Chapter 8
I returned home with my head still filled with thoughts of Althea. Since leaving the hospital, I tried to convince myself that she was just angry and wanted to panic me.
She must be back.
However, the strange feeling that had been hanging in my chest since earlier wouldn’t go
away.
As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted with the sound of quiet sobbing. I turned my head and saw Selene sitting on the sofa, her shoulders shaking.
I frowned. “Selene?”
I immediately half–ran towards her.
She turned around with teary eyes, a look of fear plastered on her face. “Damien. Where have you been?” she asked in a trembling voice. “I… I was scared.” She said back and immediately hugged my body standing in front of her.
I rubbed her head, trying to calm her down. “Why are you crying?
Selene released her hug and rubbed her cheeks, seemingly trying to hold back her tears. “I woke up and didn’t find you at home. I looked for you, but you weren’t anywhere,” she replied.
I let out a breath. “Sorry. I just went out for a while,” I said trying to calm her down.
“Out where?” Selene looked at me with eyes full of suspicion. “You said you were going to your room, but you left. You didn’t lie to me, did you?”
I was silent for a moment before finally answering, “I went to the hospital.”
Selene froze. “What? To the hospital? Are you worried about Althea?” she asked with eyes
that still looked wet.
I sat beside her, wiping my face with my hands. “Althea left.”
Selene looked at me with an expression as if she couldn’t believe it. “You mean, she went home from the hospital? Then, where is she?” She asked again while moving her head towards the door.
I shook my head, growling softly. “No, no. He left. Left the house. He even left our wedding ring.”
I still get upset every time I think about it. Althea had always been an emotional and selfish woman. But this time, why did it feel different?
Selene looked at me for a moment before slowly smiling a small smile. But her expression quickly changed to one of concern, as if she didn’t want me to notice her initial expression.
“Are you worried?” Selene asked in a soft voice, placing her hand on my arm.
I snorted, trying to dispel the discomfort in my chest. “Of course not.”
I rose to my feet, standing tall and confident. “Althea is just being childish. She’ll come
13:03 Wed, 28 May GWG.
back once she’s had enough of upsetting me.”
Selene looked at me, then chuckled softly as she said, “Of course she’ll come back.“”
I turned to her, frowning. “What do you mean?”
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Selene stood up, stepping closer with a gentle gaze. “Damien, she’s been with you for five years. Do you think she can live without you?” she said sounding reasonable.
I fell silent. Five years of our togetherness. That’s right. I had given her everything, a place to live, a decent life. Althea might get angry for a moment, but she wouldn’t be able to just leave.
“Althea can’t go anywhere. She’ll come back, cry, and beg you to accept her again,” she said as she touched my arm, smiling a small smile, but it looked so sweet in my eyes.
I wanted to believe her words. I wanted to believe that Althea would come back. That she
had no other choice but to return to me.
But, why is this feeling still there? Why did my chest feel even more tight?
I rubbed my face roughly. “Never mind. I’m tired. I want to sleep.”
Selene nodded with a satisfied expression. “Sure. I’ll go back to my room too.”
I walked to my room and closed the door.
The atmosphere inside the room was quiet. I looked around, finding everything too unusual.
Usually, there was Althea’s sweater folded on the sofa. Usually, there was a warm cup of tea on my bedside table because Althea knew that I liked to drink, before going to bed.
But now, there was nothing. I tried to convince myself that this didn’t mean anything. That Selene’s words were true.
That Althea wouldn’t be able to go away. She would still come back on her own and beg for my forgiveness.
However, as I stared at her ring that was still lying on the table. I began to have doubts.
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