Chapter 125
Alaric leaned back slightly, taking a deep breath through his nose before turning his gaze upward, as if searching for the right words. Then, slowly, he began to recount his story.
“My parents had an arranged marriage between two prominent families,” he began. “There was no love, just duty, and they argued constantly. It went on like that for as long as I can remember. Eventually, my father had an affair, and their relationship completely soured. I was still young, but I quickly learned to fear marriage. I could see how it had destroyed them.”
He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. Galatea, listening intently, remained silent, sensing the weight of his words.
“Their marriage ended in failure, but despite that, they still arranged one for me. A childhood betrothal to Orion.” Alaric’s voice became edged with frustration. “I hated the idea, and when I had the chance to join the military, I took it without a second thought. It was my escape from this family, from the pressure of their expectations.”
Galatea could hear the bitterness in his voice, but there was also a hint of relief. It was clear that joining the military had been more than just an escape; it had been his lifeline.
“I felt reborn when I joined the military,” he continued. “I found something I was truly passionate about, a purpose I was willing to fight for. But shortly after, my father passed away. My mother didn’t let up, though. She tried everything to get me to leave the military, even reaching out to my commanding officers. She wanted me back, and she didn’t care how it affected my career.”
Galatea was shocked. She had always assumed Alaric’s family would be supportive, especially given his status, but this only made the complexity of his life more apparent.
“At the time, there was this international organization called Astral Innovations Group,” Alaric went on. “They were notorious, and my mother pressured my commanding officers to keep me away from them. But I didn’t back down. I told them that if I could dismantle Astral Innovations, no one would make me leave the military. If I failed, I would willingly leave. The higher-ups agreed, and I got to work.”
He paused again, the weight of those years heavy in his tone. “For years, I hunted them down. The deeper I went, the more I realized how dangerous they were. They weren’t just a criminal organization; they were a shadow, a black vortex pulling everyone in. I led my team through countless operations, but none as intense as the final one. It was a massacre. We fought for an entire day and night, bullets flying and blood soaking the ground. Both sides took heavy casualties.”
Galatea couldn’t imagine the horror he’d endured. Her eyes softened as she watched him, silently urging him to continue.
“The mastermind behind Astral Innovations was known only as Tiger,” Alaric said, his voice steady but cold. “I finally found him in the heat of battle. He was a skilled fighter, unmatched in marksmanship. We went from guns to hand-to-hand combat, and in the end, I managed to stab him in the chest. But…” Alaric hesitated, his jaw tightening. “But he had another gun hidden on him. He shot me in the chest, and I…”
His voice trailed off, and Galatea felt the tension in the air. She could see the lingering pain in his eyes.
“I’ll never forget his eyes,” Alaric murmured, almost to himself. “That mocking, triumphant gaze. He smiled at me and said, ‘Do you think I’m Tiger? The real one is long gone. You’ll never catch him. But he’ll come back one day and kill your entire family to avenge us.’ Then he laughed at me, still smiling, before he died.”
Galatea’s heart sank at the brutality of it all, and she leaned forward, her voice trembling with concern. “Did the real Tiger ever come back? Did he try to get revenge?”
“No,” Alaric replied flatly. “But…”
Galatea raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more. “But… could it be that he was just trying to scare you? Those kinds of people are often psychotic, even in their final moments. It’s possible he was just trying to play mind games.”
Alaric nodded slowly, but the doubt in his eyes was clear. “That’s true… But I still feel like his words had weight. The real Tiger… isn’t dead.”
Galatea frowned. “But it’s been so many years. Do you really think he’ll come back for revenge?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a small smile, his eyes fixed on her. “Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. But that’s not the point.”
She blinked, trying to process his words. “Then what is the point?”
He leaned in slightly, his voice soft but firm. “I’m telling you all this because I want you to understand something. With my past, with all the potential dangers that could come for me, I’m resistant to the idea of marriage. But when I don’t resist… it means the person I truly want to marry has appeared.”
Galatea’s breath caught in her throat. She felt her heart race. Is he… is he talking about me?
Alaric watched her closely, his expression a mixture of tenderness and amusement. “You’re slow, but I’m sure you understand what I’m saying now.”
Her mind raced, still trying to catch up. “Do… do you really want to marry me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alaric chuckled. “What do you think?”
A lump formed in Galatea’s throat. She had never imagined this moment would come like this. It was unexpected, yet somehow, it felt inevitable. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to make sense of everything he had shared with her.
“But—” she began, but Alaric cut her off.
“Of course, you can refuse,” he said nonchalantly, as if the whole conversation hadn’t just taken a serious turn. “After all, I did mention the possibility of Tiger returning. If that happens, my family will be in danger, and by extension, so will you. So, it’s your choice—whether you want to take that risk.”
Galatea snorted, rolling her eyes. “Alaric, you really are an optimist. On the surface, you’re this wealthy, powerful man that every woman would want to marry. But underneath, you’re a sick man, constantly in danger of dying, and enemies can target you at any time. It’s hardly a good deal for me to be your wife.”
Alaric grinned, his eyes sparkling. “The latter situation might never happen. And if the first happens, if I die from my illness, then the Knight family’s fortune will be yours. How’s that a bad deal for you?”
Galatea stared at him, incredulous. “Alaric! Could you stop saying such gloomy things? What do you mean by dying early?” she scolded, her voice rising in irritation. “What, you can’t bear to see me die?”
“I’ve already told you,” Alaric said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I can cure the aftereffects of your illness. You keep saying you’ll die from it—doesn’t that insult my medical skills?”
Galatea’s eyes widened as she realized what he had done. “You tricked me!” she shouted, giving him a hard punch on the arm.
Alaric winced, pretending to be in pain, but the mischievous glint never left his eyes. Galatea, now fully aware of his antics, unbuttoned his collar to check on him, only to be pulled into his embrace.
“I’ve been busy all this time,” he murmured, holding her close. “And now, I finally have the time to see you…”
Before Galatea could respond, the door suddenly swung open. Cormac had entered without knocking, and upon seeing them, he froze.
“Sorry,” Cormac said with a smirk, “Seems I came at the wrong time.”
Galatea’s face turned crimson. She quickly pushed Alaric away, standing up as fast as she could. “I’ll… I’ll go talk to the doctor,” she muttered, fleeing the room in embarrassment.
Cormac, now alone with Alaric, couldn’t help but laugh. He’d seen enough. “Alaric, you’re a real piece of work, aren’t you?”
Alaric scowled, his face darkening. “Next time, call me before you come in. If you disturb me again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”