Chapter 129
After Ambrose left, the tension in the room seemed to lift, and Alaric and Galatea shared a quiet smile with each other.
“Are you happy now?” Galatea asked, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“Aren’t you the one who should be happier?” Alaric responded, teasing. “The best way to get back at an ex is to live a better life than them. And now, you’re not just his ex’s lover but also his benefactor’s partner. That must feel even more satisfying.”
Galatea raised an eyebrow, considering his words. “Seems like it. In that case, I should thank you,” she said, her tone light but with an edge of sarcasm.
“No need for that,” Alaric replied, his grin widening.
She sneered at him, teasing him in return. This man had really changed; he was no longer the uptight and serious figure he once was. She liked this new, more playful side of him.
“Come up to the bed,” he said suddenly.
“That’s impossible,” she said with a laugh. “You’re a patient now, and we’re in a hospital. Why would I do that?”
“I want to sleep holding you,” he explained, his voice dropping slightly as he looked at her. “To be honest, ever since we fought, I’ve had trouble sleeping for a long time. If it weren’t for falling into a coma, I probably wouldn’t have had a minute of sleep.”
Galatea blinked, surprised. He couldn’t sleep ever since their fight?
“If you can’t sleep, then keep trying to find a solution,” she replied with a half-smile. “I’m not your sleeping pill.”
“You are,” he said, his voice firm. “So come here.”
She looked at him, hesitating for a moment. “But we’re in a hospital!” she protested.
“I know, don’t worry,” Alaric said reassuringly. “It’s a private ward. The door automatically locks when it’s closed. Even if a doctor comes in, they’ll have to knock and ask for my permission. Hurry up, I can’t sleep without holding you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his persistence. He can’t sleep without hugging me? She thought for a moment, then finally relented. After all, it was just a hospital room, and she could tell that he was truly exhausted.
She climbed onto the bed, and the moment she did, Alaric pulled her into his embrace. It was the first time she lay in his arms like this, and for some reason, it felt incredibly comfortable, like everything in the world was just right.
“Alright, you got your hug. Now sleep,” she said, her voice softer now.
“Mhm,” Alaric murmured, closing his eyes.
She stayed still, trying not to disturb him. After a while, she realized that he had fallen asleep quickly. Galatea wasn’t sure if he was really asleep or just pretending, but it seemed genuine. How could he fall asleep so fast? Every time they were together, he seemed to sleep especially quickly. Was it because of her? She wasn’t a sleeping pill after all.
Her thoughts began to wander. Alaric’s presence seemed to make everything feel safer, calmer… almost as if his very being made her feel at ease. She couldn’t help but think back to his earlier words. He said he couldn’t sleep without me…
She looked at him again. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, more handsome somehow—she noticed it every time he was at peace like this. It was strange, but true. He was undeniably handsome, but there was something about his character, his actions, and now, his gentleness in sleep, that made him even more attractive to her.
She couldn’t help but admire him for a while, but then she pulled out her phone. She opened a post on social media—no replies yet, the last comment still a picture of Mrs. Marigold at the airport. Galatea’s thoughts returned to the strange interaction between Mrs. Marigold and Caspian’s words.
“This demeanor definitely belongs to someone important. You can ask my daddy; he definitely knows her.” Caspian’s words echoed in her mind. Was it possible Alaric knew this woman? She planned to ask him about it once he fully recovered.
She put down her phone and closed her eyes, letting herself drift into sleep in Alaric’s embrace. The warmth of his presence, combined with the comfort of being so close to him, made her feel at peace for the first time in what felt like ages.
Meanwhile, just outside the hospital, Mrs. Marigold walked slowly out of the elevator, the weight of her thoughts heavy on her shoulders. She had no idea how to tell Alaric about Caspian’s birth. The truth would devastate him. If he found out he had been deceived for six years, he would be furious. But that wasn’t all—there was the media to consider. It was highly likely they would make the Knights a laughingstock. What should she do then?
She had arrived at Alaric’s ward door, only to find it locked from the inside. She knocked, but there was no response. Peering through the glass, she saw nothing—just the drawn curtains around the bed.
“Open this door,” she instructed the nurse impatiently.
The nurse, a little hesitant, replied, “What’s your relationship with the patient? Mr. Alaric has instructed that during his rest time, nobody is allowed in without his permission…”
“I’m his mother,” Mrs. Marigold snapped, her voice edged with frustration. “Don’t I have the right to enter?”
“Please wait, I’ll get the key,” the nurse said hurriedly, and left to fetch it.
Mrs. Marigold, already frustrated, paced back and forth, her mind racing. How should she even begin to explain the situation to Alaric? This whole thing was becoming too much to bear.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. “Mrs. Marigold?”
She turned around and saw Cormac approaching. He had just come from home, and Mrs. Nash was feeling better. He knew Galatea was with Alaric at the hospital and wanted to check in on Alaric and ask Galatea about suitable supplements for Mrs. Nash. But instead of seeing Galatea, he found himself running into Mrs. Marigold.
“Cormac?” she asked, her voice strained.
“Yes,” he answered, then looked at the door. “Why are you standing here?”
“It’s locked,” she said, her frustration clear.
Cormac peered inside, his eyes immediately narrowing when he saw the drawn curtains. He understood what was going on—Alaric was likely asleep with Galatea. That was his style. If Mrs. Marigold saw them together, she would surely explode on the spot.
The nurse reappeared, holding the key to open the door. But before she could turn it, Cormac stepped forward, quickly taking the key and giving Mrs. Marigold a reassuring smile. “Mrs. Marigold, you know that Alaric has been struggling with insomnia lately. Now, he finally managed to get some sleep. We’d better not disturb him.”
“Did his insomnia act up again?” Mrs. Marigold asked, concern creeping into her voice, though her frustration was still palpable.
“Yes,” Cormac confirmed, his voice calm. “And Dr. Galatea is treating him. Her treatment seems very effective—otherwise, he wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly now.”
Mrs. Marigold’s expression softened for a moment as she processed his words. “Alright, let him sleep then.”
“Yes,” Cormac said quickly. “The hospital isn’t a good place, full of bacteria. There are professional doctors and nurses here, so you don’t have to come all the time.”
“How can a mother rest assured when her son is sick?” Mrs. Marigold replied, though her tone had softened a little.
“Yes, of course,” Cormac agreed, trying to redirect the conversation. “You mentioned Galatea earlier. Actually, I’m curious to hear your opinion of her.”
“Oh, she’s a very good person. Beautiful, kind, skilled in medicine… flawless, to say the least,” Cormac said, a note of admiration in his voice.
Mrs. Marigold’s eyes narrowed as she processed his words. “I didn’t expect you to praise her so much. She seduced Alaric. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have given up on your sister. Why are you defending her like this?” she asked, her voice harsh.
“Mrs. Marigold, what you just said is inappropriate,” Cormac said, his tone stiffening. “As far as I know, it was Alaric who took the initiative.”
“Alaric did?” Mrs. Marigold’s expression faltered, as if she couldn’t believe what Cormac was suggesting. “I’m his mother, and I know my son well. If that woman hadn’t allured him, would he have taken the initiative? It’s unbelievable how cunning she is. Not only did she seduce my son, but now you’re speaking so highly of her!”
“Mrs. Marigold, you should really reconsider your words,” Cormac said, shaking his head. “Alaric is his own person, and I don’t think you understand him as well as you think.”
Mrs. Marigold’s face hardened, her mind still swirling with anger and confusion. This woman… she thought, I’ll never forgive her.