Chapter 207: The Calm Before the Storm
Alaric held Galatea in his arms as they slept, and for once, the night passed in perfect peace. They didn’t wake until after nine the next morning.
Galatea lazily blinked her eyes open and looked at Alaric’s sleeping face. No matter what angle she viewed him from, he was always so incredibly handsome.
Waking up next to him felt like a dream.
“You’re awake?” Alaric murmured, brushing a soft kiss across her forehead.
Galatea smiled warmly. “Mm-hmm. That was the best sleep I’ve had in ages. I can’t believe it’s already so late.”
Alaric smiled back. “I’m glad. You’ve had so much on your mind lately—you needed the rest.”
She sat up slightly, studying him. “You look better too. I guess the side effects from the treatment were just bad that first day. You seem fine now.”
He got out of bed and stretched. “That’s because I have a good doctor. You’ve been taking care of me every day—aren’t you tired?”
“I’m used to it,” she replied with a laugh.
Alaric smiled again and said, “Wait here. I’ll make breakfast today.”
Galatea didn’t stop him. If he wanted to pamper her a little, she was happy to let him.
But as she watched him walk out of the room, a strange sense of confusion settled in her chest.
She had told him yesterday that her “husband” would be coming to visit. Why hadn’t he reacted? Did he not care at all?
She couldn’t understand it.
After Alaric finished cooking, they sat down together at the table.
“Galatea,” he said, “Let’s bring Harry and Elisa to my place this weekend.”
Galatea’s expression froze. “Again? Alaric, didn’t you hear what I told you? I’ve got too much going on right now. I haven’t even dealt with Marigold or… or my ex-husband. And you want me to just waltz into your house like everything’s fine?”
She lowered her voice, sounding pained. “Your mother already dislikes me. If she knew everything going on right now, she’d hate me.”
Alaric just smiled, annoyingly calm.
“What are you smiling about?” she demanded. “Can’t you be serious for once?”
“Alright, alright,” he said, raising both hands in surrender. “I just think maybe going back to my place will actually help settle all your problems.”
“What kind of logic is that? Are you still drunk from last night?” Galatea huffed, frustrated. “How would going to your place solve anything?”
Alaric couldn’t help but chuckle again. Her indignant expression was far too cute.
“If you laugh again, I swear I’ll be furious!” she warned, glaring at him.
“Okay, I won’t laugh,” he said, though he clearly was holding it in.
Despite everything going on in his own life, having Galatea by his side gave him a kind of peace he hadn’t known in years. Even when she was annoyed with him, she brought him joy.
Galatea changed the subject. “Let’s not argue about this. Do you have any work plans today? If not, can you go on a walk with me? I’ve been cooped up too long. I need fresh air.”
Alaric shook his head. “No work plans, but I can’t go with you.”
“Why not?”
“I have a meeting with a lawyer,” he said flatly.
Her eyes widened. “A lawyer? Why? Are you being sued? Is something wrong?”
Alaric sighed. “Can you think of something that isn’t catastrophic for once?”
“People usually don’t meet lawyers unless they’re in trouble! You’re not going for a health check, are you?”
Alaric laughed again and gently pinched her cheek. He had hoped to avoid telling her too soon, but he couldn’t keep it from her now.
“It’s about your car accident,” he said seriously. “It wasn’t an accident. It was planned. Griffon was behind it.”
Galatea froze. Her blood ran cold.
“What did you say?”
“Jason Gray confessed. Griffon hired him to stage the crash.”
Galatea felt a chill seep through her bones.
“Why? Why would he do that to me? I’ve never done anything to the Nash family. What reason could he possibly have?”
“It’s because Orion loves me,” Alaric said plainly. “And you’re the woman I chose.”
Galatea stared at him in disbelief. “That’s insane. That motive is… too far-fetched.”
“Maybe to people like us. But to people like Griffon, lives mean nothing. When power and pride are threatened, they’ll destroy anything in their path.”
Galatea took a moment to process everything. “You’re sure about this?”
“I am. I’ve confirmed it. Jason confessed in full detail.”
Alaric’s voice dropped with emotion. “I could’ve just handed it over to the police. But this… this is personal. I want to go through legal channels, but I want control. I’ve entrusted it all to a lawyer.”
Galatea’s heart sank. Her chest felt tight. “He really wanted me dead…”
“I’m sorry,” Alaric said, hugging her. “He did this because of me. I never should have let it get this far.”
Galatea leaned into him, overwhelmed. “I didn’t do anything to them… Why would they want me gone?”
“They’re cruel, Galatea. But I swear, I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
After entrusting the case to his legal team, Alaric also filed for the case to be reopened. With Jason’s confession and new evidence, the court approved an immediate investigation.
Soon after, police officers arrived at the Nash estate.
“Mr. Cormac,” one of the officers said solemnly, “You are suspected of being involved in a previously unresolved traffic accident. Please cooperate with our investigation.”
Orion’s face turned white. She rushed over, panic etched across her face. “Dad?!”
Griffon remained calm. “It’s alright. I’ll just cooperate with the investigation. I’ll be back soon.”
He had long known this day would come. As far as he was concerned, Alaric had no hard evidence. And without that, he believed the law couldn’t truly touch him.
But he was wrong.
The evidence was coming—and so was judgment.