Chapter 103
Galatea stood frozen for a moment, processing the unexpected turn of events. The phone call from the bank had left her stunned. She had spent so much time trying to figure out how to get a loan, and now, suddenly, the situation had changed.
Her heart pounded, not from excitement, but from the nagging suspicion that Alaric had somehow intervened. Had he somehow known? Or was it just a coincidence? But how could it be? It felt too much like his doing.
She forced herself to focus on the voice at the other end of the phone.
“Is this Miss Galatea Chu?” the bank representative continued. “We’re calling regarding your inquiry about the loan. We’ve reviewed your information and bank statements, and we found no issue. You’re eligible for the loan. You can come in tomorrow to apply, or we can send someone to your home, whichever is more convenient for you. You can borrow whatever amount you need.”
Galatea’s mind raced. What is going on?
“Thank you,” she replied, her voice measured but filled with confusion. “I’ll come to the bank tomorrow.”
She hung up, still unsure of what had just happened. It wasn’t like her to be so easily swayed, but this call—this offer—felt too good to be true.
As she stood there, lost in thought, she heard footsteps behind her. Caspian had come out of the bathroom, his face full of guilt.
“Mommy, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice small. “I didn’t mean to make things harder for you.”
Galatea turned to face him, smiling softly, though the weight of the situation still hung heavily on her shoulders. “It’s okay, Caspian. You were just trying to help.” She reached out to him, pulling him into an embrace. “But we have to be careful. I can’t rely on others to fix everything for me, especially when I don’t know what their intentions are.”
Caspian nodded, his forehead creased with concern. “I understand, Mommy. I won’t do it again.”
Galatea gave him a reassuring smile, but in her heart, doubts lingered. Had Alaric really helped her with the loan? She knew he had power—too much power, in fact. But she didn’t want to believe that he would intervene in her life like this, not after everything that had happened between them.
Later that evening, as Galatea sat alone in her room, her mind drifted back to the portrait of Mrs. Marigold. Caspian had been right to warn her against using illegal methods to track down the woman. But now, the thought of her connection to Alaric haunted her. Why would he know someone like Mrs. Marigold? And why had she been looking for her all these years?
The more she thought about it, the more questions piled up.
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. It was a message from Denny.
“CEO Ambrose wanted to know if you’ve heard anything about your loan. The deal’s moving quickly, and he’s offering to help if you need it.”
Galatea’s heart sank. Ambrose…
She had known that he was watching her, but to think he would directly involve himself in something as personal as her financial troubles was unsettling. What did he want from her? Was this his way of trying to control the situation?
She hesitated for a long time before typing a reply.
“I don’t need his help. I’ll manage on my own.”
She stared at the message for a moment before sending it, her fingers trembling slightly. She didn’t want to be in anyone’s debt, especially not Ambrose. There was too much history between them—too much baggage. She had no idea where they stood, but one thing was for sure: she wasn’t about to let anyone take control of her future.
The next morning, Galatea woke up early, determined to go to the bank herself. She didn’t trust the sudden change in circumstances, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that the loan was now on the table. As she prepared to leave, she glanced at her children. They were both absorbed in their usual morning routines, but there was something different in their eyes. They were more mature now, more aware of the world around them, especially Caspian.
She paused for a moment, watching them. Her heart ached with the need to protect them from everything—their father’s legacy, the mysteries of the past, and the dangerous people in her life.
“Mommy,” Caspian suddenly appeared in the doorway, his voice soft. “Do you need me to go with you to the bank? I can help.”
Galatea looked at him, surprised. “You want to come with me?”
“Yeah. I want to be there for you,” he said, his voice sincere.
Her heart warmed at his offer. “I appreciate that, Caspian. But this is something I have to do on my own.”
He nodded, though he still looked concerned. “Okay, but if you need anything, just let me know.”
“I will. I promise.” Galatea smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead before turning to gather her things.
As she left the house, the morning air was crisp, and her thoughts were clouded with uncertainty. She wasn’t sure if this was the right path to take, but she had no other choice. Whatever happened next, she had to keep moving forward—for herself, for her children, and for the secrets of the past that still loomed over her.
At the bank, the representative greeted her with a polite smile. “Miss Chu, thank you for coming in. We’ve reviewed your application, and we are ready to proceed with the loan.”
Galatea nodded, her heart racing. She had to be careful. One wrong move and everything could unravel.
“I’m ready,” she said firmly.
As they began the paperwork, a familiar name echoed in her mind—Alaric. It was impossible to ignore. Was he truly behind all this, or had she simply been lucky? Either way, she was in this deep now. There was no turning back.