The Lesson

The house had finally gone quiet.

Daniel stood alone in his study, staring through the large window into the darkness outside. His hands were buried in his pockets as he tightened his jaw.

Something in him felt uneasy. Why should it be? He was supposed to be satisfied. This was what he wanted, right?

He wanted Ann to understand that he was her husband and he deserves every respect from her. For months, he had watched the woman he married change. The gentle woman who once welcomed him home with a smile had become impatient and distant.

Whenever he confronted her, she had an explanation. “Oh, I'm so tired. I'm pregnant. I have work. Your mother needs me. The kid need me.”

Always an explanation. Never enough apology, at least in Daniel's eyes.

He remembered their argument a few weeks earlier. Amara had returned from work exhausted, only for his mother to ask her to prepare something for a family gathering.

"I can't do this tonight," Ann had said.

Daniel had immediately defended his mother.

"You don't have to speak to my mother like that," he spat.

"I wasn't disrespecting her. I'm tired."

He became more irritated. "You've been tired for months."

Ann stared at him sadly. "Maybe because I've been carrying too much."

Daniel bluffed and ignored her words but why do those words bother him now?

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. The door was slightly opened, and Olivia stepped inside.

She wore a silk robe over her nightdress, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. "You're still awake," she said.

Daniel turned swiftly. "We need to talk."

Olivia smiled. "I thought you might say that." She agreed as Daniel pointed at the couch in the middle of the room.

"Sit," he offered.

She went ahead and settled onto the sofa, crossing her legs against each other while Daniel remained standing.

"Don't misunderstand what is happening here."

Her eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," he snapped and it made Olivia laugh.

"I really don't."

"This isn't what you think it is."

"Then tell me what it is."

Daniel took a deep breath. "You being here isn't because I want you back."

For a moment, the smile disappeared from Olivia's face. "I never said you wanted me back."

"But you're thinking about it," he mumbled.

Another smile spread on Olivia's face. "You've always been very confident,” she uttered.

"I'm serious, Olivia."

"So am I."

Daniel walked toward the desk and leaned against it. "I brought you here because I need Amara to understand something."

Curious, she asked, "What?"

"She needs to understand that I won't tolerate being disrespected,” he stated.

Olivia studied him. "So I'm here to make your wife jealous?"

Daniel's answer was immediate. "No," he retorted, his tone getting tense. "You're here to make her realize that her behavior has consequences."

Olivia's lips curved into a faint smile. "And what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Nothing inappropriate."

She almost laughed. "Then what?"

"Just be around," he responded, this time, softly.

"Be around?" She asked another question.

"Yes. Let her see that I can have people around me who respect me."

Olivia looked away.

Daniel continued. "Ann has forgotten what our marriage used to be. She thinks because she's my wife, she can say anything to me and I'll accept it." He shook his head. "I'm done."

Olivia looked at him carefully. "How long do you expect me to stay?"

"Until I feel Ann has learned her lesson."

"And after that?"

"You leave."

Olivia smiled. "Of course."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Olivia."

"Yes?"

"Don't create problems." His words were firm.

"I won't." She noted. "I mean it." She then rose slowly and walked toward him. "I understand." She stopped a few feet away. "But Daniel..."

"What?" He requested bringing himself out of his thoughts.

"What if your wife doesn't change?"

Daniel's face hardened. "Then she'll have to live with the consequences."

Olivia nodded, a part of her, pleased. "And if she does change?"

"Then everything goes back to normal."

Something dark flickered in Olivia's eyes. Normal? Was she sure she wanted everything to return back to normal?

Years ago, before Ann entered his life, Olivia had loved him. They had dated for almost three years, and everyone had expected them to marry.

Then everything fell apart. Daniel walked away. Soon afterward, he met Ann. Olivia had pretended to move on, but she never truly did. She had dated other men. She had traveled. She had built a career. But deep inside, she had always believed Daniel's marriage would eventually fail. And now he had invited her back into his home.

She wasn't going to waste the opportunity. Was she?

"Do you still love her?" Olivia asked quietly.

Daniel froze. The question was tough and he gave no answer.

Olivia took another step. "Do you still love Ann?"

His jaw tightened this time. "She's my wife."

"That's not what I asked."

Silence filled the room.

Finally, Daniel answered, "I don't know."

Olivia's heart jumped. She hid her satisfaction behind a sympathetic smile. "You'll figure it out."

Daniel looked at her. "Goodnight, Olivia."

She nodded. "Goodnight." But as she reached the door, she paused. "Daniel?"

He looked up.

"If you want someone to respect you..." She smiled. "...you have to give them something worth respecting."

Daniel frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Figure it out yourself." She concluded and opened the door. "Goodnight."

The door closed behind her.

Now left alone, he didn't know why her words bothered him but then, she would be of help.

—-

Olivia walked down the hallway toward the guest room. Her smile grew wider with every step. The moment she closed the door behind her, her expression changed.

She went to her suitcase and opened it. Inside were elegant dresses, perfumes, jewelry, and photographs. At the bottom was an old photograph of Daniel and herself. She picked it up. In the picture, Daniel was younger, smiling with his arm wrapped around her waist.

They looked happy. Olivia gently touched his face. "I told you I'd come back," she whispered.

She placed the photograph on the bedside table.

Daniel thought she was here to help him teach Amara a lesson. He thought he was using her. He didn't understand. She was using him too. She had not returned because Daniel asked her to.

She had returned because she wanted him back. She would play the role of the harmless ex. She wouldn't rush. She wouldn't openly attack Amara. Not yet. Instead, she would become indispensable. She would remind Daniel of their past.

She would make him remember the woman he had once loved. And when Amara realized what was happening, Olivia hoped it would already be too late. She picked up her phone and stared at another old photograph of herself and Daniel.

"Let's see who learns the lesson first."