Chapter 202: Tangled Lies
Griffon’s gut churned with unease. His mind raced as he pondered what Alaric could have discussed with Jason. The thought that Jason might have spilled everything to Alaric gnawed at him. But even if Jason had, so much time had passed. Griffon had covered his tracks well—everything was done in cash, no paper trail, no direct evidence. Without proof, Alaric couldn’t do a thing to him.
And yet, the nagging anxiety wouldn’t leave. What if Jason did talk? What if there’s more at stake here than I realize?
Frustrated, Griffon had to leave the prison, his mind still swirling with questions. As he stepped out, he noticed a car parked nearby. Ambrose sat inside, eyes narrowed with an inscrutable expression. He was watching, waiting.
“Interesting,” Ambrose murmured to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Denny, sitting beside him, nodded. “Mr. Vale, you came here to see the perpetrator, but it seems both Alaric and Griffon showed up. One after the other. No coincidence.”
Ambrose’s eyes narrowed. The pattern was becoming clearer. Griffon had been visibly anxious earlier, which only fueled Ambrose’s suspicions. Could there be more to Stellan’s car accident than he had originally thought?
“What more could there be to a car accident?” Denny asked, puzzled.
Ambrose’s gaze darkened, and the possibility flashed in his mind like a sudden storm. Premeditated murder?
The idea hit him like a jolt. If someone had truly plotted Stellan’s death…
Ambrose shuddered, then immediately snapped, “I must thoroughly investigate Stellan’s car accident.” His voice was hard, determined.
Denny didn’t question him. “Yes, Mr. Vale.”
Back at the company lounge, Galatea had been waiting for what felt like hours. Alaric hadn’t returned, and anxiety tightened her chest. She was about to hold a press conference announcing her marriage, but if she did so without consulting him first, it could put him in a very awkward position.
What should I do?
She called Alaric again, but this time, he was on another call. She had no choice but to hang up. The minutes ticked by as she checked the time. The day was nearly over, and she still hadn’t figured out a way forward. If she couldn’t hold the press conference, the only option left was to contact Marigold.
At that moment, Joe entered the room with a report. “Mrs. Knight, it’s Stellan on the phone.”
Galatea’s heart skipped a beat. She had been expecting a call from Marigold. Could it be her?
Joe continued, “Alaric has already warned Mrs. Knight that next time, he’ll bring you, Harry, and Elisa to the Knight family. It seems this can’t be hidden any longer, and it’ll be impossible to drive you out of Arizona.”
Galatea’s mind spun. She’d never expected things to escalate this way. But before she could process it, she heard Joe’s voice again. “You should answer, Ms. Storm. Mrs. Knight is in a delicate state. Please don’t upset her further.”
When Galatea heard it wasn’t Marigold’s voice but Joe’s, her stomach dropped. “I want to speak to Marigold,” she said, trying to stay calm despite her mounting anxiety.
Joe’s response was blunt. “After your conversation earlier, Mrs. Knight had a heart attack and has been bedridden all day. She took her medication, but… she’s not well.”
A heart attack? Galatea’s mind reeled. Was this really happening?
Joe added, “Ms. Storm, you and Mrs. Knight were family once. Why make things harder? The child is being well taken care of. Mrs. Knight dotes on him, and Mr. Knight is very concerned. Since Mrs. Knight fell ill, he’s been extremely worried. Please, think of Mr. Knight. He’s six years old and understands a lot.”
Galatea’s heart clenched. The child… She didn’t want to fight anymore. But Joe’s words stung—Why was this so difficult?
Joe continued, “The conflict between you and Mrs. Knight is hurting the child. Let’s resolve this peacefully, please. If it turns into a public scandal, people will start gossiping about Mr. Knight’s background, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”
Galatea hesitated. Was this about protecting the child? Or was it something else entirely? Joe was right—if the scandal went public, it would hurt everyone, especially the child. But there was something off about his tone.
“I don’t want to go down that path,” Galatea said quietly. “From the beginning, I wanted peace. It’s Marigold’s demands that are too much. I want my son back.”
Joe’s voice softened, as if trying to pacify her. “I understand, Ms. Storm. Mrs. Knight has her faults, but now she’s ill. Please consider her situation. You don’t want to act impulsively. Once you hold a press conference, there’s no going back.”
Galatea’s frustration bubbled to the surface. “Are you stalling me? Or have you hidden my child?”
Joe’s response was calm, almost rehearsed. “If Mrs. Knight didn’t want to discuss this with you, she wouldn’t have contacted you. We’re not hiding anything. The child is well cared for. If you don’t like Mrs. Knight’s previous suggestions, we can always discuss it further.”
Galatea felt a knot tighten in her chest. Discuss further? Why contact her if Marigold was determined to keep her child? Why reach out at all?
Before she could press him further, Joe added, “Mr. Knight is aware of the situation. If Mrs. Knight doesn’t speak to you, he will.”
Mr. Knight? Galatea’s heart skipped again. Was he going to speak to me?
Just as she was about to ask, her phone rang again. It was Alaric.
Galatea quickly answered, hoping for some clarity. “Alaric, when are you coming back?”
“I might be back late tonight,” Alaric’s voice was distant. “Eat dinner and go to bed early. Don’t wait for me.”
Late tonight? She could feel her nerves tightening. “Is something wrong? You’ve seemed off today.”
Alaric hesitated before responding, “No, nothing’s wrong. I’ll explain when I get back. Just… be good, okay?”
“Okay,” Galatea murmured, though a cold knot of worry remained in her chest.
As soon as she hung up, she saw a string of missed calls from Cormac on her phone.
Griffon’s unease and Ambrose’s suspicions were swirling, but in that moment, it was Alaric’s silence that unsettled Galatea the most.