In this chapter, Daven surprises Althea by calling her during his workday, asking her to cook something special for dinner and promising to come home early. This unexpected gesture stirs a mix of excitement and nervousness in Althea, who senses a change in him and feels her heart race. She is overwhelmed by the sweetness of his request and resolves to cherish every moment, aware that their time together might be limited.
Later that night, Daven arrives home well past eleven but finds Althea asleep at the dining table, having waited for him with a prepared meal that has gone cold. The sight fills him with guilt, especially as he recalls how Vanessa had interrupted his day, keeping him away longer than he intended. Tenderly, he carries Althea to his bedroom, careful not to wake her, and places her gently on the bed.
As he watches her sleep, Daven reflects on Althea’s quiet beauty and sincerity, contrasting it with Vanessa’s polished glamour. He wonders about her stubbornness and the unusual request she made before his engagement party, realizing that he might have underestimated her intentions. His feelings soften, and a small smile crosses his lips as he acknowledges that she is not what he expected.
Lying beside her, Daven feels a shift in their relationship. Althea’s presence no longer feels like an intrusion but something precious. In the quiet room, he quietly admits to himself a desire for more time with her, hinting at a deeper emotional connection developing between them.
Chapter 26
“All right. Cook me something special tonight,” Daven said with an unusual calmness in his voice. “I won’t be home late p>
What?
There was definitely something different about him today. Yet, rather than unsettling her, this unexpected shift only made Althea’s heart beat faster. She felt a sudden tightness in her chest, a flush rising to her cheeks, and all she could do was lower her gaze, as if he were standing right before her, silently observing every flicker of emotion on her face.
“O-okay. I’ll make something special,” she stammered, her voice barely steady.
“Good. I’ll be back soon,” he replied before ending the call.
Althea stared at her phone for a long moment, then sank back onto her bed, covering her face with both hands. A warm rush spread across her skin—part embarrassment, part excitement, a strange blend of both emotions swirling inside her.
Could this really be happening?
Daven had taken time out of his hectic workday just to call her. Not for anything urgent, but to talk—about something so ordinary, so intimate. And now, he wanted her to prepare dinner. He even promised to come home early. That was… surprisingly sweet, wasn’t it?
She pressed her hands more firmly against her cheeks, silently hoping this moment wouldn’t vanish too quickly. And if it had to—if the reality was that her days in this house were numbered, as deep down she already sensed—then she was determined to live every second of it fully.
To embrace it with joy.
To leave with no regrets.
It was well past eleven at night when Daven’s car finally rolled into the grand driveway of the Callister estate. His footsteps echoed briskly as he crossed the threshold into the front hall. Two members of the household staff greeted him, but he barely acknowledged their presence, his mind focused solely on one thing—the dining room.
Despite the exhaustion etched on his face, the loosened tie around his neck, and the heavy breaths he took after a long day, Daven pushed forward. He needed to see for himself.
Althea.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
There she was, slumped over the dining table, her head resting on one arm. She had clearly fallen asleep while waiting. The dinner she had prepared lay before her—a full spread, now cold and untouched.
A sharp pang tightened in his chest.
She had waited for him?
If only Vanessa hadn’t shown up that afternoon, Daven thought bitterly. She had practically dragged him to a boutique for a last-minute suit fitting and then insisted he join her for a client meeting. Daven hadn’t known how to say no. But now, seeing Althea like this—still here, still waiting—guilt twisted deep inside him.
He stepped closer, bending gently to place a hand on her shoulder.
“Althea,” he whispered softly.
No response.
Her breathing was even and calm—she was fast asleep.
Closing his eyes briefly, Daven felt the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. His gaze drifted to the neatly arranged dinner: a bowl of creamy chicken soup, a toasted tuna sandwich, and a cup of coffee long gone cold. He was the one who had asked her to prepare all of this, yet he hadn’t even managed to come home on time.
How difficult would it have been to show her just a little appreciation?
Without hesitation, Daven carefully lifted Althea into his arms, cradling her as if she were fragile glass. Every step he took was measured, ensuring she wouldn’t wake from her slumber.
Her body was light and warm against him. She stirred slightly but then settled back into sleep.
There was only one place he could take her now—his bedroom.
Once inside, he gently laid her down on the bed. But instead of stepping away, Daven found himself lingering, simply watching her.
She was stunning—not in the dazzling, spotlight-grabbing way Vanessa was, always polished and radiant like a star on the red carpet.
Althea’s beauty was softer, quieter, but infinitely deeper. It was the kind that lingered in your mind, creeping up slowly until it was all you could see.
Her warm amber eyes always held a quiet sincerity. Her smile felt genuine, never forced. She spoke calmly, never raising her voice, even when she was stubborn—and stubborn she could be, Daven had to admit.
“What were you thinking, waiting up for me like this?” he murmured under his breath.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been thinking about her request—that strange, sudden wish she had made exactly a week before his engagement party with Vanessa was supposed to take place. The same request that had forced him to convince Vanessa to postpone, to be patient.
He had thought Althea’s request was just another way to make things harder for him—a final game before she walked away.
But now… maybe he was the one who had been caught in it.
“Why are you so damn stubborn, Althea?” he whispered. “Why didn’t you just ask for money? Or anything else but this p>
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he continued to watch her sleep. A few loose strands of hair had fallen over her temple, and without realizing it, Daven gently tucked them behind her ear. His fingers lingered a moment longer than necessary.
And then—a small, quiet smile appeared on his lips. Unintentional, but unmistakable.
“You’re not what I expected, Althea Grayson,” he said softly.
With a slow breath, Daven lay down beside her, pulling the blanket over them both with care, not wanting to disturb her rest. He kept a respectful distance.
But something had shifted.
Her presence no longer felt like an intrusion.
It felt like something else entirely.
“Would it be selfish of me,” he murmured into the quiet room, “to want just a little more time like this with you p>
The chapter delicately captures the fragile tension between longing and regret, as both Althea and Daven grapple with unspoken emotions and the weight of their circumstances. Althea’s quiet hope and vulnerability contrast with Daven’s growing awareness of what he might be losing, revealing the complexity of their connection. Their shared moments, though tinged with sadness, pulse with a tender yearning that neither can fully deny.
In this stillness, the story embraces the bittersweet nature of fleeting chances and the desire to hold onto something precious before it slips away. The subtle shifts in their relationship suggest that beneath the shadows of the past, there remains a fragile hope for understanding and closeness, even if only for a little while longer.
The next chapter promises to delve even deeper into the complex emotions simmering between Daven and Althea. As Daven grapples with his unexpected tenderness and guilt, readers can anticipate a raw exploration of vulnerability and the fragile boundaries between duty and desire. The quiet intimacy of the night sets the stage for moments of honesty that could either heal old wounds or open new ones, leaving both characters—and the readers—uncertain about what the future holds.
Tensions are likely to rise as the consequences of Daven’s choices come into sharper focus. Althea’s quiet strength and unexpected impact on Daven may challenge long-held assumptions, while external pressures, hinted at but not fully revealed, threaten to complicate their fragile connection. Emotions will run high, and the delicate balance between hope and heartbreak will keep readers eagerly turning the pages, wondering if this fleeting moment of closeness can survive the shadows looming just beyond the door.
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.