“Let me be your real wife for just one month, Daven.”

It was a simple request—one that sounded like the last plea of a heartbroken woman. But to Althea Grayson, it was her pride. The price she asked for the love she had given, yet never once received in return.

She had known from the start: their marriage was never about love. Daven Callister had married her out of duty, pressured by his grandmother. There were no tender embraces, no loving glances—only cold silence and an empty house that never felt like home.

Still, Althea held on. She tried to be a good wife, clinging to the hope that one day, Daven’s heart might soften. But her hope was shattered by betrayal—Daven wanted to marry someone else. The woman he truly loved. With or without Althea’s consent. And his entire family stood behind his decision.

Heartbroken and disillusioned, Althea made one final request: one month of being loved like a real wife. One month... before she walked away forever.

Daven thought it was a desperate move—pathetic, even. But that single month changed everything. The way Althea smiled, the way she loved so fully. Even the way she left—left something behind that lingered in Daven’s heart.

And now, Daven was lost.

When the love he had never once recognized finally revealed itself... was it already too late?

Or should he fight against everything—just for one more chance?

"I'm getting married again," Daven said. "And I won’t repeat myself, nor will I be asking for your permission."

He set his coffee cup down abruptly, ending breakfast, he hadn't even touched.

Althea stood frozen near the long dining table topped with white marble. Her fingers, still holding the spatula, began to tremble. But she kept her expression composed. She bowed her head slightly, letting Daven’s words sink in—though they felt like a slow-acting poison, quietly destroying her from the inside out.

"With Vanessa?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Daven didn’t look at her. He simply took a shallow breath before replying coldly, “Yes. Who else?”

Her husband, Daven Callister, had never loved her. His heart belonged entirely to Vanessa Blake. In truth, their marriage had always been nothing more than an obstacle to his love story. But what could Althea do when the woman who arranged the marriage had been so kind to her?

Evelyn Callister—Daven’s grandmother.

Althea hadn’t wanted this marriage either. All she had wanted was a proper funeral for her mother. Everything that followed, she had accepted as fate. She had surrendered, despite the grief that still haunted her from losing her mother. But Evelyn had refused to let it end there. She demanded that her beloved grandson, Daven—the man responsible for Althea’s mother’s death—marry her as a form of atonement. Eve saw Althea as a lonely girl with no one else in the world.

Daven had only agreed because he was cornered by his grandmother’s wishes. He had no choice but to comply. But now, with Evelyn Callister gone—taken by illness two weeks ago—Daven finally saw a chance to escape a marriage he’d never wanted.

There was no reason to stay. Not anymore.

A faint, almost invisible smile appeared on Althea’s lips—not from joy, but from bitter resignation. She turned off the stove and gently set the spatula down. Once again, she closed her eyes tightly, trying to contain the storm raging inside her chest.

“I won’t stand in your way,” she said at last. Her voice was soft—so soft it barely reached across the wide room. “We both know I never had a place in your heart.”

Daven remained silent. He didn’t deny it. He didn’t correct her either. But there was the slightest flicker of disturbance in his gaze as Althea walked slowly toward him. For a moment, he thought she might cry, beg, or show just enough sorrow to make him feel guilty.

But she didn’t.

Althea stood tall. Her hands clenched lightly at the sides of her simple dress. Her long black hair flowed freely down her back, a quiet contrast to the calm strength in her posture. Her warm, light brown eyes now stared at him—blank, unreadable. At the man who had always been a stranger beneath the same roof.

Althea was beautiful, in her quiet way. But that beauty had never stirred anything in Daven. To him, Althea was nothing more than a disruption—an outsider forced into his life. And now that he had the chance to remove her, Daven intended to do exactly that.

“Give me one month of your time,” Althea said calmly. “Just one month ... Let me be your wife for real.”

Daven narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll leave, just like you want. After you say your wedding vows to the woman you love.” The words stung as they left Althea’s lips, each syllable carving pain deep into her chest. “You can divorce me, and I promise—I’ll disappear from your life for good. But before that, allow me to know what it feels like to be a wife. Not just some stranger living under your roof.”

Silence fell.

Then a dismissive laugh escaped Daven’s lips. He even wiped the corner of his eye, amused at how absurd her request sounded. What on earth was she thinking?

One month? The idea was laughable.

Daven took a step toward her, closing the distance. His eyes scanned her face, as if trying to decipher a hidden agenda. Maybe his mother had been all along—maybe Althea was just after the wealth tied to his name.

