Chapter 107
Alaric had always been accustomed to power—whether it was as the heir to his family’s vast wealth, the leader in the military, or the CEO of his company. Everyone around him bent to his will, and his authority was unquestioned. But Galatea… she was different. She was the first person to hang up on his call and turn her phone off without a care.
His anger flared as he tried calling her again, only to be met with the same automated message: The number you dialed is powered off. With his patience running thin, he stormed out of the building, slamming the door behind him in his fury. His next destination was clear—Galatea’s house. He would make sure she understood the consequences of this insolence.
Upon arriving at her building, Alaric stormed to her door, banging his fist against it. The door swung open, revealing Mia.
“Mr. Alaric?” Mia asked, her voice polite but guarded.
“Where’s Galatea?” Alaric demanded, his tone sharp and impatient.
Mia, having been polite and respectful to him in the past, now felt a growing discomfort in his presence. The image of Galatea crying the last time she had spoken of him, paired with his harsh tone, made her hesitate.
“Stellan went out and is not home today. If Mr. Alaric wants to find her, please come back another day,” Mia replied, her politeness tempered with a subtle firmness.
Alaric’s jaw clenched. He wasn’t about to leave without seeing her, especially after the way she had treated him. But Mia, sensing his mood, didn’t offer any more information. She didn’t want to get caught in the middle of whatever was going on between them.
He turned on his heel and stormed downstairs, seething. Reaching his car, he didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, he checked the time on his watch. It was getting late—past 9 p.m. He would wait for her. She had nowhere else to go, and he was sure she’d eventually show up.
Inside, Galatea was wrapping up a long day of work, finalizing a renovation plan with her designer. It was nearly 11:30 p.m. when the work was finally done. Exhausted, she yawned and gathered her things. She needed to get home, but the distance from the shop to her apartment meant she wouldn’t be there until well after midnight.
When she entered the building and pressed the elevator button, she suddenly felt a hand grip her arm. She gasped, her heart racing as she thought she might be dealing with a pervert. But as she turned, she was met with the last person she expected—Alaric.
“At this hour, you finally come back?” His voice was filled with accusation, as if she were a disobedient child.
Galatea stood frozen for a moment, utterly dumbfounded. “Do I need to report to you what time I come back?” she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and irritation.
Alaric’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t need to report your comings and goings, but don’t forget that you’re still my private doctor. I’ve told you countless times, 24/7 on call! And today is Wednesday. Not only did you fail to show up at my office, but you also disappeared!” His voice rose, an unmistakable mix of anger and entitlement.
Galatea was taken aback by his words. She had been working all day—couldn’t he understand that? Her frustration flared as she crossed her arms. “I didn’t play hide-and-seek. Mr. Alaric, you made it very clear that I was a fraud in your eyes. I know you dislike me, so I’ll avoid you whenever I can.”
“You’re quite the master of evasion,” Alaric shot back, stepping closer. “As my subordinate, I can choose not to see you, but you can’t just go off whenever you feel like it. Don’t forget your place.”
Galatea felt her temper flare. She couldn’t tolerate this anymore. Without responding verbally, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. Her fingers flew over the screen as she opened the mobile banking app.
Alaric was not pleased when she ignored him and started fiddling with her phone. His voice grew sharper. “Answer my question!”
But Galatea continued to ignore him, finishing the transfer on her phone before showing him the confirmation screen.
“Seven hundred thousand. That’s the full amount—principal and interest,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “I’ve paid you back. I’m no longer your doctor, and as for this house, I’ll move out whenever you want.”
Alaric stood there, stunned. “Where did you get so much money?” he asked, his voice betraying genuine surprise.
Galatea felt a surge of relief upon seeing his reaction. So he hasn’t meddled in my finances after all.
“None of your business,” she replied coldly, her gaze locking with his.
Alaric’s patience snapped. “Watch your words!”
“I haven’t stolen anything,” she shot back, her voice hardening. “I’m a grown woman, Alaric, not your child or servant.”
His anger bubbled up again. “Galatea, I’m warning you. Speak to me properly!”
Galatea met his gaze, unflinching. “Alaric, I hope you understand this—I am not your nanny. I’m not here to take care of you or be your punching bag when you’re angry. I am a person, and I am in no way inferior to you. You can’t just smile at me when you’re happy and expect me to fall in line, only to treat me like dirt when you’re upset.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, but she wasn’t done. “You always say you can’t figure me out. But do you think I can figure you out? From the start, you’ve treated me with disdain for no reason. I didn’t provoke you. You called the police on me, you got me fired from my job, and now you’re forcing me to pretend to be your fiancée and make ridiculous demands. I’ve tried to understand, but I can’t. If you really hated me, you could’ve stayed away from me. But instead, you’ve tried to control me every step of the way. You’re suffocating me. I hate your controlling nature!”
Galatea paused, breathing heavily, before finishing with one final, powerful statement: “I’m not your slave. I deserve respect, and I want it.”
She lowered her head, not wanting to see his reaction, but bracing herself for the inevitable outburst.
Alaric’s expression was unreadable, but his voice, when he spoke again, was calm, almost chilling. “Did you finish?”
“Not yet.” Galatea lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye. “I saved your life once, and you took care of me after my accident. We’re even. I’ve paid back the money I owe you. Now we’re done. As for Orion—she hasn’t made any move for so long, and I think she’s given up on you. I don’t need to pretend to be your fiancée anymore.”
Alaric’s face twisted with anger, his fists clenching. “So, you want to go your separate ways? Like strangers?”
Galatea nodded, her voice steady. “Yes, Alaric. We’re done.”
Alaric stood there, seething, unable to process the finality in her words. They had never even officially been together, and yet, she was breaking up with him before they even got a chance to truly be together.