Chapter 230: A New Beginning
“Are you asking what I’d do if I got kicked out of the Knight family, lost my job at Nexus Innovations, and had nothing left?” Alaric asked, his gaze sharp as he watched Stellan’s concerned expression. She nodded quietly.
Alaric sighed, frustration flickering across his face. “Do you really think I’m that useless?”
Stellan froze, taken aback by his sudden shift. “No, I just…”
“I get it,” Alaric cut in, his voice softening as a smile tugged at his lips. “I joined the military at eight. No family to help me. I climbed the ranks by myself, setting records at every promotion. I retired due to severe injuries.”
He paused, his expression turning reflective. “Back with the Knight family, I switched from politics to business. I built Nexus Innovations from the ground up. If I lost it all, I wouldn’t be scared to start over. What I fear… is losing the drive and support to do it.”
Alaric’s gaze softened as he turned to Stellan. “Galatea, do you get what I mean?”
Stellan felt a wave of relief wash over her. She smiled, nodding. “I understand.”
She had always admired Alaric, but hearing his story in his own words made her admire him even more. To outsiders, it might seem like he owed everything to the Knight family. He had a strong start, sure—but the success he’d achieved was all his own. She found herself smiling at the thought of him as a young soldier, fighting his way through everything life threw at him.
“Alaric, you must’ve looked amazing in a military uniform,” she said, her voice light, teasing.
“A man in uniform has a different vibe, especially someone as handsome as me,” Alaric said with a grin, clearly enjoying her attention.
Stellan rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but admit, “Yeah, you look good in anything.”
“Honey.” Alaric said it with a playful glint in his eyes.
It was the first time Stellan called him that, and he savored the sound of it. “Call me that from now on. I like it.”
“Depends on how you behave,” Stellan teased back.
“I’ll make sure to behave well,” Alaric promised, a wink following his words.
Stellan laughed softly, her nerves settling. “Where are we going now? Should we pick up the kids and go home for dinner?”
“We see the kids every day,” Alaric replied. “Tonight’s special. Let’s go back to the Knight mansion, just the two of us. Mia can watch the kids. We’ll bring them over tomorrow.”
“Wedding night?” Stellan murmured, the weight of the day sinking in.
“Yep,” Alaric said, holding up their marriage certificate. “We got married today, so tonight’s our wedding night.”
Stellan took the certificate from him, her fingers grazing the edges as she studied it, still in disbelief that this moment was real.
Alaric drove them into the Knight mansion’s courtyard. Holding her hand, he led her inside, the large estate feeling even more imposing at night. He’d sent all the servants away for the evening so that they could have the place to themselves.
Stellan couldn’t help but be struck by the mansion’s grandeur. This was only her second time here—the first time, Alaric had hurried her away before she even got through the door.
“There are some not-so-great memories here,” Stellan said playfully, glancing at Alaric.
“But this is where our story began,” he replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “That day, Caspian ran off with you, and I brought Harry back.”
Stellan nodded, the memories of that chaotic day still vivid in her mind. “Yeah, it does hold some significance.”
The first time she came to this place, she had been begging Alaric not to fire her. She never imagined that she would one day become the mistress of this grand house.
Alaric laughed lightly, the sound warm. “Honey, it’s just us tonight. How about I cook, and you help? We’ll make a love-filled dinner.”
“Sure,” Stellan agreed, a smile tugging at her lips.
They changed into comfortable clothes before heading to the kitchen. Stellan prepped the ingredients, while Alaric cooked with surprising skill. When it was time to prepare the fruit, Stellan couldn’t resist feeding him pieces, each bite followed by a sweet kiss. The atmosphere was charged with a quiet intimacy, the kitchen transformed into their own little world.
The dinner setup was cozy, with soft lighting and a romantic ambiance. As they sat down to eat, Alaric raised his wine glass, his voice low and full of meaning. “Today marks the start of my official role as your husband. I’m looking forward to our life together, so please take care of me, Mrs. Knight.”
Stellan clinked her glass gently against his, her voice soft but filled with love. “And please take care of me, Mr. Knight.”
They both took a sip of wine, savoring the moment.
“I’m happy today,” Stellan said, her tone turning more serious. “So you can drink, but just one glass. No more.”
“Alright, you’re the boss, my dear. Just one glass,” Alaric agreed with a grin.
“You shouldn’t drink at all,” Stellan replied with a sigh. “You’re still in treatment. You had two injections before, but the treatment was interrupted. Those were wasted. We have to start over, and all your suffering was for nothing.”
Alaric chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “That’s no big deal. I enjoy being taken care of by you while lying in bed.”
“Stop joking,” Stellan said, her voice filled with concern. “Weren’t you the one feeling awful with the vomiting and fever?”
Alaric had suffered so much during the treatment, and everything had been put on pause because of it. It all felt like a waste, but Stellan was determined not to let it be for nothing.
“You’re such a skilled doctor,” Alaric teased, “Maybe you’ll develop a special medicine for me soon.”
Stellan felt a pang of guilt. She had planned to research it thoroughly, but with everything that had happened, she never found the time.
“With our wedding luck, I’ll find a good day soon to open my clinic and set up a lab inside,” Stellan said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Alright, I’ll be there on the opening day,” Alaric replied with a smile.
Stellan smiled back, her heart swelling with affection. They finished their love-filled dinner, and then, in a serene quiet, took a bath together—just the two of them, enjoying the simple pleasure of being together.