Chapter 69
Harry, burdened by guilt, decided to keep himself in check for the time being. The next morning, in an attempt to avoid unnecessary confrontations, he volunteered to return to the boarding school.
But Alaric immediately shut down the idea.
“I won’t have peace of mind with you boarding, given your current state of mind,” he said firmly. “I’ll drive you to school and back every day. I’ll personally make your breakfast and dinner. I worry the food at school won’t be to your liking.”
Harry fell silent, a creeping anxiety twisting in his gut. Does he know something? No—it was impossible for Alaric to guess the truth. Right?
“Go ahead, Caspian. I’ll pick you up after school,” Alaric said, leaning casually against the car as he waved him off.
Harry hesitated, casting Alaric one last uncertain glance before walking into the school, resentment simmering just beneath the surface.
After dropping him off, Alaric checked the time and then made a call.
“Silas, bring the moving company over.”
Meanwhile, at Galatea’s temporary home, the morning was peaceful. With the children away in the countryside, she and Mia had indulged in sleeping in. That peace was soon interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
Mia, still a little groggy, opened the door to find a well-dressed man standing there. He handed her a business card.
“Hello, I’m Silas Moon, Mr. Alaric’s assistant. Is this Dr. Galatea’s residence?”
Hearing the name, Galatea emerged from her room, her brows knitting together. “Silas?”
“Dr. Galatea,” Silas greeted respectfully. “Mr. Alaric has arranged for the moving company to assist with your relocation.”
“Moving?” Mia’s eyes widened as she looked between them. “What do you mean moving?”
Galatea was equally taken aback by how quickly things were progressing.
Silas remained professional. “Dr. Galatea, if you could mark the items that need to be packed, the movers will handle the rest. We can begin as soon as you’re ready.”
The place was just a rental, so there wasn’t much to take. Within a short time, everything was packed and transported to the new location. The movers worked efficiently under Silas’s direction, placing items according to Galatea’s instructions.
Once everything was set, Silas handed her a set of keys.
“Dr. Galatea, from today, this home is yours. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me.”
With that, he left.
Galatea stood there, staring at the keys in her hand, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. This house… it’s really mine? What does this mean?
Mia, however, was more vocal about her shock. She wandered through the spacious residence, marveling at its sheer size.
“This house is huge!” she exclaimed. “Ever since the Storms went bankrupt, we’ve been living in small spaces. Now we’re suddenly in a place like this… It doesn’t feel real.”
She turned to Galatea, her expression filled with unease. “Stellan, is this the house that Mr. Alaric—the one who visited last time—gave you?”
Galatea hesitated.
Mia’s voice lowered. “Giving someone a house is no small gesture… Have you two—?”
“There’s nothing like that, Mia. Don’t overthink it,” Galatea assured her.
Mia frowned. “Then why would he give you such a big house?”
Knowing Mia wouldn’t let the matter rest, Galatea told her the truth.
Mia was stunned. “You’re pretending to be his fiancée?”
“Yes,” Galatea admitted, “but it’s just to deal with the Robbins family. Once Orion gives up completely, this arrangement will end.”
Mia still looked unconvinced. “And you think it’s really that simple? The Robbins family is powerful. If they decide to retaliate, they could make your life very difficult.”
“I know the risks,” Galatea said. “But this arrangement benefits both of us. And besides, having the status of Alaric’s fiancée will make it easier for me to find my son.”
At the mention of the child, Mia’s expression softened. She let out a sigh.
“Poor boy… Where could he be now? What kind of life has he been living all these years?”
Galatea had asked herself the same questions countless times. Every day, she prayed that he was safe, healthy, and happy.
A knock at the door pulled them from their thoughts.
Mia answered it, already guessing who it would be.
“Alaric,” she greeted.
“Good to see you, Mia,” Alaric responded politely.
“Stellan is inside,” Mia said before glancing at Galatea. Sensing that she should give them some space, she quickly added, “I’ll step out for a bit and do some grocery shopping.”
As soon as Mia left, silence settled between them.
Alaric glanced around. “Do you like the new house?”
Galatea met his gaze evenly. “It’s too big for me. I haven’t earned a place like this. Living in a home I didn’t work for doesn’t sit right with me.”
He remained unfazed. “As I’ve told you before, to the world, you are my fiancée now. As Alaric’s fiancée, it’s only right that you live well.”
Galatea crossed her arms. “Once this situation is resolved, I’m moving out.”
At that, Alaric let out an irritated huff. He walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the city below.
From this height, the view of Arizona was breathtaking—the skyline glittering with ambition and dreams. This was the kind of luxury people spent their whole lives chasing.
“You’re a mystery to me, Galatea,” he murmured. “This life—the security, the comfort, the wealth—it’s what so many women dream of. Yet you act like it means nothing.”
She arched a brow. “If your understanding of women is limited to that, then your perspective is too narrow.”
Alaric turned to her, intrigued.
“My father taught me early on to create my own value,” she continued. “Because anything gained by relying on someone else comes at a cost. That cost might be your dignity, or worse, your sense of self-worth. And once you lose those, you lose everything.
“More importantly, relying on others never truly gives you security. Your entire life ends up at the mercy of someone else’s choices. That’s not a position I ever want to be in. I don’t like feeling powerless. And I won’t let myself fall into that kind of trap.”
A moment of silence passed.
Alaric studied her carefully. He could tell she meant every word.
It made him reconsider his previous suspicions about her. Galatea wasn’t the type to scheme for wealth or status. She was ambitious, intelligent, and fiercely independent. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her—she could handle herself just fine.
“Your father raised you well,” he finally said.
“Thanks for the compliment,” she replied.
Alaric hesitated, then spoke again—this time, his voice quieter.
“Do you know why I wanted to marry you?”
Galatea tensed. “I thought we agreed not to bring that up again.”
He ignored her.
“It’s because my son likes you.”
She blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
“From the first time he saw you,” Alaric said, watching her closely, “he was set on having you as his mom.”