Who didn’t know Daven Callister? CEO of Callister Enterprise, one of the most influential young businessmen in Migathan City. People competed just to get close to him, especially women who thirsted for his attention. But Daven only loved one woman—and it wasn’t his wife.

It was someone else entirely—Vanessa Blake, a rising supermodel whose name was lighting up the fashion world.

“You’re serious?” he asked, his voice cold, laced with disbelief. “This isn’t some cheap soap opera, Althea.”

She gave a small nod. “I’m not asking for your love. Who am I to ask for something like that?” she said with a bitter laugh. “All I’m asking is to be treated properly—as your wife. Have dinner with me. Exchange a few words with me every day. Show me a little affection, even if it’s fake.”

She swallowed hard, her hands clenched into fists to keep herself steady. “After that, I’ll Walk away quietly. You’ll be free to marry anyone you want.”

Daven squinted, unsure whether to laugh harder or feel irritated. Yet beneath his disbelief, something in her words struck a nerve. A simple request—so painfully simple, it piqued his curiosity.

What is Althea's real purpose?

“Why not ask for something more reasonable?”

Althea fell silent. Looking away from Daven was difficult when those midnight-dark eyes were fixed on hers, commanding her not to break eye contact—not until he’d heard everything she had to say.

“If it’s money you want, just say it. I’ll give it to you.”

“No,” she said firmly, without hesitation. Her resolve had already been sealed. There was no turning back now.

“You really don’t know how to give up, do you?” Daven sneered.

“I already have, Daven,” Althea replied softly. “But I just want one memory to keep for the rest of my life. Before I walk away from you for good.”

Neither of them spoke after that.

This time, Daven’s gaze wasn’t as sharp. He looked at the woman before him with an unreadable expression. Was it confusion? Annoyance? Or... curiosity?

“I’m not promising to be nice,” he finally said.

“I never expected you to change,” Althea answered, her calmness more shattering than tears ever could be.

And with that, an unspoken agreement was formed.

One month. Thirty days for Althea to live as the wife of Daven Callister. A reality that should have existed a year ago—ever since their wedding day. But to Daven, she’d always been nothing more than an intruder.

Now, before everything ended, Althea could at least be grateful—Daven hadn’t rejected her request.

“Only one month, Althea,” Daven warned. “After that, you disappear from my sight.”

“I understand exactly what I’m asking for, Daven. You don’t have to worry.”

He scoffed, the corner of his lips curling with disdain. “And if you expect more than what I’m willing to give, I won’t hesitate to throw you out.”

Althea nodded obediently.

“Don’t you dare break your promise, Althea.” His gaze turned sharp again, piercing. “If you do, don’t blame me for destroying your life.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Catherine Callister—more commonly known as Kate—snapped, her shrill voice shattering the silence of the back garden. Her perfectly manicured fingers dug into Althea’s shoulder with enough force to make the slender woman stumble slightly. The lightweight plastic watering can Althea had been using to water the white roses fell from her hand and shattered upon hitting the sharp-edged stone tiles.

Althea didn’t flinch. She merely winced at the harsh grip, then quickly composed herself. With calm eyes, she met her mother-in-law’s gaze, her hands folded neatly in front of her. The pale blue house dress she wore fluttered gently in the spring breeze, lending her an even more delicate air—but her gaze remained steady, unshaken.

“How dare you make such a shameless request?” Kate continued, her voice seething with rage. Her eyes blazed. “You’re well aware my son is about to marry Vanessa, aren’t you? Of course you know that—and yet you still have the audacity to beg for Daven’s attention?”

Althea gave a faint smile, about to speak—but Kate cut her off sharply, clearly unwilling to hear a single word in return.

“You look like some pathetic little love-starved beggar.”

Once more, Althea offered a small, wistful smile. It was the kind of smile that whispered warmth in the middle of a storm. “I’m not asking for Daven’s love, Mrs. Callister,” she replied, her voice soft yet laced with a steely kind of courtesy. “All I asked for was time. Thirty days of his time.”

“And what do you think you can accomplish in thirty days, huh?” Kate stepped forward, the heel of her designer shoe crunching over the broken watering can with a sharp, splintering sound. “You think you can make Daven fall in love with you? That’s never going to happen. Burn that into your pathetic little mind, Althea. Daven loves Vanessa. He always has and always will. You’re nothing but an obstacle to their happiness.”

