Chapter 200: Unraveling Threads
“Already at the hospital? That was fast,” Galatea remarked, her eyes widening in surprise as they arrived.
Alaric took her hand, his grip firm and comforting. He appeared thoughtful, his expression clouded with concern. “You’ve been recovering from the car accident for a while now. Since we’re already here, why not have a follow-up check to see how you’re progressing?”
Galatea’s heart sank. Today was meant to be significant, but a check-up was the last thing on her mind. “I’d rather skip it today. I…” Her voice trailed off.
But Alaric wasn’t having it. “No. You need a check-up. It’s been too long; you should have done this sooner. You need to listen to me.”
Galatea bit her lip, feeling a mix of helplessness and frustration. Things hadn’t been so complicated before. Why was everything so difficult now?
With a resigned sigh, Alaric guided her into Ravenna’s hospital room. The sight of Cormac caught Galatea off guard; she hadn’t expected him to be there.
“How is Ravenna now?” Alaric asked, his tone steady but laced with concern.
Cormac looked up, his face etched with worry. “Not good. Since she was moved to a regular ward yesterday, she’s been mumbling to herself. No matter what we do, she won’t wake up. The doctors are stumped.”
Alaric frowned and moved closer to the bed. Indeed, Ravenna lay there, her face contorted in pain, her lips moving in a soft murmur that was almost inaudible.
“Ravenna?” Alaric called softly, but there was no response. Her brows were knitted together, and she seemed trapped in a nightmare of her own.
Galatea stepped closer, trying to make sense of the situation. She leaned in, hoping to catch a hint of what Ravenna might be saying. And then, she heard it. Her name.
“Is she calling Galatea’s name?” Cormac asked, his voice uncertain.
Alaric nodded. “Yes, I heard it too. But I can’t make out the rest.”
Galatea stepped forward and pressed her ear near Ravenna’s lips, straining to hear. Sure enough, Ravenna’s murmurs were soft but unmistakable. Galatea… She repeated it over and over.
A chill ran down Galatea’s spine. Why was Ravenna calling her name? It was so strange.
At that moment, Griffon and Orion entered the room. Griffon’s face immediately darkened upon seeing Alaric and Galatea, but beyond the anger, there was an undeniable guilt in his eyes.
“What are you two doing here?” Griffon barked, his voice thick with frustration.
Galatea felt a knot tighten in her stomach as Griffon’s gaze fell on Ravenna. She could see the rage boiling beneath the surface.
Cormac glanced nervously between the two groups. He knew what Ravenna had been mumbling, and seeing Alaric and Galatea here only worsened the situation. Ravenna had been repeating apologies, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Galatea,” over and over. Griffon didn’t want anyone to hear it, especially not Alaric.
“What are you trying to do, Cormac?” Griffon seethed, his voice dangerously low. “Can’t you see what state your mother is in? You bring them here to provoke her even more? You want to drive her crazy?”
Cormac opened his mouth to argue, but Orion interjected. “Yeah, Cormac. Mom is already unconscious. Why don’t you let her have some peace?”
As the tension thickened, a nurse entered with a tray of medical supplies, cutting through the hostility in the room. “The patient’s condition is critical,” she said firmly. “Please, don’t crowd around her.”
Griffon’s anger surged. “Did you hear that? We don’t need all these people around my wife. Get out! You two, now!”
Alaric’s face hardened. “Let’s go, Galatea,” he said without hesitation, turning to leave.
Galatea followed him, but her heart felt heavy. As they walked out, she murmured, “I don’t like Griffon, but seeing Ravenna like that…it hurts. She really is a good person.”
Alaric nodded, his voice quiet but firm. “Yes, she’s different from Griffon and Orion. Fortunately, Cormac took after her.”
Galatea frowned, still troubled. “But why was Ravenna calling my name? I don’t get it. Cormac told me about it over the phone, and I thought he must have misunderstood. But I just heard it too. Why would she keep repeating my name?”
Alaric frowned in thought. “I don’t know. It’s strange.”
He paused, then added, “But if you can’t figure it out, don’t dwell on it. We’ve seen Ravenna now, and I’ve already arranged for your check-up. Let’s take care of that first.”
Galatea wanted to protest, but Alaric had already called the director, who soon arrived with a team of specialists. They began a battery of tests on Galatea, and she found herself caught up in the whirlwind of medical procedures. She tried to engage Alaric, but he was preoccupied with managing everything, leaving her little opportunity for further conversation.
The check-ups stretched on, each moment dragging. Finally, when they were finished, Galatea’s results weren’t all in yet, so she was told to wait.
Galatea checked her phone, feeling a wave of anxiety. Still no word from Marigold. Her stomach churned. What if Marigold turned off her phone? What if she disappeared?
Alaric, noticing her restless state, placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Don’t worry. The results will be fine,” he said, though his voice lacked the conviction he hoped to project.
Galatea gave a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She wasn’t nervous about the results. It’s something else.
“Alaric,” she began hesitantly, “I still have more to tell you.”
Alaric’s brow furrowed, and he sighed in exasperation. “Didn’t you already say everything?”
Galatea looked at him, her mind swirling with confusion. “I thought I had. But… you said you knew. How could you guess all of that?”
Alaric gave her a knowing smile. “I had a feeling. After you told me you were Stellan, it all clicked.”
Galatea’s heart skipped. “You guessed?” she repeated, her voice uncertain. How could he have known?
Alaric’s smile faded, and a thoughtful look crossed his face. “I pieced it together. But why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Galatea’s mind raced, and a sudden thought struck her. “Did Griffon tell you?”
Alaric stared at her, taken aback. “Griffon? What would he tell me? What does your situation have to do with him?”
Galatea blinked, surprised by his confusion. “I thought Griffon would have told you. He knew I was Stellan a long time ago.”
Alaric’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of realization crossing his face. “Wait… Griffon knew you were Stellan a long time ago?”
Galatea nodded, her heart pounding. “Yes. He found me a long time ago. But I didn’t want to take things seriously with you then, so I kept it from you.”
Alaric was silent for a moment, processing her words. The pieces were falling into place. “That DNA test… that could’ve been Griffon’s doing.”
Galatea’s eyes widened. The car accident… It had all led up to this moment.
As the pieces of the puzzle began to click into place, neither of them realized how deep the web of secrets and manipulation truly was. The truth was coming closer, but with it, even more questions.