Chapter 155: A New Chapter
Ambrose was seething with frustration, a deep sense of resentment gnawing at him. Alaric’s actions were clearly deliberate—taunting him, pushing his buttons. But what truly stung was Stellan’s indifference. How could she, of all people, have so easily shifted her allegiance from him to Alaric? They had been together for years. What was it that had made her fall for Alaric so quickly?
Impossible. He refused to believe it. Stellan couldn’t have just let go of everything they shared for someone she had known for such a short time. No, this must be some sort of cruel provocation. She was doing it on purpose to make him jealous. Ambrose couldn’t accept the idea that his Stellan could have changed her heart so swiftly.
Meanwhile, Galatea was experiencing her own brand of emotional turmoil. The weight of her past feelings for Ambrose had been a burden she could now see for what it truly was—blind obsession. And it wasn’t worth it. What she had once believed to be love now seemed nothing more than a misguided attachment. Thankfully, her relationship with Ambrose had ended definitively. There would be no future connection between them.
Now, with Alaric by her side, she was ready to devote herself fully to him. She had prepared a loving lunch, filled with all of Alaric’s favorite dishes, pouring her heart into the meal.
When Alaric entered the dining room, his eyes widened in surprise at the table full of food. “Did you make all of this?” he asked, genuinely impressed.
Galatea smiled softly, her eyes glowing with affection. “Yes, try it and see if it suits your taste.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a playful grin. “I’m not a pig. Why did you make so much?”
Galatea laughed, a gentle sound that made Alaric’s heart warm. “I just wanted to pamper you a bit. I may have gone a little overboard,” she admitted with a sheepish smile.
Alaric paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Caspian told me to be frugal, said it’s wasteful to have so much food we can’t finish.”
“Mr. Knight Junior’s advice certainly reflects the good upbringing he’s received from you,” Galatea remarked, the compliment lightly teasing. “I did make a bit too much, though. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Alaric chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. Despite his playful nature, he could see the care she had put into the meal, and it made him appreciate her even more. He sat down at the table, ready to enjoy the food she had prepared with such affection.
Halfway through the meal, Galatea looked at Alaric, a thought clearly weighing on her mind. “When do you plan to introduce me to Caspian?”
Alaric’s expression softened at the mention of his younger brother. “Caspian is currently resting at home after an injury. Mrs. Marigold is taking care of him.”
Galatea’s eyes widened with concern. “Injured? How did that happen?”
“He slipped in the bathroom and fractured his bone,” Alaric explained.
Galatea was puzzled, the news not quite making sense. “A fracture from a fall? But Caspian’s young, and he’s always had good nutrition. How could a simple fall cause that?”
Alaric frowned slightly. “I don’t know the full details. Caspian’s a proud kid—he won’t share the specifics of what happened. But, yes, it’s a bit strange.”
Galatea shook her head, still not fully convinced. “That doesn’t sound right. But I hope he’s okay.”
Alaric’s tone softened. “We’ll visit him once he’s better. Mrs. Marigold is already with him, and she’s doting on him.”
Galatea nodded, though her worry lingered. “Shouldn’t I visit him now? It sounds like he could use some support.”
Alaric gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Galatea. Let’s give him some time to heal first. Mrs. Marigold’s presence is enough for now. I’ll check in on him soon.”
Galatea understood, though a small part of her still felt like she should do something. She had always been the type to want to help those she cared about. But she trusted Alaric’s judgment.
“I’ll go home to prepare for your treatment now,” Galatea said, rising from the table. “It’ll be a bit of a process, but I’ll make sure everything is ready.”
Alaric stood as well, his eyes meeting hers with affection. “I’ll head home too, check on Caspian. Please don’t overwork yourself with the treatment. You’ve done enough already.”
Galatea smiled at his concern. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
As Galatea and Alaric went their separate ways, a quiet determination settled over them both. Alaric, despite his calm exterior, was already thinking ahead—preparing for the challenge of introducing Galatea to his family, particularly his mother, Mrs. Marigold. He knew that the matriarch of the Knight family would be a formidable obstacle to overcome. Mrs. Marigold’s approval wasn’t just desired—it was expected.
Alaric hadn’t yet mentioned his intention to marry Galatea to Mrs. Marigold. He needed to do it carefully, considering the weight of the decision. But no matter what, he was determined to be with Galatea. No one, not even his mother, would stand in the way of that.
Meanwhile, Galatea was equally determined. Though she had once feared Mrs. Marigold’s strictness, she was ready to face her. What worried her more was the idea that her presence in Alaric’s life might cause a rift between him and his mother. She didn’t want to be the reason Alaric’s relationship with his family became strained.
“Don’t worry about it,” Alaric had reassured her earlier, his hand gently squeezing hers. “I’ll handle it. Trust me.”
His words had provided her with a sense of security she hadn’t realized she needed. As much as Galatea knew the road ahead would be challenging, she now felt certain that as long as they faced it together, they would prevail.
Alaric’s return to the Knight family villa was filled with a quiet anticipation. He expected to find Caspian in considerable pain from his injury, yet he also knew that Mrs. Marigold’s pampering would make the situation more bearable. What Alaric didn’t expect, however, was just how much his younger brother’s injury would impact him—and his relationship with Galatea—moving forward.
The days ahead would bring challenges, but also opportunities to forge new connections, solidify his bond with Galatea, and, eventually, face the realities of family and love.