A Fragile Promise

Chapter 2. Announcement

Althea stood in the corner of the room, the sounds of laughter and music muffled as she hugged her arms tightly around herself. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, each beat echoing the growing distance between her and Felix. The sharp sting of her unspoken words, the ones that had been building in her chest for weeks, made it feel as if the room had closed in on her. She had expected a moment of joy, a shared celebration, but instead, she was alone in the midst of a crowd, consumed by the weight of her own thoughts.

Her fingers trembled as she wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. Althea quickly looked around, hoping no one had seen, but the room seemed oblivious to her inner turmoil. Lorraine was talking to a group of guests near the bar, oblivious to her sister’s sudden disappearance. Felix, still talking with Sophia, had no idea she was struggling to hold herself together.

She inhaled shakily, attempting to steady herself. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She had imagined a different kind of night—one filled with laughter, shared moments, and the revelation of their new life. But instead, she felt invisible, forgotten.

A voice, soft but concerned, broke through her spiral of thoughts. "Althea?"

Althea turned to see Lorraine standing at the edge of the room, her eyes searching Althea’s face with quiet concern. The easy smile she wore earlier was gone, replaced by a worried expression that tugged at Althea’s heart.

“Are you okay? You just disappeared," Lorraine asked, her tone gentle yet insistent.

Althea forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine. Just… needed a moment.”

Lorraine stepped closer, her eyes narrowing with a mix of understanding and suspicion. "You’ve been a little off tonight. Is everything alright with Felix?"

Althea swallowed hard, the words she had been trying to hold back suddenly threatening to spill. The ache in her chest tightened, but she managed to shake her head. "It’s nothing. I just… thought tonight would be different, you know?"

Lorraine's gaze softened. She placed a hand on her sister’s arm, squeezing it gently. “I get it. You want tonight to be special. But you can’t expect him to just read your mind. He’s… not great with this kind of stuff. But if something’s bothering you, you need to talk to him, Althea. Communication is key.”

Althea nodded absently, her mind too clouded with doubt to absorb her sister’s words. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take—this growing distance between her and Felix, the sense of being overlooked, of being unseen. Was it really just a misunderstanding, or was there something more she wasn’t willing to face?

Lorraine’s voice brought her back to the present. “Do you want to head back inside? Felix might be looking for you.”

Althea glanced at the door to the terrace, her heart racing. Felix. She had wanted to share the best news of her life with him, to bring them closer, yet every moment felt like another step further apart.

“I think I need some air,” Althea replied, forcing a tight smile. “I’ll be okay.”

Lorraine studied her for a moment longer, but then nodded. “Okay. But if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

With that, Lorraine returned to the party, leaving Althea to find her solitude. The cool air of the night welcomed her as she stepped outside, the chilly breeze brushing against her skin. She leaned against the railing of the balcony, her arms folded protectively around herself as she watched the fireworks burst above. The display was magnificent, a dazzling array of colors against the dark sky, but Althea’s heart felt heavy.

A part of her had hoped that tonight would be the turning point—the moment when things between her and Felix would feel right again. But now, she wasn’t sure what to think anymore. Was she overreacting? Did Felix even want to be a part of their future? He had barely noticed her tonight. And yet, he had seemed so at ease with Sophia, his smile so genuine, so carefree.

Althea closed her eyes, trying to push away the nagging feeling in her gut, but it wouldn’t leave. The anxiety was suffocating, making it hard to focus on anything other than the fear that she was losing him, bit by bit.

“Althea?”

She froze at the sound of Felix’s voice behind her. It wasn’t the casual tone she had grown accustomed to. This was different—gentler, more concerned. Her heart skipped a beat as she slowly turned to face him.

He looked at her with a mixture of confusion and concern. His brow furrowed as his eyes searched hers. “What’s going on? You’ve been so distant tonight. Is it something I did?”

Althea felt a lump form in her throat. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for. The words she had rehearsed were still tangled in her mind, but she struggled to find the right ones. She wanted to tell him everything, but the weight of her insecurities, the tension between them, all seemed to hold her back.

“I—I don’t know,” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “I thought tonight would be… different. I thought we would…” She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Felix stepped closer, his eyes softening. “What do you mean, different?”

Althea swallowed, her fingers gripping the edge of the balcony. “I thought… I thought we could reconnect, that we could celebrate the new year together. But you’ve been… so distant. And I just… I need to know that you still care. That you’re still with me.”

Felix’s expression shifted, guilt and regret flashing across his face. He reached out, gently taking her hands in his. “Althea, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was making you feel this way. It’s been a hard few months, and I’ve been… distracted. But it’s not about you. You mean everything to me.”

Althea’s heart skipped at his words, but doubts lingered in the back of her mind. Was this just another empty promise? Another momentary apology that would fade in the wake of the next distraction?

“I don’t know, Felix,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I just don’t know.”

Felix’s gaze softened, and he hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I don’t want you to feel this way, Althea. You mean so much to me.”

Althea’s breath hitched. She finally gathered the courage to share what had been weighing on her heart. "Felix... there's something I need to tell you." She hesitated, the words almost too big for her to speak. But in that instant, it felt right. The timing, the moment—they were here. "I’m pregnant, Felix. We’re going to have a baby."

Felix blinked, the shock clear on his face. His eyes widened as he processed her words, and for a split second, the silence between them was thick and heavy.

“Wait... what?” Felix murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Althea looked into his stunned expression, her heart dropping. The confusion and shock in his eyes struck her like a blow, and suddenly, all her fears from the evening flooded back.

She pulled her hands away, her throat tight with emotion. "I guess this isn’t how you pictured it, huh?" she whispered bitterly, her voice trembling. "Maybe you’re not ready for this, Felix. Maybe you don’t even want this."

Felix looked stricken, his mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right words, but nothing came out. The silence felt deafening, and Althea’s heart sank further, convinced that his reaction meant he wasn’t ready for fatherhood.

“Althea, no—" Felix started, his voice shaky, but Althea was already turning away, the lump in her throat choking back any words she might have said.