Chapter 31
Galatea’s medical malpractice case had become a public sensation, and even though she was one of Alaric’s people, Galen couldn’t protect her. He docked her entire annual bonus, issued a hospital-wide reprimand, and offered to pay half of the compensation out of his own pocket to the patient’s family.
“I’m sorry, Galen Archer. It was my fault that the hospital got into this mess,” Galatea said after drying her tears. She refused to give in to despair and instead sought out Galen at the hospital.
Galen’s face was etched with concern. Ever since Galatea had arrived at the hospital, it felt like they were caught in an unending chaos.
“You must be aware of the hospital’s decision regarding the sanctions. I understand that you acted out of professional duty, but the hospital has its regulations,” he said solemnly.
“I know, and I’m ready to face any consequences. I will find a way to repay the settlement to the hospital as soon as possible,” she replied, her voice determined.
Eventually, it was decided that the compensation would be a staggering one million dollars. If Galatea were to shoulder half of it, that meant five hundred thousand dollars—an overwhelming debt for her. Still, she had no choice but to accept the burden.
“The settlement has already been fully paid by Mr. Knight,” Galen added.
‘Alaric? Was he always this generous?’ Galatea thought, feeling a knot form in her stomach.
“With everything that’s happened, I’m sure you’re distressed. Take a few days off. Once you’ve settled down, you can come back to work,” Galen suggested.
“Okay, thank you, Galen,” Galatea replied quietly, her mind still swirling.
As Galatea left the hospital, her heart was heavy. She was baffled by Alaric’s unexpected kindness in handling the settlement. But her doubt about his goodwill gnawed at her, and she decided to seek clarity.
She went straight to his company. Upon arrival, she was informed that Alaric was busy with important clients, leaving her no choice but to wait in the reception room for the entire morning.
Finally, her patience ran thin, and she planned to step out and ask his assistant, Silas Moon, for some answers. Just as she reached the office door, it suddenly swung open.
Alaric walked out, accompanied by the so-called important clients. As soon as Silas saw him, he greeted him deferentially, “Mr. Knight, Mr. Cassius.”
The name “Silas Moon” drew the attention of the others in the room, and suddenly, all eyes were on Galatea. She found herself in a very awkward position.
“Mr. Knight, is this lovely lady also with your company?” Mr. Cassius asked curiously. The women at Nexus Innovations were always in business attire, and Galatea, dressed casually, stood out.
Alaric replied effortlessly, “No, she’s my fiancée, Galatea.”
“The future Mrs. Knight indeed possesses a unique grace and beauty,” Mr. Cassius complimented.
Galatea offered a modest, thankful smile. “You’re too generous, Mr. Cassius,” she said, trying to mask her discomfort.
“Well, now that Mr. Knight’s charming partner has graced us with her presence, I’ll take my leave,” Mr. Cassius said diplomatically.
Silas, knowing his cue, promptly escorted Mr. Cassius out. Once they were gone, Alaric turned to Galatea, who avoided his gaze and spoke softly, “I hope my sudden visit hasn’t interrupted your work.”
Alaric scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “What happened to the feisty woman I encountered just the other day?”
Having spoken his piece, Alaric retreated into his office, leaving Galatea trailing behind him, cursing him under her breath.
If it weren’t for the fifty thousand he loaned me, I wouldn’t be humbling myself this way!
“Did you tell Galen that you’ve already taken care of the compensation for me?” Galatea blurted out before he could say anything else. Quickly, she added, “Don’t worry, I’ll repay you.”
Alaric remained silent, leaning against the window as he casually sipped his coffee while observing her. His gaze was unreadable.
Frustrated, Galatea had no choice but to approach his desk. Grabbing his pen, she wrote an IOU on a sticky note.
“I hereby borrow $50,000 from Mr. Alaric with the promise to repay the full amount with interest. Borrower, Galatea.”
Alaric read the note, then looked up at her. “No mention of a deadline?” he asked, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
A deadline? Galatea thought to herself. Back when she was with Stellan, fifty grand was nothing but pocket change, but now, with her modest salary and two kids—plus Mia to support—it was an entirely different story.
“Can we agree on a three-year payback period?” she offered reluctantly, barely believing her own words.
“What if you can’t pay it back in three years?” Alaric pressed, his gaze sharpening.
Feeling trapped and all too familiar with the shame of debt, Galatea retorted, “Then what are you suggesting?”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Alaric tore the promissory note in half, leaving Galatea startled and asking, “What are you doing?”
“You don’t have to pay me back,” Alaric said coolly.
What? Don’t pay it back? Galatea’s mind raced, trying to process what he meant.
She took a wary step backward, hastily asserting, “What are you up to? Remember, we’re just pretending to be a couple!”
Alaric couldn’t help but laugh, though his amusement had a hint of mockery. “Do you really think I’m interested in your body?”
“So, what do you want, exactly?” Galatea asked, her voice laced with frustration and confusion.
Alaric moved away from the window and settled onto the couch. He spoke slowly, “Not many people know about my health. I’ve reviewed your resume. Your medical skills are more than competent. You can continue your work at Serenity Heights Medical Center, or you can quit. Whatever you decide, you will be my personal physician, on-call 24/7.”
“If I become your private doctor, the debt is forgiven?” Galatea asked, skeptical of his offer.
“Exactly,” Alaric replied, his gaze steady.
Galatea weighed the offer. It seemed like a reasonable trade, considering her background as a doctor.
“Agreed,” Galatea said, finally accepting his terms. “But since I’ll be your personal physician, I have the right to know the full extent of your condition. What are you suffering from? You must tell me the truth.”
Alaric hesitated for a moment, then confessed, “I’m not sick. I’m an ex-soldier. I was severely wounded during an anti-terrorism mission. Surviving was a miracle, according to the doctors. However, what the world doesn’t know is that I’m left with severe side effects. When I have an episode, it’s like what you saw the other time.”
The realization that Alaric had been seriously injured during a military mission commanded Galatea’s respect. It meant he had almost made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. She felt a deep sense of admiration for him.
“How often do these episodes occur?” she asked, her voice softening with concern.
“They used to be pretty frequent when it all started, and I was constantly on medication. But it has improved a lot in the past couple of years,” Alaric replied, his tone a little softer than usual.
“Can I take a look at your previous medical records?” Galatea inquired.
“Sure,” Alaric responded. “I’ll have Silas Moon send them over to you.”
As Alaric reached for his coffee again, Galatea quickly intervened, advising, “Someone with a psychiatric condition would do well to avoid coffee.”
“Psychiatric condition?” Alaric’s voice took on an edge of irritation.
“The aftereffects on you aren’t just physical. They’ve had a significant impact on your mental state as well,” Galatea explained, her voice firm as she poured out his coffee. “Since you’ve hired me as your private physician, it’s my duty to take care of your health. Starting today, no coffee for you. I’ll create a plan to manage your health.”