-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♛♚SeventyEight-

✧A CASUAL DAY IN THE OFFICE✧

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Rhea had moved around the same few peas since the beginning of dinner, it felt wrong to eat them now that they turned cold. But something about the meal itself had turned bitter.

Whether it's the unfriendly company to her side, or the small portions of the meal. Rhea agreed that she wouldn't be able to stay here for much longer than a few days.

She'd rather stay with her brother than anything else, and perhaps she should.

At one point she was hoping that Alphard would put his hand into her lap like he would every time they ate together, but the only movement he made was to fix his napkin on his own lap.

The tension was deafening and Rhea was hardly open to the promised game of chess she promised Orion, and decided to go to bed early.

Had she been aware, she would've heard Orion's rushed whispers towards Alphard about heading off to bed early as well—To get that chat in.

Though it was useless as Rhea had already hid away in the bathroom, leaving Alphard to stand in the guest room, a smile making its way onto his face.

She had grabbed all his favorite dress robes and sleepwear. Not to mention that his briefcase seemed well in order.

For as much as Rhea pays attention to the finer details about him, how was it that she ignored the most important piece—That he doesn't pity her?

Yet now that he began thinking back to it all, it was most likely what all the wizarding world thought about their union. Rhea pitted the elder wizard and he is seeking younger company.

With all the work he attempted in trying to act younger, to keep up with her interest, did it come off because he felt pity?

No. He loves Rhea, loves his little goddess to the end of the earth. But now it was weighing too heavy on his heart, knowing that she wasn't feeling his all-natural adoration.

Yet exhaustion was slowly taking hold of his mind, and so he dressed quickly and decided to sit on the bed—His attention well on the door to wait for Rhea.

He was utterly thankful that she was just washing off the stress, as she usually instated before bed.

"I don't want to take the stress of today to bed, it's where we're meant to be at our most peaceful." Her words had acted as a curtain, as when he finally finished hearing the memory, Rhea opened the door in her silk robe with a towel in her hands.

"Goodness, Alphard. I thought you were with Orion." She rushed out, completely out of breath. "No—We—We should talk, Rhea." That was not at all what she wanted to hear from her husband, but nonetheless, she was obligated.

Especially if it pertained to the condition of their house.

"I left all the parcels from today on your nightstand if that's what you—"

"I could give a damn less about our manor, Rhea. What I care about is you, us. Do you truly believe that I pity you?"

"It just feels that way sometimes. Not all the time. But when we talk about adopting a pet, and me telling you my parents never allowed it...It's like you want to give me all these things because it's—"

"I want you to have everything to your heart's content. Your wants are mine to obtain for you, that is what a husband does. The only time I took pity is when you stood with your mother and Walburga, decked in your family jewels—You looked beautiful, never forget that. But the misery was too easy for anyone to spot. I pitied you and I felt angry that I couldn't do anything yet." Rhea blinked, trying to hide the fact that her eyes were betraying her.