How Much Do You Know?

Days blurred into nights.

And nights into long, silent, and sleepless that blurred right back into days.

Thea had lost count of how many mornings she’d woken to the sound of footsteps outside her door and refused to look up, knowing it was him. Sometimes, she’d catch a fleeting shadow in the hallway or the faint clink of his coffee mug on the counter when she came down for breakfast hours later. But they never spoke. Not once.

The silence had become its own kind of language. One of avoidance, of hurt pride and broken hearts still pretending to heal.

Seth stayed in his study most of the time, drowning himself in work that no longer held meaning. Thea kept to her quarters, the air filled with quiet rustling, the sound of her trying to move on. They had become ghosts coexisting under the same roof.

She had returned back to school and even then, that was not enough to keep her mind off the troubles she was having at home.

And Thea, for the first time, didn’t care what Seth did or didn’t do.

She was done caring.

That afternoon, she sat by the window in Daisy’s Café, staring blankly at the cup of tea cooling in front of her. The place was quiet, tucked away from the city’s main street. A cozy refuge she’d once loved visiting and still loved regardless.

The smell of freshly baked muffins mixed with vanilla coffee filled the air. If there's anyone whose pastries smell nice and taste nice, it'd be Daisy's beyond a doubt.

Daisy wiped her hands on her apron as she walked over.

“You’ve barely touched your tea,” she said gently, sliding into the seat across from her.

Thea blinked and forced a small smile. “Guess I wasn’t as thirsty as I thought.”

Daisy studied her face, the tightness around her mouth, the faint puffiness under her eyes. “You look tired, T.”

“I’ve been sleeping fine,” Thea lied.

Daisy raised a brow. “Mhm. You forget I’ve known you since we were what, Eight? You’re not fine, Thea.”

Thea looked down at her tea. “It’s nothing. Just… work.”

Daisy didn’t push. She knew Thea too well; knew when she needed space and when she’d come undone if pressed too hard.

“All right,” she said finally, patting Thea’s hand. “But when you’re ready to talk, I’m here. No judgments.”

Thea nodded, grateful for the silence that followed.

Her phone buzzed against the table.

Celine.

Did Seth tell her about their troubles? She had wondered, finger hovering over the receiver button.

No, he wasn't that kind of person. He'll, he hasn't said a word to her since their fight.

Thea hesitated before picking up. “Celine! How are you?”

“Thea!” Celine’s voice was as bright as ever. “It’s been ages since we had a proper girls’ day. I was thinking..spa? I’ve booked us a session at Lumina Spa. It’s on me.”

Thea opened her mouth to refuse. She wasn’t exactly in the mood for pampering but Celine’s tone was too warm, too insistent. Maybe she needed the distraction. Maybe she was tired of feeling like her own misery’s hostage.

“Sure,” she said softly. “I’ll meet you there.”

♤

Lumina Spa was a serene escape tucked on the outskirts of town. The place was wrapped in white marble and gold accents, the scent of lavender oils perfuming the air. Celine was already waiting at the reception desk, her hair perfectly tied back, her signature bright smile lighting up her face.

“Thea!” she squealed, pulling her into a hug. “You look gorgeous, my dear. I’ve missed you.”

Thea smiled faintly. “I've missed you too. And I'm sorry I don't keep in touch as much.”

“It's fine, my dear,” Celine said, looping her arm through Thea’s. “Come on. You’re going to love this place. They have this divine honey scrub. It’s basically magic.”

The two women moved through the hall, past other guests lounging in silk robes. For the first time in days, Thea felt the tightness in her chest ease. Maybe this was what she needed. A few hours where she wasn’t Thea Balmero, wife to Seth Blackwood, the man she’d both loved and lost without him ever truly leaving.

Inside the treatment room, the air was warm and fragrant. Soft music hummed from hidden speakers, and steam clouded the mirrors. Celine chattered easily, her voice carrying a melody that made the silence less unbearable.

“I swear, Thea, some men are such disasters,” Celine said, lying face-down on the massage bed as a therapist worked on her shoulders. “You think they’ve figured themselves out, then they go and do something stupid.”

Thea let out a soft laugh. “Why did you say that?”

Celine glanced over at her. “I met this man a few weeks ago. Older than I am. Divorced with two children and four grandchildren. I mean, he's old, I am old. Shouldn't we know each other better by now?”

Thea turns her full attention to Celine, interested in the drama, the tears. “What did he do?”

“He's diabetic. And went on to get himself hospitalised. Uhm?! Now I'm running around to make sure he's safe. I told him to stay away from those candies..”

Thea laughs. “ I'm sorry you had to go through that.”

Celine shakes her head. “I needed the exercise. Was quite something to say the least. How's Seth?”

Thea’s heart stuttered, but she masked it with a calm shrug. “He’s been busy.”

