Chapter 4
Althea confides in her friend Lydia about her painful situation with her husband, Daven Callister. Despite the deep hurt she feels, Althea remains outwardly calm, though Lydia can sense the despair beneath. Althea reveals her plan to endure one last month with Daven, hoping for a chance to conceive a child as a last hope for her future. Lydia expresses concern and offers support, but Althea is determined to sever ties with the Callister family, even deciding to sell the house that holds memories of her mother.
Later, Daven returns home after a secretive dinner with another woman, Vanessa. Althea greets him warmly with a simple dinner she prepared, hoping to connect. Though Daven initially resists, he eventually sits and eats with her, showing a rare moment of engagement. Their conversation reveals Althea’s desire to understand Daven’s world, signaling her wish to find clarity before she leaves.
The evening takes an unexpected turn when Daven invites Althea to attend an important embassy dinner with him as his wife. This invitation surprises Althea deeply, as she had assumed Daven would go with Vanessa. His subtle compliment on her cooking and the request to accompany him mark a shift in their strained relationship, leaving Althea both stunned and hopeful amid the complex emotions she faces.
Chapter 4
“Have you… lost your mind?” Lydia’s voice cracked with disbelief, her expression frozen in shock. Althea could completely understand her friend’s reaction. She had confided everything to Lydia—yet without a single tear falling. Still, Lydia sensed the deep well of pain and disappointment beneath Althea’s calm exterior. Sometimes, anguish runs so deep that tears are no longer enough to express it.
There are wounds so profound that even crying feels futile.
“You can say whatever you want,” Althea murmured, a faint smile touching her lips. “But I truly believe this is the only chance life has handed me p>
“You have me, Althea,” Lydia snapped, frustration evident in her tone. “You’re not alone in this world. I’ve told you countless times—the Callister family isn’t a place for someone like you. You’re too kind, too gentle, to be forced to survive among them p>
Althea’s gaze dropped to the lukewarm tea cupped in her hands. She held it tightly, as if the fading warmth could soothe the turmoil raging inside her chest.
“I know,” she whispered, barely audible. “If I could turn back time, I would never have wished to be part of their family p>
A bitter smile curved her lips, one meant only for herself—an acknowledgment of a life that felt like an endless, crashing wave pulling her under again and again.
Lydia sighed deeply, leaning closer to Althea, who sat slumped with defeat. “Why wait a whole month? In the end, Daven will still divorce you, won’t he p>
Althea nodded slowly. “Like I said… who knows? Maybe within that month, Daven will spend the night with me p>
A painful smile flickered across her face as her head bowed lower. “My life is pathetic, isn’t it p>
A heavy silence settled between them.
“But who knows,” Althea continued softly, “maybe God will take pity on me. Maybe I’ll get pregnant p>
“Are you not afraid?” Lydia asked cautiously. “What if Daven finds out someday p>
“Why should I be afraid? It’s just one night, like the others he spends with different women, isn’t it? I can give him plenty of reasons. I won’t ask for anything from him. There will never be a Callister name tied to me—or my child—again p>
Lydia exhaled deeply. The despair Althea carried was real and justified. If this was what Althea wanted, Lydia could only stand by her. “And you’re sure about selling the house p>
“Yes,” Althea replied without hesitation.
Lydia looked at her, a mixture of admiration and sorrow shining in her eyes. “But that house… it was your mother’s. You two shared so many memories there p>
Althea paused briefly, then offered a faint, wistful smile. “I don’t want to leave any trace of myself in this city, Lydia. I’ve made my decision. I’m truly leaving p>
The evening sky had already darkened when Daven Callister unlocked the front door. The familiar click echoed through the grand, silent house—quiet, yet somehow resonant. His polished black shoes tapped against the gleaming marble floor of the foyer. His dark grey suit looked slightly rumpled, betraying the long day he’d endured. A faint trace of an elegant woman’s perfume lingered on his collar—a subtle reminder of the secret dinner he had just shared with Vanessa.
He sighed, loosening his tie with a lazy tug before stepping further inside. The lights in the main room were still on, casting a warm glow that contrasted sharply with the chill outside.
“Welcome home, Daven p>
His footsteps faltered.
Althea stood at the entrance to the dining room, dressed simply in a beige house dress. Her hair was neatly pinned up, soft strands framing her face. She smiled—warm and genuine—her brown eyes meeting her husband’s as if nothing was wrong.
For a moment, Daven just stared at her. Normally, he would have ignored such a greeting. But tonight, brushing Althea off felt impossible.
“I made dinner,” she said softly. “I heard the weather’s been cold today, so I thought you might like some beef soup and warm bread p>
Her words drew Daven’s attention to the dining table. Dinner was laid out with care: a steaming bowl of soup, homemade bread, and a small plate of salad arranged delicately. A single lit candle stood in the center, casting a gentle glow and dancing shadows on the wall.
