Chapter 104
Galatea sat in the backseat of the cab, still grappling with the surreal turn of events. The bank had just approved her loan without any hesitation, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The loan officer had sworn that Alaric had no involvement, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. After all, Alaric had a hand in nearly everything, it seemed. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, his influence was everywhere, even in places where she least expected it.
Her thoughts wandered as the city passed by outside the window, but the quiet hum of the car was abruptly broken by her phone buzzing again. The notification on her screen read: “Missing Persons Report Update.”
She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat. Someone had responded to the portrait she posted of Mrs. Marigold.
With a sigh, Galatea tapped on the notification, reading the message:
“I recognize this woman. She went by the name Marigold Vale. She used to be close to my mother years ago. I don’t know her whereabouts now, but I can tell you this: she’s part of the Vale family.”
Galatea froze. The Vale family. The name rang in her head like a bell. This was no coincidence.
She quickly typed a response.
“Do you have any further information? Can you help me get in touch with her?”
The reply came almost instantly.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know where she is now. But I remember her being involved with Todd Vale, the patriarch of the Vale family. She had some connection with him… It might be worth looking into the Vale family.”
Galatea’s mind raced. Todd Vale—the name sent a chill down her spine. She’d heard whispers of his ruthless business dealings, his unrelenting hold on the Vale Group. But she never imagined he would be tied to the mysterious woman in the portrait. The same woman whose image had haunted her thoughts for so long.
Before she could process any further, her phone rang again, this time with a call from Silas.
“Miss Chu, Mr. Alaric would like me to inform you that your loan is approved. He also asked if you need assistance in securing a clinic space,” Silas’s voice came through the line, smooth but with an undertone of something more, something she couldn’t quite place.
Galatea didn’t respond immediately. Alaric. Why was he so involved in everything? She had just received the loan without his direct involvement, or so the bank said, but his name continued to pop up in places she hadn’t expected.
“No, thank you,” she replied curtly, unwilling to let him back into her life. “I’ll handle the clinic space myself.”
As she ended the call, she couldn’t shake the thought of Alaric’s interest in her. Was he trying to exert control, or was it just his way of showing concern? Either way, she didn’t want his help—not this time. She had fought hard for her independence and she wouldn’t let him back in so easily.
At the same time, Alaric sat in his office, his fingers drumming absently on the desk. His insomnia was still taking its toll, and his mind refused to calm. He hadn’t slept in two days, ever since that argument with Galatea. His temper was fraying, and the thought of her was driving him to distraction.
“Mr. Alaric,” Silas’s voice cut through his thoughts. “I’ve gathered some information on Ambrose, as you requested.”
Alaric’s head snapped up. “Speak,” he ordered, his tone sharp.
Silas recounted the details of Ambrose’s background, revealing that he was an illegitimate son of Todd Vale, who had only been brought into the family seven years ago. Alaric’s eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fit together.
“So, Ambrose only joined the Vale family seven years ago,” Alaric muttered, his voice low. “And that’s about the same time Galatea… became pregnant.”
Silas nodded, not fully understanding the implications of Alaric’s words. “Yes, that’s correct.”
Alaric’s gaze darkened. Harry and Elisa… could they really be Ambrose’s children?
The thought was a shock, like a sudden punch to the gut. He had always assumed Ambrose was just another opportunist, but if the timing lined up… Could it be possible that Ambrose was their father? And if so, did that mean Alaric had been wrong about everything? About Galatea?
“What does that mean, Silas?” Alaric’s voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it that made Silas stiffen.
“It means that Ambrose may have had to choose between Galatea and the Vale family, and he chose the latter,” Silas replied cautiously. “The timing of his disappearance coincides with Galatea’s pregnancy, and it’s possible he didn’t want anyone to know the truth.”
Alaric’s mind whirled as the pieces continued to fall into place. Harry and Elisa… If they were Ambrose’s children… what does that mean for me?
He glanced at Silas, his eyes cold. “I want to know the truth. I don’t care what you have to do. Find a way to confirm if Harry and Elisa are Ambrose’s children. I need proof.”
“Yes, Mr. Alaric,” Silas replied, already understanding that the investigation was no longer just about business—it was personal now.
Back in the city, Galatea was lost in thought as she stood in front of a row of empty storefronts. She had a vision for the clinic, but now, with everything happening so quickly, she wasn’t sure if she was making the right decisions.
Her phone buzzed again, and when she checked it, she saw a message from Denny:
“CEO Ambrose asked me to relay that he’s available to discuss the clinic space whenever you’re ready. He’s willing to offer a better location than what you’re currently considering.”
Galatea sighed, frustrated. Ambrose was persistent, but this time, she was determined to stand her ground. She was building something on her own, and she didn’t need his help—no matter how tempting the offer might be.
She typed a quick reply:
“Thank you, but I’m handling it on my own. I’ll find a location myself.”
With that, she put her phone away, refocusing on the task at hand. But deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder—was she truly ready to take on everything alone? Or was she walking into another trap that would only tie her closer to the very people she was trying to escape?
As the day wore on, the tension between Galatea’s independence and the looming presence of Alaric and Ambrose continued to grow. Both men seemed determined to remain in her life, whether she wanted them to or not.