Chapter 128
Harry’s concern for his father was genuine, and before addressing his own troubles, he made sure to check on Alaric’s health. He dialed his father’s number, his voice warm but filled with worry.
“Dad, before anything else, I want to ask about your health first. Are you feeling better now? I wanted to call you earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest. I kept asking Uncle Cormac, and he said you were doing better. Is that true?” Harry asked, his words full of concern.
“It’s true,” Alaric replied, resting comfortably in his bed while Galatea sat beside him, peeling an apple. The quiet scene in the room was surprisingly domestic, as if they had been a married couple for years.
“Daddy’s fine now, so you don’t need to worry. Now, tell me, did something upset you?” Alaric asked, noticing the unusual tone in Harry’s voice.
“It’s Grandma,” Harry said, his voice heavy with sadness. “The day she returned, I came home from school and told her I was hungry, but she was furious and said I didn’t know the rules. I tried to keep quiet today, but then she started yelling at me and called me a bastard. I really don’t understand why she dislikes me so much. What did I do wrong?”
“A bastard?” Alaric’s heart tightened at the word, and he immediately sat up straighter. “Did she really say that?”
“Yes,” Harry replied, his voice shaking. “Although it wasn’t very loud, I’m sure I didn’t mishear her. And she even tried to hit me. Aunt Lindsay and the household staff can vouch for me!”
Alaric’s expression darkened, but he tried to reassure Harry. “Okay, I understand, Caspian. Don’t worry; this won’t happen again. Don’t take it to heart.”
Harry, feeling some relief after hearing his father’s comforting words, smiled softly. “After talking to Daddy, I feel much better now. I was really sad just a while ago.”
“Good boy. Daddy will be discharged from the hospital soon, so can you wait for me to come home?” Alaric asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“Okay!” Harry said eagerly, his voice full of affection. “Take good care of yourself and come home soon. I love you.”
Alaric smiled warmly. “I love you too, Caspian.” He blew a kiss through the phone, and Harry did the same. After a few more words, the call ended.
Galatea, who had been listening quietly, handed Alaric the apple slices she had prepared for him. “Your son called?” she asked, her tone a little curious.
“Yes,” Alaric answered, taking a slice from her hand and chewing thoughtfully.
“Did his grandmother scold him?” Galatea asked, sensing the tension in the air.
“It’s not as simple as that,” Alaric replied, his tone dropping slightly as he thought back to his own troubled relationship with his mother.
“A bastard? Is that what she called him earlier?” Galatea asked, incredulous.
Alaric nodded slowly. “Yes. She has never been kind to Caspian. For as long as I can remember, she’s always treated him like… an outsider. The only person she cares about in this world is me. Everyone else? She’s indifferent, even heartless.”
Galatea frowned, troubled by Alaric’s words. She had heard of Alaric’s relationship with his mother, but hearing him describe it so bluntly made her uneasy. She thought back to her own strained relationship with her former mother-in-law, Mrs. Marigold, and shuddered. “Is she really that bad?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Alaric’s eyes softened. “Yes, and it’s something that’s always weighed on me. I don’t know why she’s like this, but the fact remains: my mother has never shown any warmth toward Caspian, and it’s heartbreaking.”
Galatea looked at him with sympathy, her heart aching for both Alaric and Harry. “Your son is so pitiful. Neither his grandmother nor his mother loves him. It must be heartbreaking for him,” she said softly, her tone full of compassion.
Thinking back to his previous frustrations with Caspian’s reluctance to accept Orion, Alaric had a realization. No wonder he didn’t want to accept Orion, Alaric thought. If your own grandmother and mother don’t love you, why would you trust anyone else?
Caspian, after all, had only sought love and tenderness. It made sense now why he had latched onto Galatea so quickly. She shows him the affection he’s been denied his whole life.
“In a few days, I’ll take you to meet Caspian. You’ll definitely be shocked when you see him,” Alaric said with a grin.
Galatea raised an eyebrow, amused. “I’ve seen children before, so why would I be scared of meeting your son?”
Alaric laughed, teasing her. “Because he takes after me, so he’s handsome.”
Galatea rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. “Alaric, how did you become like this after getting sick? Stop talking and eat your apple.”
He grinned at her, the lightheartedness returning. He bit into the apple, savoring its sweetness. Maybe it was just a psychological effect, but he found it particularly sweet at that moment, as though the apple mirrored his current happiness.
Just then, a knock at the door broke the moment. Galatea looked up, surprised to see Ambrose standing in the doorway. She hadn’t expected him to visit, especially not so soon.
Ambrose had arrived earlier, and overheard their conversation, watching the affectionate exchange between them. He stood in the doorway, arms full of a fruit basket and supplements, trying to mask the tension he felt.
“Mr. Alaric, I heard you were unwell and got hospitalized, so I came to visit,” Ambrose said, setting the items down on the coffee table. His voice was careful, but there was an edge to it, like he couldn’t fully accept what he was witnessing.
Galatea glanced at Alaric, who didn’t flinch or seem rattled. His eyes met hers, giving her a reassuring look. Alaric remained calm, and Galatea felt more at ease.
Alaric, his tone level and steady, addressed Ambrose. “CEO Ambrose, you sure have a knack for gathering information. I didn’t publicize my hospitalization, but I didn’t expect it to reach you so quickly.”
Ambrose smiled faintly, though it lacked sincerity. “I understand your thoughts, Mr. Alaric. Don’t worry, I didn’t make it public either,” he said. Then, he glanced at Galatea. “How are you feeling now?”
“It’s not a big deal,” Galatea replied with a reassuring smile, “He’s been overworking himself lately and was feeling dizzy. I forced him to stay in the hospital, but otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken a break.”
Alaric gave a teasing look. “Yes, a wife who’s a doctor has its pros and cons. The good thing is she takes care of me, but the bad thing is she overreacts when I feel even a little unwell.”
“I’m not overreacting; I just care about you. You don’t appreciate it,” Galatea shot back with a playful glare.
Alaric’s eyes softened. “Yes, thank you, Darling,” he replied, giving her a fond look.
Ambrose, watching the affectionate exchange between the couple, felt increasingly frustrated. “Mr. Alaric and Mrs. Knight’s relationship is really something,” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral but clearly bothered.
“Of course,” Alaric replied with a smirk. “After finding a good wife like Galatea, it’d be a disaster if I didn’t treasure her.”
Galatea pretended to be coy, a little amused by Alaric’s teasing. “Alright, enough with the jokes. We have a guest.”
Ambrose felt like he was about to explode. Should he even stay here any longer? But he knew his time had come. “Now that Mr. Alaric’s fine, I can rest assured. I won’t be a third wheel here any longer. I bid you both farewell.”
“Alright, thanks for the visit,” Galatea replied coolly, not looking back as Ambrose left.
Once Ambrose was gone, he clenched his fists in frustration. Damn it! Alaric, I won’t let you keep Stellan!
And with that, Ambrose’s unresolved frustration simmered, while Alaric and Galatea remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing outside their hospital room.