Althea exhaled slowly, bowing her head for a moment as she fought to steady the storm churning inside her. Then she looked straight into her mother-in-law’s eyes. Her gaze was still calm—but this time, it carried an unmistakable strength.

“I never wanted to get in anyone’s way,” she said quietly. “But I’m not something to be discarded either. I’ve been Daven’s wife for nearly a year, even if no one has ever acknowledged it. I just want to end this marriage... peacefully.”

Kate scoffed sharply; her face flushed with fury. “End your marriage peacefully? You really have lost your mind, Althea.”

Her words didn’t shake Althea—though her heart ached with every syllable. From the very beginning, she had never been welcomed into this home. The only person who had shown her any kindness was Eve, the warm-hearted older woman who treated her like family.

How could Althea not love her? Eve had become like a mother to her—a comforting figure who filled the void left by the one she had lost. Eve had become the grandmother she never had, the only light that gave her strength to keep enduring her cursed life inside the Callister household.

Because everyone else? They treated Althea with nothing but contempt. Mockery. Loathing. As if she were some scheming intruders who had come to ruin everything. As if she were a cunning woman with hidden intentions. But not once—not even once—had Althea ever thought to use her circumstances to her advantage.

If she could have one wish, she would choose a quiet life with her late mother over any of this. She had never wanted to live in this grand, glittering house. Not if it came at the cost of her dignity.

“You’ve already made a mess of everything, Althea. And now? Now you’re making it worse?” Kate’s voice cracked with rage. “Vanessa’s been preparing everything—her dream wedding, the family gathering, every important guest. And now, because of some ‘final request’ from a nameless, orphaned girl, it’s all been postponed!”

Althea lowered her head, biting her lower lip to keep her pain from spilling out. When she finally spoke, her voice was clear.

“Yes, I’m nothing more than a girl with nothing—no wealth, no power, no name. But I still have my dignity, Mrs. Callister. And all I want is to hold on to that.”

Althea’s words were met with a scornful scoff from Kate. The older woman looked at her daughter-in-law with disbelief, clearly unable to comprehend the way her mind worked.

“You can keep your dignity, Althea. But at the very least, you should know your place in this house.”

“I’m fully aware of that, Mrs. Callister,” Althea replied calmly.

Kate opened her mouth to retort again, but the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her. Daven appeared from behind the glass doors of the house, his suit still perfectly in place. The weariness from a long day’s work was evident on his face.

He glanced briefly between the two women before speaking in a flat tone, “Is there a problem?”

Kate turned to him, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Of course, there’s a problem. Your precious wife is trying to sabotage your wedding with Vanessa. She made an absurd request, and you—” she pointed a manicured finger at him, “—you agreed to it? I honestly don’t understand what you were thinking, Dave!”

Daven didn’t answer right away. His eyes were fixed on Althea. She didn’t say a word, but he knew she wouldn’t deny it. She wasn’t like the rest of the people in this house, hiding their motives behind masks.

“She only asked for my time, Mother. Just one month,” Daven said at last. “And I agreed. I’ve already spoken to Vanessa and explained everything. She’s willing to give me that time. Our love has already stood the test of time, Mother. It’s been a year since I married this woman, and Vanessa still waited for me. She didn’t mind giving me thirty more days.”

Kate could hardly believe what she was hearing. She buried her face in her hands in sheer frustration. But there was nothing more she could do. She had no choice but to go along with whatever her son had decided.

“Just make sure this shameless woman is out of the Callister family’s life when the month is over, Daven. I don’t want my beloved daughter-in-law waiting any longer.”

“Yes,” Daven replied curtly.

Althea, who had been standing quietly between them, spoke again.

“I know exactly where I stand. And I will leave once my time is up. But for now... I just want to spend what’s left in peace. That’s all I ask.”

Kate hissed under her breath, then turned away sharply.

“I will never see you as part of this family,” she spat before disappearing down the hallway, her footsteps sharp and swift—like every word she had just hurled.

Althea let out a long breath once the woman’s figure vanished from sight. Her hands trembled slightly, but she hid them beneath the folds of her dress. Only one figure remained, still standing there, watching her with that same cold stare—like she was nothing more than a discarded object.

“I didn’t realize my wife was so stubborn,” Daven mocked. “Do you want to be my wife that badly?” He let out a scoffing chuckle, laced with disdain.

“Do you regret agreeing to my request?” Althea asked softly, her gaze gentle but clouded with pain and disappointment.

Daven held her gaze for a moment, then shook his head.

“No. But I still think it’s ridiculous.”