He exhaled quietly. “I already ate p>
Althea nodded. “That’s okay. But it’d be a shame to let it go cold and waste it. You could try a little p>
Her tone was light, not demanding. Yet for some reason, Daven pulled out a chair and sat down without protest. Perhaps it was fatigue. Perhaps it was the hopeful look in Althea’s eyes. Or maybe it was because of the promise he’d made—to treat Althea as his real wife, if only for a month.
And dinner with his wife counted, didn’t it?
Althea took the seat opposite him, her hands busy pouring water into a glass. “Go ahead,” she encouraged gently. She didn’t touch her own food, simply watching him with a calm, steady gaze.
“How was your day?” she asked softly. “Did the morning meeting go well p>
Daven lifted his spoon, slowly tasted the soup, and swallowed without a word.
Althea offered a faint smile. She understood. Daven wasn’t the type to open up easily, especially not to someone he considered a wife only by circumstance.
“I heard about the Korean textile merger planning to expand into Mighatan. Aren’t they considered a competitor to Callister Enterprise p>
Daven’s head lifted slightly.
“Not a direct competitor,” he murmured. “But they do have connections to the raw material markets we’ve been targeting p>
Althea nodded thoughtfully. “I thought you’d approach it with an alliance strategy, not competition p>
Daven paused mid-bite. Silence stretched before he slowly set his spoon down.
“You understand quite a bit p>
“Some news portals have been covering it. I’ve just been following along a little p>
Daven raised an eyebrow slightly. He didn’t reply, but for the first time in a long while, he looked at Althea—not with disdain or irritation, but with a flicker of genuine interest.
Althea smiled—not out of pride, but because she knew she’d finally caught his attention.
“I want to understand the world you live in,” she said softly. “At the very least… if I’m going to leave one day, I want to go knowing who you really are p>
The word “leave” hung heavily in the air, like a thick fog settling over the room.
Daven said nothing. Instead, he picked up his spoon again and finished the soup in his bowl.
A long silence stretched between them—strangely comforting in a way neither could quite explain. Finally, Daven spoke, his voice flat as usual, though this time less cold.
“In two days, there’s a dinner at the Mighatan Embassy. The Japanese Ambassador will be attending p>
Althea turned toward him slowly. “Sounds like an important event p>
“The Japanese Ambassador has taken a particular interest in Callister Enterprise. He extended a personal invitation p>
“That’s wonderful, isn’t it?” Althea’s voice held a hint of enthusiasm.
“They invited me… with a partner p>
She was still smiling. “You can do that, Daven p>
“My wife p>
Althea fell silent.
“I’ve been asked to attend with my wife, Althea p>
Those words left her speechless. A sharp, inexplicable ache blossomed in her chest. It had seemed certain Daven would go with Vanessa. So why was he telling her this?
Was it a reminder of her place? Even without his words, Althea was painfully aware of her position in this house.
“Get ready to attend the event, Althea p>
Daven rose from his seat, resting a hand on the table before heading toward the stairs. But just before disappearing from view, he spoke again—without looking back:
“The soup was good p>
She hadn’t fully processed what he’d said yet. But…
“Am I dreaming?” Althea muttered, pressing her hands to her cheeks, feeling warmth spread suddenly. “Daven… complimented my cooking p>
But that wasn’t the most astonishing part.
“And he asked me to go with him? As his wife p>
The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing the fragile hope flickering within Althea amidst the shadows of her past and present struggles. Despite the deep wounds and the weight of her decisions, there is a quiet strength in her resolve to face life on her own terms. The tender moment shared over dinner with Daven, marked by his unexpected invitation to the embassy event, hints at a subtle shift in their complicated relationship—one that balances on the edge of uncertainty yet holds a glimmer of genuine connection.
Althea’s journey, marked by pain and resilience, reflects the complex dance between vulnerability and courage. The chapter delicately explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the longing for belonging, leaving readers with a sense of cautious optimism. Though the path ahead remains uncertain, this moment of recognition and invitation offers a fragile but meaningful step toward understanding and perhaps, reconciliation.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile and complex dynamics between Althea and Daven, as the invitation to the embassy dinner looms large. This event could become a crucible for their strained relationship, forcing them to confront unspoken tensions and hidden emotions in a public arena. Althea’s quiet determination to understand Daven’s world suggests that her journey is far from over, and her resolve might be tested in ways she never anticipated.
Meanwhile, Lydia’s unwavering support and the shadow of Althea’s painful past continue to cast a poignant backdrop to the unfolding drama. The weight of decisions about the house, the looming divorce, and the possibility of new beginnings create a delicate balance between hope and despair. Readers will be drawn into the emotional undercurrents swirling beneath the surface, wondering how Althea will navigate the fine line between submission and self-preservation in the chapters ahead.
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.