Chapter 112
Galatea stood at the window of her bedroom, staring at the darkened lounge across the way. Had Alaric been absent for the past few days? she wondered. Her thoughts then shifted to the night before. Those thugs—she had expected them to return, but they never did. Maybe they were just bluffing to scare her. The fear that had gnawed at her seemed to ease, and she sighed in relief.
The next day passed like any other. Cormac didn’t come by, and Galatea didn’t hear from Alaric. It was quiet. Too quiet.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Alaric was once again feeling the stirrings of frustration. Bored and restless, he grabbed his phone, scrolling aimlessly. There were no messages, no updates. He growled to himself, Galatea, you damn woman… you’re really carefree right now!
She had said she was done with him, but why hadn’t she reached out? Was she still thinking about getting back together with Ambrose? No way. He dialed Cormac’s number, unable to contain his irritation. When Cormac picked up, he was clearly irritated as well, having just drifted off to sleep.
“Dude, can you let people sleep at this ungodly hour?” Cormac groaned into the phone.
Alaric didn’t care about his friend’s complaints. “What about the information I asked you to find? Did you find anything?”
Cormac, still half-asleep, replied, “I’ve been busy all day. Tomorrow’s my mom’s chemotherapy day. I’ll call Galatea then.”
Alaric’s frustration deepened. “Fine, but call me as soon as you find out. And remember, if you mention my hospitalization to her, even for a split second, I will ruin you!”
“Got it,” Cormac muttered, barely registering the threat before hanging up.
Alaric leaned back on his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. Galatea, you really have no idea how much you’re getting under my skin right now, he thought.
The next day, Galatea had her usual routine: dropping the kids off at school and checking her calendar. It was time for Mrs. Ravenna’s chemotherapy, and she had to prepare for that. She quickly called one of the construction workers, Stanley, and informed him that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the shop today.
As she was about to head out and grab a taxi, her phone rang. It was Cormac.
“Hello, Cormac,” Galatea answered.
“Hey, Galatea,” Cormac’s voice was warm but with a note of urgency. “Today’s my mom’s chemo day. Can you help again?”
“I know. I was just about to head over,” she said, then added, “I’ll take a cab.”
“You don’t need to. Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up,” Cormac insisted.
Galatea hesitated but then agreed. “Alright, I’m at the intersection near the school.”
When Cormac arrived, she climbed into the backseat of his car. Although she didn’t particularly want to see him—considering his connection to Alaric—she didn’t want to be difficult either.
Cormac began with a light conversation. “After you helped my mom with her chemo last time, she’s been in better spirits. She’s really grateful to you.”
Galatea smiled softly. “I just did what I could. You don’t have to thank me.”
“I know, but still… it’s hard to find people like you. You didn’t even ask for compensation, and that’s why I feel a little embarrassed about it,” he said, his voice sincere. “But if there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”
“It was just a shot. No big deal,” she replied, brushing aside his thanks.
Cormac was quiet for a moment before he spoke again. “Still, I feel like I should do something in return. How about I treat you to lunch? My way of showing appreciation.”
Galatea, not wanting to be rude, was about to refuse when he pressed on. “It’s just one meal. Please, take it as a thank you from me.”
“Alright, fine,” she relented, sensing that refusing might make things awkward.
Later, Cormac dropped her off at the Nash family’s home. This time, Orion wasn’t there—only Griffon, the son with whom Galatea always felt an unspoken tension. Their interactions were few and far between, mostly formal and strained.
“Auntie,” Cormac said to Mrs. Ravenna, smiling, “You seem in better spirits today. Keep up the good work. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.”
Mrs. Ravenna smiled warmly, appreciating the gesture. “I can see why Alaric likes you. If only Orion had a fraction of your kindness and patience…” Her voice trailed off, filled with a maternal affection for Cormac.
Galatea felt a flutter of warmth in her chest, appreciating the kindness. “Everyone has their own way of being,” she said lightly.
Mrs. Ravenna smiled again. “I don’t have the energy to thank you properly right now, but make sure you do it for me, Cormac.”
“I will, Mom,” Cormac promised.
Once Galatea finished administering Mrs. Ravenna’s chemotherapy shot, the older woman had a stronger reaction than usual. She vomited and fell into a deep sleep, too weak to stay conscious. Cormac was visibly worried.
“Why was her reaction so severe this time?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
“Don’t worry,” Galatea assured him, trying to calm him down. “It’s normal. After the first phase of chemotherapy, reactions can vary. If the results are good, Mrs. Ravenna will gradually recover.”
“Okay, I trust you,” Cormac nodded, though his worry didn’t fully dissipate.
Once they left the Nash residence, Cormac asked, “What do you feel like eating? Italian or Japanese?”
“Either one is fine,” Galatea replied, trying to keep the mood light.
“Alright, let’s go for Italian,” Cormac suggested, pleased with the choice.
They settled into a quiet Italian restaurant, sitting by the window. The atmosphere was calm, but Galatea could sense that Cormac was about to ask something.
“So, what have you been busy with lately?” Cormac began, his tone casual. “Since you’re still recovering, you probably can’t work at Serenity Heights anymore, right?”
Galatea nodded. “Yeah, I can’t work there anymore. I rented a shop and plan to open a clinic.”
Cormac’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’re opening a clinic? That’s amazing, but doesn’t it take a lot of investment?”
“It does,” she replied, “But I’ve already secured the funds.”
“Really?” Cormac grinned. “Look at you, doing it all on your own. You’re Alaric’s fiancée, so I figured you’d have access to his money. But you didn’t even ask him?”
Galatea hesitated, then explained, “I didn’t tell him about the clinic. It’s… a personal decision.”
Cormac raised an eyebrow. “And the money?”
“A bank loan,” she admitted. “I’ve already got one, and the shop is under renovation.”
“Ah, I see,” Cormac said with a knowing smile. “Well, if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”
Galatea gave a small smile but quickly turned serious. “Cormac, could you please not tell Alaric about this? I don’t want him to feel like I’m relying on him for everything.”
“No problem,” Cormac agreed, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. He leaned in a little and asked, “Did you two have a fight?”
The question hung in the air, and Galatea felt a pang of discomfort. “It’s complicated,” she replied, her tone evasive. She wasn’t ready to discuss it—not with Cormac.