Chapter 43
The past few days had been especially chaotic for Galatea at the hospital. As a surgeon, her main role was to perform operations, but since the incident with Andreas, Galen had barred her from the operating room. Now, she spent her days on ward duty, interacting with patients’ families, though her schedule was just as packed as before, despite no longer performing surgeries.
Today, a patient had suffered severe postoperative bleeding, and Galatea was consumed with the emergency. So engrossed in her work, she skipped lunch. It was nearly three in the afternoon when she finally thought about grabbing a bite, but before she could, the ER was overwhelmed with new cases. A street brawl had left several injured, and Galatea found herself rushing to assist.
‘Street fights? Really?’ she thought in disbelief as she worked.
Her phone rang as she was stitching up a patient. Once she finished, she checked it to see that Alaric was calling.
After returning his call, she barely had time to say anything before Alaric’s stern voice came through the line. “You never learn, do you? It’s almost six o’clock!”
Alaric had finished work early and had been waiting for an hour in the lounge, but there was still no sign of Galatea.
“Mr. Knight, the hospital is swamped. I don’t have a moment,” she replied.
“I’m not interested in excuses. Get here, now!” Alaric commanded, his impatience clear.
“But… hello?” Galatea muttered to herself. What an annoying man. Always so selfish, never considering anyone else!
Finally, after tending to a patient’s minor injury and bandaging them up, Galatea quickly changed and rushed out of the hospital.
Once outside, she hailed a cab, realizing just how hungry she was. It was only a twenty-minute drive from Serenity Heights Medical Center to Nexus Innovations, but of course, traffic was at a standstill. Just two traffic lights away, and yet the car wasn’t moving.
“I’ll get out here,” she told the driver.
It’d be faster to walk now, but even walking would take me another fifteen minutes, and I’m so hungry. Plus, he’s not the type to let me eat before my therapy session, she thought.
So, Galatea turned onto another street and entered a convenience store to buy a sandwich. She ate quickly and picked up the pace, feeling like she had taken a longer route than necessary. As she moved faster, her phone rang again.
“Galatea Hartley, are you taking my words for granted? It’s almost seven, and you’re nearly an hour late!” Alaric’s voice came through, full of frustration.
Alaric had been waiting for another hour, his irritation building as he had yet to see her.
“You can’t rush me to fly over there, Alaric. Stop calling. I’ll be there in a jiffy!” Galatea retorted before abruptly ending the call.
Alaric, boiling with anger after she hung up on him, muttered to himself, “Galatea Hartley, that does it.”
There was no use in rushing now. Galatea had to sprint, but just as she raced toward an intersection, a car sped through the crossroads, heading straight for her. Bystanders screamed in terror.
A half-hour passed, and Alaric still hadn’t heard from Galatea. Just as he was about to call her again, his phone rang.
He answered immediately, snapping, “You.”
“Is this a family member of Galatea’s?” a stranger’s voice asked, making Alaric’s blood run cold.
“Yes, I am,” Alaric replied quickly, feeling an ominous chill settle in.
“I’m a doctor at Arizona Central Hospital. Galatea’s been in a car accident. Please come to the hospital immediately.”
An accident? The word hit Alaric like a punch to the gut. Galatea was in an accident?
His legs wobbled, and he felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash over him. After hanging up, he grabbed his car keys and dashed out the door, his mind a blur.
He arrived at Arizona Central Hospital as fast as he could, where Galatea was already being rushed into the emergency room.
“What is your relationship to the patient?” a doctor asked, his tone neutral but professional.
“I’m her husband,” Alaric blurted out without thinking.
“All right, please sign the consent form for emergency procedures,” the doctor instructed.
Alaric quickly signed the form, his mind racing. “How is she? Are her injuries severe?”
“She’s still in the emergency care unit. We’ll have more information for you after the procedure. Please be patient.”
Alaric stood in the waiting room, his mind reeling. The doctor handed him Galatea’s belongings from the scene of the accident: her purse and her cell phone.
The phone’s screen was shattered again, freshly cracked after being repaired just recently. Seeing this, Alaric’s chest tightened in distress.
Inside her purse, there was only a wallet and some handwritten treatment plans for her patients. It was starkly devoid of the usual cosmetics and personal items most women carried. Her treatment plans were meticulously written, reflecting the care and precision she had always shown in her work—just as she did with his treatments. But now, holding them, Alaric felt a deep sadness overwhelm him.
As he stood there, lost in thought, Galatea’s phone began to ring. It was Elisa.
Seeing her name on the screen made Alaric freeze. A deep sense of dread and guilt washed over him.
He stood motionless, allowing the ringtone to continue. After a brief pause, Elisa called again.
With a sigh, Alaric answered. “Hello, Elisa.”
“Mr. Knight, is it you again?” Elisa’s voice was bubbly with joy. “Are you two off on another date?”
“Yes,” Alaric replied, struggling to sound casual. If Elisa found out that her mom was in the ER fighting for her life, she’d be devastated.
“My mom seems to be head over heels,” Elisa continued cheerfully. “You guys are nearly thirty, just dating around? Why not just get married?”
Alaric’s mind raced, and a fierce resolve formed in his chest. Should Galatea pull through, he promised himself, I will propose to her. But for now, the fear of losing her holds me captive.
“All right, I won’t disturb your date then,” Elisa said, blissfully unaware.
“Elisa!” Alaric interjected quickly as the call seemed about to end. “Your mom and I are a bit tied up with some things. She might not be able to come home for the next few days.”
“Sounds like you’re planning to elope or something,” Elisa teased.
“No, nothing like that,” Alaric stammered. “We’re just traveling. I want to take her on a trip, away for ten days or so.” He wasn’t sure if this explanation would be enough to satisfy Elisa, but it was the best he could manage in the moment.
“A trip? Sure, then take your time. Tell my mom there’s no rush to come back. Harry and I will be good. Mr. Knight, just remember, my mom’s still a girl at heart. Please take good care of her while you’re out,” Elisa said kindly.
“I will,” Alaric promised, his heart aching. “Don’t worry, Elisa. I’ll take very good care of her.”
As he hung up the phone, the guilt inside him grew, weighing heavier than ever.