“That’s fine,” Althea said, forcing a smile that barely reached her eyes. “What matters is... I won’t regret it.”

For a moment, the only sound between them was the breeze. Daven turned his face away, though his eyes lingered on her cheeks, flushed under the afternoon sun—or perhaps from holding back tears she refused to shed.

Without another word, he turned and began to walk away. But just before he vanished through the doorway, his voice called out behind him.

“If you’re this insistent... does that mean you’re ready to share my bed tonight, Althea? Isn’t that what you wanted— to become my wife in every sense of the word?”

Althea blinked, stunned. She was the one who had made that request, after all—asking to truly be his wife. Which meant... he had the right to touch her. Anytime. For the next thirty days.

Her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

“Yes,” she answered, her voice firm. She couldn’t back down now, could she? Even if the thought alone made her body tremble with fear.

But Daven’s response was as cold as ever.

“Too bad... I’m not interested.”

“But you already made a promise, Daven,” Althea said, her voice steady, stripped of shame. She had nothing left to lose—especially not her pride.

Daven laughed, but there was no warmth in it.

“You’re really clinging to that, huh?” He took a step forward, eyes never leaving hers. “Tell me, Althea. Do you want to be my wife that badly?”

She took a step back, instinctively. “It’s not like that—”

“Oh? Then what is it?” he snapped. “You begged for this. You practically signed yourself up to be mine—for a month.”

His voice was low, dangerously calm. He reached out, fingers brushing her chin—not tenderly, but not cruelly either. Just enough to force her gaze upward.

“Tomorrow night,” he said, gaze locked on hers, “I’ll come home not as the man you married on paper—but as the husband you insisted, I become.”

Althea’s breath hitched. Her hands curled into fists beside her dress, but she didn’t look away.

“I hope you’re ready,” Daven added, pulling back just slightly. “Because I won’t stop to ask if you’ve changed your mind.”

It would be a lie to say Althea wasn’t hurt. It would be hypocritical to say she wasn’t sad or disappointed. But... what could she possibly do to stop any of this? Even the man she had once thought she could rely on turned out to be the very first to break her heart.

Althea wasn’t blind. She could clearly see how Daven made no effort to hide his relationship with his lover. And yet, in front of his grandmother, Daven wore the perfect mask of a loving, attentive husband.

“God,” she whispered, eyes shut tight as the night deepened around her. Tomorrow was another day she had to face. “Please, have mercy on me. Just a little kindness, Lord. Please... grant me this one thing.”

When Althea had told him what she wanted, she never imagined Daven would agree.

That was why she couldn't afford to waste this—perhaps her only—chance.

A child.

Althea wanted a child. A companion in the years to come. Someone she could love without conditions. Someone who would call her “Mama”—even if that was the only warm word she would ever hear in her life.

And she knew... this might be her one and only opportunity.

She had no one left in the world. She wouldn’t ask for anything from Daven. In fact, she had already planned to disappear—to live quietly somewhere far away with her child. Somewhere Daven would never come. Because by then, he would surely be busy living his perfect life with the woman he truly loved.

That was her wish. No matter how many people might call it foolish or insane, she still hoped. She hoped, with all her heart, that God would be kind. That her wish would be granted.

That was why, that morning, Althea stood in front of the tall mirror in her private room. Her small fingers adjusted the soft fringe of her newly trimmed bangs. A little hesitant, but she smiled at her own reflection. Her face had been gently made up—not overly glamorous, but just enough to highlight a beauty she rarely revealed.

Today, she wanted to look beautiful.

Althea wore a simple nude-colored dress that delicately embraced her graceful figure. She smiled softly as her hand brushed the fabric. This morning, she planned to make Daven a special breakfast.

“I’m ready,” she whispered to herself. “If only Daven would hug me in the kitchen—” Ugh!

A flush of warmth rushed to her cheeks. A flurry of romantic novels she had once read flashed through her mind—vivid with their dreamy tales of husband and wife, wrapped in affection, making love in every corner of the house, passion igniting wherever they touched.

“How naive can you be, Althea?” she scoffed at herself. “Daven would never do such a thing.”

But… wasn’t hope often found nestled above the impossible? Sadly, that fragile hope shattered the moment the doorbell rang downstairs—followed by the unmistakable sound of heels and a sharp, mocking laugh.

“Who could that be?” Althea slowly descended the stairs. The subtle smile she had practiced in front of the mirror began to fade, replaced by a calm yet guarded expression.

