Chapter 16

Althea didn't want her mood to be ruined by Xavier's action, so she decided she wasn't going to give it much thought. If it was any consolation, at least he told her he was going to travel. Perhaps something came up that made him leave early? She caught herself mid thoughts. Was she trying to make excuses for him? If he considered her important, he could have woken her up to tell her. After all, it was this morning he left, and not in the middle of the night. So much for being a wife.

She goes back up to her room to freshen up. As she walks in, she sees her phone and new laptop by the bedside table, and she feels a little bit happy again. Maybe he's not entirely so bad.

She undresses and goes to have a warm bath. She takes her time in the shower, letting the water run down her back. She wasn't in a hurry. It's not like she had anything reasonable to do all day. After her bath, she steps out of the shower and inspects the skincare products stocked up in the cupboard. Perhaps she should start taking off her skin. But she didn't know how.

She made a mental note to ask the maid, or Xavier how she was to use them. She closes the cupboard back and goes to the closet to get dressed. She opted for a short floral dress that is just a little bit above her knees, then she packed her hair up, and went downstairs for breakfast. Sure enough, breakfast was already served.

As she ate, she thought about what she was going to do for that lady. Mostly, she would have read books. But she didn't feel like it today. Today, she wanted to do something else. As she was rounding up with her breakfast, one of the maids came to remind her she has the liberty to go out with one of the drivers, since she had requested to see the city. At remembering this, she was so excited.

But she first went to the greenhouse to check on the flowers there. it was gradually growing on her. Even though there were gardeners who took care of it, she found herself wanting to check on them by herself. After she had satisfied her urge, She hurried up and went upstairs to change into something more suitable. Althea couldn't contain her excitement.

She has been indoors for weeks, her father and aunt didn't let her go outside when she was with them, and now she was finally getting the opportunity to do just that. They always acted like if she had any interaction with the outside world, things would go wrong.

She picked out another dress, though this one was longer than the first, it was a flare, and light blue. She wore bracelets on her arm, and a piece of neck jewellery, then a pair of cute sandals.

She wore her hair up, from her face in a high ponytail. She takes her new phone in her purse and then heads downstairs. She decides it'll be less worrisome if she carried snacks she'll like to eat from the house, than having to stop over every time she wanted something.

Moments later, they're driving out of the compound, and they're on their way to having a good time. She talks excitedly with the driver about the places they should visit first.
They were talking when her phone started vibrating in her purse on her lap. He brought it out, only to see that the caller was Xavier. She was a bit worried for a moment, as she did not recall ever asking Xavier for his contact, or putting his contact to save it. Either way, she answers the call.

"Hello."

"How are you doing Althea? I believe you've left the house?" Even on phone, he sounded so cold and detached. No pleasantries, he just went straight to the point.

"Yes, I have, I'm doing alright."

As he could hear the curiosity and hesitation in her voice, he went on to say "I put my number in your phone and saved it, that's how it got there."

"Oh, okay,"she responds unenthusiastically.

"I'm sure you must have searched for me this morning, sorry I left the house like that, I got an impromptu call, my immediate attention was needed." Althea was taken aback.

She hadn't expected an apology from him. And he sounded so honest and down to earth. She wondered if it was a ploy. Even if it was, a ploy to do what exactly? There's nothing of hers that he could want.
"And, you looked so peaceful while you slept, so I didn't want to stir you awake." Althea couldn't believe her ears. Did Xavier just compliment her? A light blush crept up her cheeks. She didn't know how to respond to that.

"Okay, thank you." She replied sheepishly. "When will you be back?" She asked him.

"I'll be gone for three months, I'm in France." On hearing those words, it felt like her heart sank.

Three months was such a long time. But at the same time. At least she'll be free from his mood swings and unpredictable attitude.

Look at how sweet he was being right now, he could switch it up at any time and start acting distant and cold again. She now understood what he meant when he said he got her the phone and a laptop to keep her busy. That was thoughtful of him. She wished him a safe trip, and they ended their call.

The news of Xavier being away for three months sounded bittersweet in Althea's ears; She was unhappy because for a space of three months she'll be alone and happy because she'll have every freedom to do whatever she wants without thinking about Xavier encroaching on her space, or acting weirdly.

They ended the call, and she felt a bit relieved. She wondered if it was all another act, or if he was changing for real. Althea just wanted good communication between them at least. Even if they wouldn't act like a couple in love, they should be friends at least.

Her driver takes her to all the good spots and tourist attractions he knew and could remember. Althea was just like a child at that moment. She couldn't contain her excitement, pointing at almost everything, and taking pictures of random things she liked or admired. When she was hungry, she ate from the snacks she brought along.

Her driver was very entertaining, answering every question she had to ask in detail, and explaining things that needed to be explained. He didn't mind that she was too chatty, or that she asked questions about things that should have been obvious or things that everyone supposedly knew.

Instead, he was just baffled at how someone could have lived their whole 18 years on earth and had never before stepped into the outside world. He had questions for her too, but he didn't want to seem rude or cross a line. She was his boss's wife after all, and not just a regular person.

As they went, Althea couldn't help but wonder why her aunt never let her out of the house but kept her like a prisoner. Yes, her aunt did treat her right and never maltreated her, but the least she could have done for her was let her have a normal life at least. Althea didn't have any friends. She saw girls her age hanging out in cliques and having fun, chatting together. Althea never had that.

She didn't know what it felt like to have a friend. They went to the park, and she how children were playing, wild and free. Her whole childhood, she had just toys to play with. She spent most days talking to herself. She didn't have any experience with interacting with other people.
As much as being outside was exciting for her since it was her first time, it also made her sad knowing that she missed out a lot on her childhood. People had phones long before they turned 18, and she was just getting hers as a present from her so-called husband. It wasn't fair what her dad and aunt did to her.

They denied her a normal life. All she had was books and her imagination to explain what it would look like, but even now, she realized that those books didn't even do justice to it.

Althea decided to stop worrying and thinking about what she didn't have. She decided it would be better for her to focus on what she has now.

They tried all they could, went everywhere they could, but the city was just too big. There was still a lot they hadn't covered, but the day was becoming too hot, and the evening was fast approaching. They made the last stop at an ice cream place, but she was too tired. She got strawberry and coconut-flavoured ice cream.