Chapter 152: Unveiling the Past
Galatea had just finished her bath, wrapped in a towel, when she stepped out of the bathroom. Alaric had prepared hot cocoa for her, his gesture warm and comforting.
“Drink this,” he said softly.
Galatea obediently sipped the cocoa, but when she finished, she tightly pursed her lips, looking as though she had done something wrong. She slowly sank onto the sofa, her head hanging low in quiet guilt.
Seeing her like this, Alaric let out a sigh, feeling a wave of helplessness. He frowned and knelt down in front of her, his expression softening. “What am I supposed to do with you? You’re not a child anymore. You can’t keep making people worry like this.”
The words stung, but it was clear he wasn’t angry. His worry for her surpassed everything else, even his concern for Caspian.
Galatea’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
Alaric’s brow furrowed as he gently lifted her chin, trying to catch her gaze. His voice was much softer now. “What happened? Why did you suddenly go to the cemetery to see Brennan?”
At his words, Galatea’s nose tingled, and her eyes began to well up. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears.
“Yes,” she whispered, “I suddenly missed Brennan. I went there and stayed until evening, but my phone ran out of battery. I didn’t mean to disappear.” Her voice broke as she spoke, and the pain of the past few days seemed to flood back all at once.
Seeing her struggle, Alaric quickly embraced her, pulling her close to his chest. He began to softly pat her back, murmuring, “I know. But next time, don’t be so careless. I worry about you a lot.”
For a long time, Galatea remained in his arms, finding comfort in the security of his presence. She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break this moment of peace. But eventually, she pulled away slightly, her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at him.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I suddenly missed Brennan?” she asked.
Alaric smiled gently, his eyes full of understanding. “A daughter missing her father doesn’t need a reason. And even if there is one, if you don’t want to share it, I won’t ask.”
His words eased her guilt slightly, but it lingered. He had always said he wanted to protect her, to have her as his wife—but she had been lying to him all along. The weight of the secrets she carried felt heavier in that moment.
“Alaric,” she said quietly, voice shaking.
“What?” he asked, his tone full of care.
“My name isn’t really Galatea,” she confessed, her voice wavering. “It’s Stellan Storm.”
The words hung in the air between them. Galatea felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she anxiously waited for Alaric’s response. His reaction was immediate—a brief flash of recognition crossed his face, but it was followed by confusion.
Stellan Storm. The name sounded so familiar to him.
Alaric stared at her, his mind working through the possibilities. “Stellan Storm… Why does that name sound so familiar?”
Galatea’s heart thudded in her chest, her anxiety rising. “I’m sorry, Alaric. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I changed my name to start over.”
Alaric took a deep breath, his expression calming. “I know,” he said softly. “I had already guessed that ‘Galatea’ wasn’t your real name. It’s okay. I understand. You wanted to leave the past behind. But Stellan Storm… that name rings a bell.”
Galatea felt a pang of guilt. She had been hiding so much from him, and now it was all spilling out. “My father’s name is Brennan Storm.”
Alaric froze, his mind racing. “You’re Brennan Storm’s daughter?”
“Yes,” she replied quietly, her voice barely audible. “Do you know my father?”
Alaric shook his head, his brow furrowing. “No, I don’t. I’ve always been in the military, so I don’t know much about business matters. But I’ve heard of Brennan Storm. He was a well-known entrepreneur.” He paused, his tone thoughtful. “I didn’t realize you were his daughter. I thought your family was just another wealthy one, but the Storms… They were as influential as the Knights.”
Galatea looked at him, surprised by his words. “No wonder my name sounded familiar. Stellan Storm, the top debutante in Arizona,” she murmured, more to herself than to him.
Alaric gave her an indulgent smile. “I was in the military for most of my life. After I was injured and in a coma for a while, I heard about the downfall of the Storm family. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, but what happened to them? How did a family like theirs collapse overnight?”
Galatea’s eyes darkened as the memories came flooding back. “I don’t know the full story either,” she said softly. “Before it all happened, I was studying abroad. I was supposed to come back that month, but one day, Brennan called me. He told me to stay abroad, not to come home. He didn’t give me a reason. He just told me to stay there and hung up.”
She paused, trying to steady herself. “I was uneasy, so I called him back, but he didn’t answer. I had a bad feeling. I flew back as soon as I could. By then, the Storm Family’s food company was all over the news. They were accused of food contamination—overdoses of additives that led to several deaths. They were also accused of tax evasion, bribery, and economic crimes. The company was shut down, and Brennan was under investigation.”
Galatea stopped, her voice shaking as she fought to keep the emotions at bay. “I thought it would be alright after the investigation. But after more than twenty days, they found the evidence—overwhelming evidence. They said Brennan was guilty. I couldn’t believe it. I knew my father better than anyone, and I knew he would never do those things. But the investigators said it was conclusive. He was facing prison time.”
Alaric’s heart ached for her as she continued, her voice trembling with emotion.
“But it didn’t end there,” she whispered. “After the investigation, Brennan was granted bail. He left the detention center temporarily, but… during that period, he… he jumped off a building.”
Alaric’s chest tightened. He didn’t know what to say—nothing could ease the pain she was feeling. All he could do was pull her back into his arms, holding her tightly. No words were enough.
Galatea buried her face in his chest, thankful for his silence, for the support that came without judgment.
After a long, quiet moment, Galatea looked up at him, her eyes still red from tears. “It’s not because he’s my father that I believe him. It’s because I knew him. He would never do those things. And as for his death… I don’t believe he would have left me. I don’t believe he would have committed suicide.”
Alaric’s expression softened as he processed her words. “Do you think the Storm family was framed? That there’s more to Brennan’s death?”
Galatea nodded firmly, looking into his eyes with a quiet determination. “Do you believe it?”
Alaric met her gaze, his voice calm and certain. “I believe you.”