In the living room, a woman sat with absolute ease. She wore a striking maroon jumpsuit and gleaming high heels.

Vanessa Blake.

Arrogant. Beautiful. And fully aware of the power of her presence. Her face was exactly as it appeared on television screens and countless advertisements. In truth, Althea had to admit—Vanessa looked like a goddess who descended to Earth.

Unfortunately... her smile and manners were said otherwise. Especially when directed at Althea.

“Oh?” Vanessa turned, her gaze sweeping over Althea from head to toe. Her smirk tilted upward with disdain. “So, you do know how to dress up, after all.”

Althea remained poised. “Is there something I can help you with, Miss Vanessa?”

“Oh, straight to the point, are we?” Vanessa rose to her feet, lightly patting the designer bag on her lap. “Aren’t you going to offer me anything? A drink, maybe?” She swept her long hair over one shoulder with practiced ease. “I’d think you’d have the decency to know your place. In this house, you’re the one most suited to serving guests. Your face certainly fits the part, Althea.”

Althea chose to smile.

“I’m not here for small talk,” Vanessa sneered. “I just dropped by. I wanted to see for myself what my fiancé is doing with a woman who doesn’t know her place. I thought you were bluffing when you asked Daven for time, but now I see—you’ve really lost your mind.”

“I’m still capable of thinking rationally, Miss Vanessa.”

Vanessa let out a delighted, mocking laugh. “Rational? Dressed like this? Hoping to seduce Daven?” She stepped forward, eyes blazing. “You’re nothing but a cheap woman!”

Before Vanessa could grab at her dress, Althea moved first. Her hand shot out, clutching Vanessa’s wrist in a firm grip—just enough to make her stop.

“I don’t care if you think I’m cheap, Miss Vanessa. But as of now, I am still Daven Callister’s wife.”

Her gaze didn’t waver. Neither did her grip.

“Watch your boundaries, you bitch!” Vanessa snarled. But then she laughed—quietly at first, the sound sharp and brittle like shattered glass. “Oh, sweetheart… that title—‘Daven Callister’s wife’—only exists on paper. Everyone knows that.”

“And everyone also knows your wedding hasn’t happened yet,” Althea replied softly but clearly. “So until that day comes, I am still his wife. And I will carry out that role properly, Miss Vanessa.”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “You really think you can touch him? That you can make him sleep with you? You are truly pathetic.”

“I’m not expecting anything,” Althea said, lifting her chin ever so slightly. “You don’t have to feel threatened by all this, do you? After all, hasn’t it already been decided who the real winner is?” She released her grip and stepped back. She didn’t want to touch the woman Daven loved any longer than necessary.

If it weren’t for the sheer strength of her resolve, Althea might have been in tears already just from facing Vanessa this morning.

Vanessa rubbed the wrist Althea had held. That damn woman! How dare she? She would not let this slide. Althea would pay for it—every bit.

“You know, Althea, I’ve always wondered…” Vanessa said slowly, her words slicing like daggers, “why Daven ever agreed to marry you. You’re nobody. No prestigious background, no powerful connections, not even a name worth mentioning.”

If those words had come from Kate Callister, her mother-in-law, Althea might’ve been able to accept them. But coming from Vanessa—an outsider who, unfortunately, was valued like family within the Callister circle—they stung worse than ever. She could say anything to Althea, and no one would ever stop her.

Althea said nothing, standing there with forced calm. She knew Vanessa was fishing—looking for any crack in her armor to strike. And God, how hard she had to fight not to let the tears fall.

“I used to think Daven married you out of pity. But now, I think… maybe he’s finally realized just how greedy you really are. You act quiet, pretend to be all innocent—but behind that fake purity, you’re sly, aren’t you?”

"That’s enough, Miss Vanessa," Althea said quietly. "If you came here just to insult me, I won’t entertain it. I have no intention of humiliating anyone."

"Humiliate?" Vanessa scoffed with a mocking laugh. "Sweetheart, you’ve already humiliated yourself just by dressing like that. What were you thinking? Would that Daven see you and suddenly fall in love? That he’d leave me for you?"

"I never expected that," Althea replied calmly, her voice steady. "I’m simply fulfilling my role, because that’s the only thing I can do right now."

"Fulfilling your role?" Vanessa sneered. "You sound like a grieving widow. It’s tragic, really. But even more pitiful since your husband is very much alive… and in love with someone else."

