Chapter 95: The Burden of Truth
Galatea’s voice was soft yet firm as she explained, “Mrs. Ravenna’s body is indeed very weak. Beyond medication, she needs emotional support. A good mood is crucial to her recovery.” She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Naturally, I’ve canceled all my work and am staying home to be with her.”
“That’s good,” Griffon nodded approvingly. “Next time, when she undergoes chemotherapy, I’ll come with you. In the meantime, if Mrs. Ravenna feels unwell, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Thank you. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare lunch, so you can stay,” Griffon offered, but Galatea quickly declined.
“No need. I’d rather not,” she replied, her tone polite but firm. “I need to get home to take care of the children.”
“If that’s the case, I won’t keep you any longer.” Griffon escorted her to the yard, and as she reached her car, he paused, his voice changing. “Galatea, are you and Alaric planning to marry soon?”
The question caught Galatea off guard. She hadn’t expected such a direct inquiry. Before she could formulate a response, Griffon continued, “If you are, I’ll offer my blessings. But I treat Alaric like a son, and no one wants to see their child deceived. I hope you can be honest with him.”
Galatea felt a wave of unease at his words. This wasn’t the first time the subject had come up. “I understand,” she said quietly. “Well, I should go now, Griffon.”
“Alright, go home and get some rest. You’ve been a great help today,” Griffon said, ensuring a car was ready for her before watching her leave.
Once she was gone, Orion’s anxiety flared up again. She turned to Griffon, her expression tense. “Dad, are you sure there won’t be any problems with this?”
“As long as you don’t feel guilty and don’t reveal anything, we’ll be fine,” Griffon assured her.
Orion fell silent, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She kicked over a flowerpot in frustration and cursed under her breath, “I feel so powerless! I’ve been pretending to be Duke’s mother for all these years, wanting to be his real wife, but it was all for nothing! If I’d known Alaric would be so heartless, I wouldn’t have done all these stupid things for him.”
Her regret was palpable, but it was too late to change anything now. Griffon spoke calmly, “Since this is where we are, there’s no use in dwelling on the past. As long as we claim ignorance, the blame won’t fall on us. Just calm down.”
Hearing her father’s words, Orion felt somewhat reassured. After all these years, with him by her side, she knew there was little they couldn’t handle.
Back home, Galatea found herself troubled by Griffon’s words. Did Alaric really want to marry her? Did he truly care for her as he seemed to? She couldn’t shake the guilt over her deception regarding her past. It felt unfair to him. After much contemplation, Galatea made a decision: she would tell him everything.
If he accepted her, she would finally be free of the burden of secrecy. But if he didn’t, it was better to end things before they went any further.
Later, after returning from the Nash family, Galatea went to Nexus Innovations. As the Young Madam there, no one could stop her from seeking Alaric. She asked Silas and learned that Alaric was alone in his office, so Galatea mustered her courage and knocked on his door.
She had resolved to move on from the past, to tell him everything. As she approached the office, her heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety about how he would react.
“Come in,” Alaric’s voice rang out.
Galatea pushed open the door, and Alaric looked up, surprised to see her. “Why are you here?”
“I…” Galatea hesitated before finding her voice. “I came to talk to you about something. Do you have a moment?”
Alaric’s brow furrowed. “Unfortunately, you couldn’t have come at a worse time. The director of the Planning Bureau is about to visit the construction site. I need to go there.”
“Oh, then you go ahead,” Galatea replied, disappointed but understanding. Why had she come during his work hours? She had been afraid that if she didn’t act now, the courage she’d found would vanish.
Noticing her disappointment, Alaric’s tone softened. He smiled indulgently, standing up and walking toward her. “I’m surprised to see you here. Have you realized you want to marry me?”
The suggestion made her pause, a nervous flutter in her chest. This man, always so self-assured, seemed to take marriage lightly.
“Just kidding,” Alaric chuckled, his voice light and teasing. He bent down to look her in the eye. “Why are you looking so serious? I told you to go home and rest. You’re looking a little tired—dark circles under your eyes.”
Galatea blushed at his words, feeling shy. “I’ll go home soon,” she said quickly, touching her eyes to check for the dark circles. Did she really look so worn out?
Alaric took her hand gently. “Go home and get some rest. Take care of yourself, and I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”
Galatea felt a shiver run through her as he touched her. She had a strange sensation, like an electric current running through her body, making her heart race.
“Since I’m heading out now, I’ll take you home first,” Alaric added, leading her out of the office.
In the elevator, just the two of them, Alaric let go of her hand, his gaze steady. “Everyone in the company knows you’re my fiancée. You should start playing the part well.”
His words were clear, and Galatea could feel the weight of his expectation. She leaned closer to him, wrapping both hands around his arm, her body instinctively pressing against him.
“Is this okay?” she asked hesitantly.
“Not too bad,” Alaric said, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He seemed pleased with her response. As the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into the hallway.
“Mr. Alaric, Young Madam,” greeted several employees respectfully as they passed.
It was the first time they had been so publicly intimate, and Galatea could hear the buzz of admiration and envy following them. She couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and anxiety as they continued down the hall.
After leaving the company building, Galatea tried to give him space. “If you have something to do, go ahead. I can walk back by myself.”
“Mm,” Alaric replied, his voice smooth and light. “As soon as you get home, go straight to bed. If you’re not obedient, I’ll have to punish you.”
Galatea smiled softly, feeling his attention linger on her. “Got it. You go ahead—be careful at the construction site.”
Alaric leaned in quickly, pressing a brief kiss to her lips before pulling away. Galatea stood frozen for a moment, a wave of warmth spreading across her face. She touched her lips, still feeling the lingering sweetness of the kiss. It was a familiar thrill, like the first rush of falling in love all over again.
She could hardly believe it. He wasn’t a player, yet every time he initiated something, he always stopped just before it went further. Was it intentional?
Though Galatea had been in relationships before, her heart still felt like an unfamiliar territory. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to take the next step. The uncertainty loomed, but one thing was clear—she couldn’t ignore the stirrings of love that had begun to grow in her chest.