Chapter 271
Alaric slowly sat up, feeling much better, though still a little unsteady. Stellan, ever vigilant, was by his side in an instant, gently guiding him back down onto the bed.
“I’ve told you so many times that you can’t drive in your condition,” Stellan scolded, her voice a mix of worry and frustration. “Your episodes are unpredictable. What if you have one while driving? It’s too dangerous. From now on, you can’t drive yourself anymore. When we go out, I’ll drive. If I’m not around, let the driver do it. Got it?”
Alaric nodded quickly, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the situation. “Yes, got it. I won’t drive myself until I’m fully recovered.”
“Good,” Stellan said, her expression softening as she wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel. “You can’t keep neglecting your health. Whether or not the jewelry company acquisition goes through, you need to focus on getting better. I don’t need you to achieve great things in your career; I just want you to be well. I need you, and the kids need you.”
Her voice wavered with fear, the weight of her words evident. Alaric could see the raw vulnerability in her eyes, and it broke his heart.
“I’ll be fine,” Alaric reassured her softly, noticing the strain in her expression. “Don’t worry, I’m tough. I won’t die.”
“How tough can you be? Tough enough to be immortal?” Stellan’s voice, though laced with sarcasm, carried an edge of genuine concern. As a doctor, she knew better than anyone how fragile life was. “Alaric, you’re married now. Your health isn’t just your own concern, you know.”
Alaric felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew exactly what she meant. Pulling her gently into his arms, he whispered, “Galatea, I understand everything you’re saying. Don’t worry. I’ve already been slowly handing over responsibilities at work. Once everything is arranged, I won’t do any more work, and I’ll focus solely on getting better.”
“You said it, and you must keep your word,” Stellan replied firmly, her tone more resolute now.
“I definitely will,” Alaric promised, then hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. “But if I stop and focus on treatment, my mom will have to take over the company again. I really don’t want her involved. Our management philosophies are completely different, and she’s always making changes that I don’t agree with.”
Stellan could sense the hesitation in his voice, and she felt a twinge of guilt herself. If only she had the expertise to help him with his work, then maybe things wouldn’t be so complicated. But that was a worry for another time. Right now, Alaric’s health was the priority.
“Don’t worry about that now,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Just focus on your treatment. Once you’re better, you can do whatever you want with your career. You’re only thirty. Even if it takes five years to recover, you’ll still be just thirty-five. You’ll have plenty of time to rebuild your career.”
Alaric gave a bitter smile at that, a half-laugh escaping his lips. “You don’t want me to retire even at that old age?”
Stellan grinned, though there was a soft light in her eyes. “If you enjoy your work, then go ahead. Since you love it so much, you can keep at it. Even if you’re in a wheelchair, I’ll push you to the company.”
Alaric couldn’t help but laugh at that image, the idea of Stellan, ever loyal and determined, pushing him through the halls of the company in a wheelchair. It was a strange, yet strangely heartwarming thought.
“By the way,” Stellan suddenly said, her tone shifting, “I’ve been so worried about your health that I forgot to ask. Did you see Cormac today?”
Alaric’s expression grew more somber, the lightness fading as he nodded. “Yes, I did.”
He went on to explain Cormac’s current situation—how he was living now, and how distant and firm his attitude had become towards Alaric.
Stellan’s face darkened with concern as she listened. “Griffon is guilty, and he deserves any punishment he gets, but Cormac… Cormac is so innocent, and yet he’s the one suffering the most. It’s just not fair.”
Stellan felt a deep ache in her heart, not just for Cormac but for the painful situation Alaric was in. She reached for his hand, her voice urgent. “Alaric, can you secretly help Cormac? Do something for him so he can have a better life?”
Alaric shook his head, his face drawn with frustration. “If he were willing, I could help in any way. But right now, he’s very resistant. How could I help secretly? Should I ask his boss to give him a raise? Or donate anonymously to that little girl?”
Stellan’s brow furrowed in thought. “Cormac is too smart. He would find out, and then he’d be even angrier. He might even leave Arizona altogether.”
Alaric sighed deeply. “Exactly. And that’s the last thing I want. Cormac has always been so independent and proud, but I pushed him away by trying to fix everything on my own. Now, I’m paying for it.”
Stellan sat quietly for a moment, taking in his words. She knew how much Alaric had lost by losing Cormac. They had been friends for so long, and now, the rift between them seemed almost insurmountable.
“Are you just going to let things end like this?” Stellan asked softly, her heart aching for him.
Alaric didn’t answer immediately. He stared down at his hands, the guilt weighing heavily on his chest. “I don’t want to. I never wanted it to be like this. But Cormac… he’s so firm in his decision. I don’t know what else to do.”
He exhaled sharply, the frustration spilling over. “It’s my fault. I didn’t manage our friendship well. Cormac was right; I’ve been too indifferent for too long.”
Alaric’s voice dropped, filled with self-loathing. “Ever since I could remember, my parents were always fighting. I never wanted to stay at home, but Cormac was always there, pulling me away from the chaos. He was always the one who wanted to be close to me, to include me in everything. I didn’t understand it. It was like my life was so full, and his was so empty. He always had time, while I was always busy.”
Stellan listened quietly, her heart breaking for both of them.
Alaric continued, his words heavy with regret. “When we were in school, I already knew the answers to everything. But Cormac insisted on tutoring me, thinking I needed his help. I called him annoying. He called me arrogant. I was so caught up in my own life, and Cormac was just… there. I didn’t know how to appreciate him. And when I was in the hospital, he tried so hard to take care of me, but I pushed him away. He wasn’t a doctor, and he didn’t understand my condition, but he still cared. Cormac always cared. And I… I just took it for granted.”
He looked at Stellan, his eyes filled with pain. “It’s my fault. I made him feel like a servant. I took everything he did for me, for granted. I never thought there would come a day when he wouldn’t be there, when I wouldn’t have him as a friend anymore. And now, I’m losing him because I was too blind to see what I had.”
Stellan’s heart ached as she listened to Alaric, understanding the weight of his words. She knew how much he valued Cormac, how much their friendship had meant to him. But now, it seemed as though that bond was slipping through his fingers, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“Alaric, I’ve never heard you say so much,” Stellan said quietly, her voice soft but filled with empathy. “I know this is hard for you. Cormac was your only friend, and losing him… that’s a heavy loss.”
Alaric nodded, his throat tight. “I never realized how much I needed him, not until it was too late.”