Chapter 168: A Night of Surprises
That evening, Alaric took Galatea to a couple-themed restaurant, a cozy and romantic place adorned with soft lighting and intimate decor. The atmosphere was perfect for a quiet dinner. “You haven’t seen Harry and Elisa in a while, so I had James Smith bring them over,” Alaric said as they settled at their table.
Galatea raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile forming on her lips. “You’re definitely doing this on purpose—taking me to a couple-themed restaurant, then saying you’re bringing the kids along.”
Alaric leaned in, grinning. “So, Galatea, are you implying you’d rather have some alone time with me?”
Galatea rolled her eyes at his smooth talk, and Alaric couldn’t help but laugh, his smile indulgent.
The restaurant, filled with young couples enjoying their meals, gave the evening an extra touch of charm. “These young couples are so carefree,” Galatea remarked, watching a pair of lovers laughing and holding hands.
“Love between couples is irresistible,” Alaric mused, his tone light but meaningful. “You seem to understand that.”
Galatea looked at him, half-amused, half-embarrassed. “Sometimes relationships are driven by impulse,” he added. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll be treating me. If I can’t get out of bed, it’s going to be a problem. Why don’t we go get the marriage license first thing in the morning?”
“The license?” Galatea blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, his expression playful yet firm. “This will be the third time if you refuse again.”
Galatea’s guilt tugged at her heart. She sighed and walked over to Alaric, sitting beside him. “I really don’t want to refuse this time, but with your mother, Mrs. Marigold, back… I haven’t met her yet, and getting the license might upset her. If we do it without her knowing, she will be angry, and trust me, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law don’t mix well.”
Alaric’s face softened, but there was a slight hint of frustration in his voice. “When can you stop overthinking everything?”
“These are important things to consider,” Galatea replied earnestly. “It’s for the harmony of our future family. I need to meet Mrs. Marigold first and show her respect. After all, she’s an elder.”
This was the third time Galatea had hesitated about their marriage, and she could sense Alaric’s frustration mounting. To make up for it, she leaned in and kissed him gently.
Alaric chuckled, pulling her closer. “You found those couples carefree earlier, and now look at you… carefree too.”
Galatea smiled, her nerves easing as she snuggled closer. “Well, since they are like that, I don’t mind either. Just don’t get angry.”
Alaric looked at her with warmth in his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m not angry as long as you’re not really refusing me.”
“I’m not refusing,” Galatea assured him, her voice soft. “I just want to respect your family.”
“With such a wonderful wife, how could my mother not like you? Don’t worry, we’ll marry soon enough.”
“And I promise, I won’t run away,” she added, her words light but sincere.
Alaric smiled, the romantic ambiance around them only deepening his feelings for her. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, a kiss filled with sweetness and longing. Galatea resisted for a moment, but the moment was too enchanting, and soon she let go, allowing herself to enjoy it.
Just as they were lost in the kiss, Galatea’s phone rang, breaking the moment. She pushed Alaric away, trying to answer, but Alaric, feeling interrupted, kissed her even more passionately, not letting her get a word in. After a while, he pulled back, slightly out of breath. “I have a call!” Galatea managed to say, playfully hitting him.
She hurriedly took her phone from her bag, and noticed a missed call from Cormac. Before she could call him back, Cormac was already on the line.
“Hello, Big Brother Cormac,” she answered.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Galatea,” Cormac’s voice was strained, “but my mom… she suddenly became critically ill and is in the ICU. I wanted to ask you about her condition after the chemotherapy you gave her today.”
Galatea froze. “Ravenna Nash is in the ICU?” Her voice was full of shock. “How could this happen? She was fine when I left. She even talked about attending your wedding.”
“I don’t know what happened,” Cormac said, his voice filled with worry. “Maybe you don’t know the details either, and that’s fine.”
Galatea’s mind raced. “Big Brother Cormac, where is she? I want to go see her.”
Cormac hesitated for a moment, glancing at Griffon and Orion standing outside the ICU. “Our whole family is here. You don’t need to come right now. We appreciate your concern, but you should focus on your own matters.”
Galatea looked at Alaric, who had overheard the conversation. He asked, “What did Cormac say? Ravenna Nash is critically ill?”
“Yes,” Galatea replied, her voice tense with confusion. “She was fine earlier today. How did this happen so suddenly?”
Alaric didn’t have an answer, his expression solemn. “I don’t want this to happen to her either, but there’s nothing we can do now.”
“Should we go to the hospital?” Galatea asked, her concern clear.
Alaric shook his head. “Maybe it’s better not to. Ravenna is unconscious, and with Griffon and the others, we wouldn’t be welcome at the Nash family place. It’s best to leave it for now.”
Galatea nodded reluctantly, letting out a deep sigh.
At the Hospital
Meanwhile, Cormac stood outside the ICU, his brow furrowed in frustration. The doctors had said Ravenna’s condition was extremely dangerous, and they couldn’t predict whether she would wake up or not—and if she did, whether she would be the same.
“If Mom doesn’t wake up soon, you should all go home,” Cormac said, his voice quiet. “I’ll stay here tonight.”
“Okay,” Griffon replied, his tone heavy. “If there’s any news, call us.”
As they left, Orion’s face twisted with guilt. “Dad… what if Mom never wakes up?”
Griffon remained silent, his eyes dark. Orion’s words struck him hard, but he kept his emotions in check. “I was wrong, Dad,” Orion whispered, tears welling up. “I don’t want to lose Mom. I don’t want her to die.”
Griffon finally spoke, his voice cold and distant. “What’s the use of realizing your mistake now? You insisted on marrying Alaric, and now look at us.”
Orion, filled with remorse, could only cry quietly in the backseat, unsure of how to handle the consequences of their actions.