Chapter 8
Galatea’s fury burned at Alaric’s attitude.
“Mr. Knight, I’m not sure what misunderstanding we have between us, but it’s excessive for you to cost me my job, don’t you think?” Galatea did her best to keep her temper in check, though her voice was laced with frustration.
Alaric glanced upstairs, his worry for Caspian evident. He stepped forward, gripping Galatea’s wrist with rough force, dragging her toward the door.
“A woman like you, who does vile things and then pretends to be innocent, doesn’t deserve to be a doctor. Now get out of here!” The thought of Caspian’s outburst the previous day only made him more irate, and the urge to throw her out intensified.
“Care to tell me, Mr. Knight, what I’ve done to offend you?” Galatea shot back, determined not to let him get away with this. She had intended to make a genuine apology, hoping to salvage her position at Serenity Heights Medical Center, but his hostility made that seem impossible. “Quit playing innocent. Your act doesn’t fool me!”
As Alaric continued dragging her toward the door, Galatea clung to the doorframe in a desperate attempt to remain inside.
“We’ve never crossed paths before, let alone had any bad blood. What could I possibly have done to repulse you so much?” she demanded, frustration and confusion mixing in her voice.
Suddenly, a noise came from upstairs. Alaric’s face tightened. He quickly shot a glance at Liona.
Liona rushed upstairs to check. Caspian was still asleep, and she locked the bedroom door from the outside for good measure.
As Liona descended the stairs with an air of composure, Alaric finally relaxed a little, his focus returning to Galatea.
“I’ve met plenty of women like you,” Alaric said with deep disdain, his eyes filled with contempt. “Trying to use my son to climb the social ladder. Nice try, but my kid already has a mother, and you don’t measure up!”
Galatea’s anger flared. “Alaric, are you delusional? When have I ever tried to win over your son?” she retorted, finding his accusation utterly absurd. “If you’re suffering from a mental disorder, you might want to get to a hospital fast. An early diagnosis means an early recovery.”
“Galatea!” Alaric seethed, fury rising as he was not used to being spoken to this way.
“You meet countless people every day. You remembered my name from one introduction?” Galatea countered, her voice sharp. “Could it be that you’re attracted to me? Is that why you keep seeking my attention?”
At her words, Alaric’s anger escalated, and he tightened his grip on her wrist, as if trying to crush it.
“An overconfident woman looking for trouble, that’s what you are!” he accused, his voice venomous.
“Are you furious because I’m not interested in you?” Galatea pushed further, her voice mocking. “Is that why you’re so petty, getting me fired? It’s disgraceful!”
“Galatea, stop being shamelessly deluded about your appeal,” Alaric snapped, his anger practically boiling over. “A woman like you doesn’t even warrant a second glance from me!”
“Weren’t you just looking now?” Galatea retorted, a defiant glint in her eyes.
Alaric fell silent, unable to respond.
Behind them, Liona stifled a laugh, having never seen Alaric so infuriated and speechless before.
Meanwhile, stirred by what he thought was Galatea’s voice, Caspian slowly emerged from his hazy dream state. Groggily, he swung his legs out of bed and stumbled toward the bedroom door, only to find it locked from the outside.
“Dad!” Caspian banged on the door. “Are you there? Let me out!”
Liona heard him and quickly informed Alaric, “Mr. Knight, Caspian’s awake.”
“We can’t let Caspian see that woman again; it’ll only trigger another episode,” Alaric declared, his tone final.
This time, Alaric didn’t waste any time. He was harsher, dragging Galatea toward the door with force. “You’re not welcome here. Now get lost!”
Worried that merely locking her out wouldn’t be enough, Alaric hauled her across the courtyard and threw her out the gates.
From behind some hedges, Harry, watching from a distance, quickly ducked down, his curiosity piqued.
“Wow, that guy’s sharp. Mom’s got a game going on? Just back in the country and already knows a wealthy man?” Harry mused silently, his mind racing with questions. He couldn’t make out their words, but he could see the man forcefully leading Galatea away.
Meanwhile, unable to open the locked bedroom door, Caspian rushed to the window. Peering through the glass, his heart sank as he saw the image of Alaric dragging his mother away.
“Mom!” His voice, though faint, reached Galatea, and her heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t just a dream after all—she was truly here. Caspian’s scream echoed through the yard, but it was Alaric who heard it loud and clear.
“I’ve warned you, this place will never be for you!” Alaric barked, dragging her even more roughly. “Keep coming back, and losing your job will be the least of your problems!”
Watching his father treat Galatea this way, Caspian felt a wave of anger surge through him. Even though it was his father—the man who had tenderly raised him—seeing him treat Galatea like this ignited something fierce in him.
As Galatea neared the gates, on the verge of being permanently shut out, Caspian acted fast. He fashioned a rope from his bedsheet, tying one end to the bedpost and dropping the other out the window. The second-floor drop wasn’t too high. Galatea stood locked outside as Caspian dashed through the side gate.
“Alaric, you’re nothing but a mean, delusional coward!” she yelled as she was dragged out.
From the illustrious Stellan to the ordinary citizens, Galatea had encountered all kinds of people, but none as disturbed as Alaric.
Her original plan to plead her case and secure her job had backfired completely.
“There’s no reasoning with such a despicable man,” Galatea thought bitterly. “I’ll have to regroup and plan my next move.”
She walked away from the lavish suburban villas, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the quiet morning. But then, a voice called out from behind her.
“Mom!”
Galatea turned to see Caspian, dressed in his pajamas and slippers, rushing toward her. Her frustration flared again.
“Harry!” she scolded, her anger rising. “How many times must I tell you? You can’t keep sneaking out after me!”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I promise it’s the last time,” Caspian pleaded, fear in his eyes. He grabbed her hand and they started running. “I’m hungry. Let’s hurry home.”
As they dashed away, Liona, noticing Caspian was missing, realized too late that he had slipped past her.