Althea bit her lower lip slowly. She lowered her head, inhaling deeply. She would not cry. Not in front of Vanessa. But before she could say a word, footsteps echoed from the upper floor.

Daven.

He had just emerged from his room, wearing a gray shirt and tailored pants. His appearance was relaxed, but the sharpness in his eyes immediately caught the scene unfolding at the bottom of the stairs—Vanessa standing far too close to Althea, whose face looked pale as if she was holding something back.

Before he could speak, another voice cut through the tension.

"What’s going on here? Why all the noise so early in the morning?"

Kate Callister’s sharp tone filled the room as she descended the stairs, flanked by her two daughters—Karina and Felicia—both of whom looked at Althea with the same disdain etched on their mother’s face.

Vanessa wasted no time stepping into her self-appointed role. "Aunt Kate… I just came to express my concern. Look at her—Althea dressed like this just to get Daven’s attention. I’m worried… she may be forgetting her place."

"Oh, for heaven’s sake," Kate eyed Althea from head to toe. "What are you thinking, wearing something like that, Althea? Where’s your sense of decency?"

"I haven’t done anything inappropriate by wearing this. I’m used to dressing like this at home," Althea responded softly, still trying to remain polite.

Karina let out a mocking giggle.

"Goodness, you’ve only lived in this house for a year and already you’re acting like you own the place?"

And it wasn’t just Siena. Felicia chimed in as well.

"This woman is getting bolder by the day!" she snapped, shoving Althea’s shoulder hard enough to make her stumble, nearly falling. "Wake up, Althea! You don’t belong here! You’re completely out of line!"

"Enough!"

Daven’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, making everyone turn toward him.

"Daven, you’re not planning to defend her, are you?" Karina asked, shocked.

He sighed, clearly exhausted. "I’m not defending anyone. I just want this morning to go on without any of your theatrics. I already have enough on my plate with work."

Vanessa pouted, lips forming a sulky curve. "I’ll take that as a defense for her, darling."

Daven exhaled softly. "That could never happen."

He stepped closer to Vanessa, gently brushing her flowing hair back with his hand, completely ignoring the sadness clouding Althea’s gaze just a few feet away.

Did Daven care?

Not at all.

"I’m asking all of you to end this argument. I need peace and quiet." Daven’s tone was flat, devoid of emotion, but firm enough to silence everyone in the room.

Kate scoffed in irritation. "Oh, for heaven’s sake, fine. I’ll have breakfast elsewhere."

She turned on her heel and walked away without waiting for a response, followed closely by Karina and Felicia—both still shooting scornful looks at Althea as they passed. Vanessa remained where she was, glaring at Althea with thinly veiled rage before finally storming off, her footsteps brisk with irritation.

Once the four of them disappeared from the living room, silence fell.

Daven rubbed his face slowly, looking completely exhausted. "Whatever is going on between you all, don’t make it my problem this morning."

Althea, who had been standing calmly despite the turmoil tearing through her heart, finally found the courage to look up at her husband. Her voice was soft, but steady.

"Then, please allow me to prepare your breakfast. It’ll only take five minutes. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?"

Daven didn’t respond immediately. He stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a brief nod. "Fine. Just don’t waste my time."

Althea gave a slight nod and quietly turned toward the kitchen. Five minutes later, she returned carrying a tray with neatly arranged toast, a sunny-side-up egg, and a steaming cup of coffee—even the napkin had been folded to perfection.

Daven was already seated at the dining table, scrolling through documents on his tablet.

"Here," Althea said, setting the tray down in front of him. "I know it’s simple, but... I hope it helps you start your day right."

Daven glanced at the food for a second, then began to eat without saying much.

Althea pulled out a chair and sat across from him, folding her hands on her lap. Her lips parted, hesitant at first, but then she spoke up again.

"You haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?" she asked gently. "I just wanted to remind you."

Daven set down his fork and knife, meeting her gaze with a neutral expression. "No."

Althea gave a small nod. "Then I’ll do my part as your wife—as I should. I’ll prepare your breakfast, make sure you don’t forget any important documents for work," she said with a faint smile, "and everything else a married couple might normally do."

Daven sighed and briefly massaged his temples. "I don’t want any unnecessary drama. You know the limits, Althea. Don’t make me regret agreeing to this."

"I won’t make you regret it," Althea replied, steadying herself. Her brown eyes locked onto his without hesitation. "Just one thing this morning... I only want to ask for one thing."

Daven returned her gaze, disinterested. "What is it?"

"Could you give me... a morning kiss?"