Chapter 102
Ambrose’s sunglasses shielded his eyes as he kept his intense gaze fixed on Galatea, walking ahead of the car with deliberate steps. He could barely take his eyes off her. His heart twisted in both frustration and admiration. She had always been a woman of strength, and seeing her again stirred feelings he thought he’d buried long ago.
“Drive slower,” Ambrose commanded in a low tone, his voice tense with unspoken emotions. His assistant, Denny, responded immediately, easing the car’s pace.
“Stellan…” Ambrose murmured her name in his heart. “I’m sorry. I can’t acknowledge you right now. I have no choice but to keep my distance, but I promise, I will make it up to you a hundredfold when the time comes.” His grip tightened on his fist, a flicker of anger crossing his face as he recalled the disheveled state Galatea had been in the night before.
Alaric… Ambrose’s thoughts turned to his rival, the man who had once held Galatea in his grasp but failed to cherish her. He felt the weight of it. He’s let her slip away…
“CEO Ambrose,” Denny interrupted, his voice breaking through the tense silence. “She’s entered an alley. We can’t follow her any longer.”
Ambrose exhaled slowly, his thoughts churning. “No need to follow. Let’s head back to the company.”
As they drove away, Ambrose’s mind was not on the project they had just secured in Arizona, nor on the new office he was setting up. It was on Galatea, and the unresolved questions surrounding her disappearance. Years ago, when he had first returned to Arizona, he had heard rumors that she was dead. No one knew the cause, and no one had been able to give him answers.
The shock of seeing her alive had hit him like a wave. Yet, there she was, standing right in front of him—still his Stellan, but married to someone else. His chest tightened as he thought about the impossibility of their situation. I can’t call her Stellan now. She’s Mrs. Knight…
“Denny,” Ambrose spoke again, his voice cold, “I need you to find out everything about her—why everyone thought she was dead, and why she changed her name.”
Denny nodded with understanding. “I’ll get on it immediately, CEO Ambrose.”
The car ride fell into a heavy silence. Ambrose’s thoughts were consumed with the woman he once loved and the life she had lived without him.
Meanwhile, back at Galatea’s home, things were quieter, though the tension in the air was palpable. She had been to several banks that day, trying her best to secure a loan, but the process was far more difficult than she’d anticipated. The interest rates were sky-high at the smaller banks, but without a steady income or collateral, her options were limited. She had no choice but to keep calculating and searching for ways to make it work.
She didn’t even notice when Caspian entered the room, his eyes wide with concern. “Mummy, are you still in a bad mood today? Why didn’t you eat dinner?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Galatea looked up at him, offering a reassuring smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “No, I’m fine. I ate too much for lunch. I’m not hungry right now, but I’ll eat later.” She hoped the lie would be enough to ease his concerns.
But Caspian, ever perceptive, wasn’t fooled. He glanced at the papers on the desk, and the numbers jumped out at him. “Mummy, are you trying to get a loan?”
Galatea hesitated but then nodded. “Yes,” she admitted. “I want to open my own clinic. With my current situation, I don’t think any major hospitals will hire me. I can’t just sit and wait for things to happen. I need to do something myself.”
Caspian’s eyes widened. “How much are you trying to borrow?”
“At least one million,” Galatea said, her tone matter-of-fact. “But with the big banks so strict, I’m not sure anything is certain yet.”
One million… Caspian could provide that amount in a heartbeat, but if he gave it to her now, it would raise too many questions. He had to find another way.
“Mummy,” he said carefully, “aren’t you about to marry Daddy soon? His money is your money. Why not ask him for help instead of trying to borrow from a bank?”
Galatea smiled softly at his concern but shook her head. “We’re not married yet, Caspian. And even if we were, I can’t rely entirely on him. A person’s value should never depend solely on another person. If I want to acquire wealth and independence, it has to be through my own efforts. That’s the only way it’s truly mine.”
Caspian looked down, conflicted. “But… isn’t he supposed to help you? Isn’t he supposed to be there for you?”
Galatea chuckled softly, her voice tender. “Yes, he should, but that’s not the same thing. You’ll understand when you’re older. It’s important to be able to stand on your own two feet.”
Her words sank deep into Caspian’s heart, and a slight chill ran through him. He thought about Alaric and the way his mother spoke about him, almost with a hint of resignation. Is it really that bad between them?
Before he could think further, Galatea took something from her bag—a portrait. “Harry, I need your help with something.”
Caspian’s eyes immediately locked onto the image. “Isn’t this… my grandmother?”
Galatea looked at him sharply, her expression unreadable. “What?”
Caspian quickly covered his mouth, his heart racing. He hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but the portrait of the elderly woman was unmistakably familiar. He hadn’t seen her in years, but the resemblance was striking.
“No,” he said, shaking his head quickly. “I mean… it’s just an old lady. An old lady in the picture.”
Galatea didn’t press him. “I need you to help me find out who she is. Your hacking skills are excellent, right? Can you find her true identity?”
Caspian hesitated, but then nodded. “Of course, Mummy. I’ll get right on it.”
He took the portrait from her, feeling a cold shiver run through him. Why is she looking for this woman?
And in that moment, a thought flickered in his mind, one that he couldn’t shake. Alaric… I hope you’re ready for what’s coming.