“Typical,” Celine said, rolling her eyes. “You should make him take a break. He’s always worked too hard.”

Thea didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure she could.

A television on the far wall flickered to life, showing the muted image of a news anchor. The headline scrolled across the bottom:

BUSINESS TYCOON RUNES STERLING ARRESTED FOR FRAUD.

Celine frowned. “Ugh. That man.”

Thea looked up.

Celine’s voice turned sharp. “I can’t stand him. I remember when he and Seth were in university together. Everyone thought Runes was this brilliant golden boy, but he was nothing more than a thief.”

Thea’s stomach flipped. “A thief?”

“Yeah,” Celine said, sitting up slightly. “You didn’t know? Seth had this idea, long before Blackwood Empire became an Empire. He had a startup concept that would later become the backbone for Blackwood Enterprises. He spent months developing it. Runes stole the whole concept. That was how the Sterling Empire got its head start.”

Thea’s eyes widened. “He… stole from Seth?”

Celine nodded. “Worse. When Seth tried to confront him, Runes turned the tables, set him up for fraud, got him arrested. I was the one who bailed him out.” Her tone softened. “He never said it, but that broke something in him. He swore he’d never be powerless again.”

Thea sat back, her mind spinning. It was like puzzle pieces clicking together. The vengeance, the coldness, the obsession with control…

It all made sense now. Seth’s hatred for Runes wasn’t just business rivalry. It was personal. It was betrayal.

But even with that understanding, the ache didn’t fade. It still didn't justify why he chose to bleed on the ones who had nothing to do with his pain..

No matter how painful Seth’s past was, it didn’t justify using her.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror across the room, taking in the silence. That's one more thing learnt about Mr Seth.

Celine’s phone buzzed on the counter. She frowned, glancing at the screen. “Excuse me, I need to take this,” she said, rising gracefully. As she turned, her handbag slipped off the bench and hit the floor, spilling a few items.

“I’ve got it,” Thea said automatically, crouching to gather the scattered contents as Celine mouthed a thank you and hurried out of the room.

Lip balm, a silk scarf, a bottle of perfume. Then her eyes caught a folded paper near the bottom.

A medical report.

The words printed on it made her chest tighten: “Diagnosis: Stage IV.”

Her breath hitched. For a moment, everything around her faded. All she could hear was the slow thudding of her own heart.

Celine… was sick? Terminally?

Thea’s hands trembled as she slid the paper back into the bag with trembling hands as though she had just touched something fragile. She placed everything neatly where it belonged just as Celine returned.

“Sorry about that,” Celine said cheerfully, reclaiming her seat. “The man I was telling you about? That's him. He worries too much.”

Thea forced a smile, her throat tightening. “Everything okay?”

“Perfect,” Celine said, leaning back with a sigh. “Now where were we? Oh, yes. Face masks! I’m not letting you leave without one.”

Thea nodded, following her lead, her heart a storm of thoughts. She didn’t ask, didn’t hint, didn’t let a single flicker of her discovery show. She just sat there, eyes closed as the therapist spread a cooling mask across her skin.

But inside, everything had shifted.

“Celine?”

“Yes, my dear.”

“..I wanted to ask..” she hestiatated. What was she supposed to say? That she went through her things and saw a report that was folded but she chose to unfold it out of curiosity?

That was wrong.

“Ypu wanted you to ask me about what?” Celine asked, noting the silence that followed Thea's words.

“Seth said he wanted to get married quickly...” The words blurted out before she could control herself.

Damn it! This is even worse than what she wanted to ask her!

Celine chuckled. “I’m not getting any younger. I wanted to see that rascal happy for once..it's the only wish I have.” Celine said with a small smile.

Thea didn't miss the hint of sadness in her tone, she knew she would leave soon..

Seth hadn’t just married her for convenience. He’d married her to fulfill a dying wish.

She knew him getting married to her was because of Celine but she didn't think it was this serious..

And that realization made her heart ache in a new, more complicated way. Because beneath her anger and her pain, a small, stubborn part of her still loved him.

Hours later, the spa session came to an end. Celine hugged her at the door, still smiling that radiant, invincible smile that Thea now knew hid something darker beneath.

“Promise me we’ll do this again,” Celine said.

Thea swallowed hard. “I promise. Give me a call whenever and I'll come running.”

Celine nods and Thea pulls her into a hug again, fighting back the ache in her heart as she leaned even closer to Celine.

She had gotten fond of her already and it drove her to tears to know what she knew now.

Celine chuckled. “I didn't know you are just as clingy as I am..”

Thea stepped away, eyes glued to the grpund. “I’m sorry. Take care of yourself okay?”

Celine smiled and nodded. “See you!”

As she watched her drive away, Thea broke down in tears.