Chapter 113
A fight? It was more than that. Galatea’s hesitation was clear, and Cormac’s smile softened as he acknowledged the weight of her silence. “This is between you and Alaric, so I technically shouldn’t stick my nose in it,” he said, his voice becoming a bit more sincere, “but as his only friend, I can’t help but want to speak for him.”
“Go ahead,” Galatea replied, resigned. She didn’t know if hearing more about Alaric would make things easier, but there was a part of her that was curious to understand him better, even if it was coming from Cormac.
“Well,” Cormac began thoughtfully, “Alaric is stubborn but soft-hearted; he’d rather suffer than embarrass himself. Sometimes, he wants to apologize and say something nice, but his words always end up angering people. He never says anything sweet, and he has no EQ. When he likes someone, he tends to provoke them to get their attention. It’s immature, but it’s because of how he grew up.”
Galatea’s thoughts drifted to her experiences with him. What about his upbringing? Wasn’t he a wealthy heir? He had joined the military later, and everything seemed to have gone smoothly for him in that regard. So why was he so hard to deal with now?
Cormac continued, unaware of her internal musings. “His parents had an arranged marriage. There was no love, just two people who were dominant in different ways. They never got along, and even after having Alaric, they fought about everything, including how to raise him. His childhood was filled with constant arguments between them.”
Galatea was surprised. She never thought Alaric’s family was like that. She had imagined them as a picture-perfect, wealthy family, but this—this was different.
Cormac went on, his voice more somber now. “Eventually, his father had an affair with a secretary. When Mrs. Marigold found out, she went to his company and caused a scene. She ended up pushing the secretary to suicide, and after that, Alaric’s parents absolutely hated each other. It was a mess. Maybe that’s what really broke him. It turned him into someone who doesn’t trust easily. It’s probably why he gave up his comfortable life at home and joined the military—to escape.”
Galatea’s heart clenched at the thought of Alaric, just a boy, caught in such a chaotic environment. No wonder he’s so guarded, she realized.
“After the military,” Cormac continued, “he could’ve stayed there, but he got seriously injured during a mission and had to retire. The physical wounds, sure, but the emotional scars… those never healed. It’s been tough on him, but he’ll never say it out loud. He doesn’t trust anyone with that kind of vulnerability.”
Galatea’s voice softened. “He never talks about his past…”
“Exactly,” Cormac said, leaning forward. “He’s not someone who opens up easily. But there’s one thing I know for sure: when he falls for someone, he falls hard. The last time you passed out from the car accident, you didn’t know how worried he was. I’ve known him since we were kids, and I’ve never seen him care so much about anyone.”
Galatea’s chest tightened at the thought of Alaric’s concern during the accident. He had taken care of her, been there for her in a way that no one else had. She felt a flicker of something inside her—a connection, maybe? But the walls she had built up after everything that happened with Ambrose were still too strong to ignore.
Cormac’s voice was gentle but insistent. “Since Alaric has no emotional experience, he handles fights like a bull in a china shop. Especially when it comes to Ambrose—he’s been… well, he’s been childish about it.”
“Love rival?” Galatea echoed, unable to hide a laugh. She found the term a little amusing, almost absurd. Did Alaric really see Ambrose as a love rival?
“Yes,” Cormac nodded seriously. “To him, Ambrose was the guy who might take you away, so he needed to test your feelings. He was trying to figure out if you still had feelings for him or if you could let go. That’s why he acted the way he did. He’s not good with this kind of stuff.”
Galatea’s expression hardened as she remembered the painful moments with Ambrose. “I ended my relationship with Ambrose a long time ago,” she said firmly. “And I can say with a clear conscience that he hurt me in the past. I may not have much money, but I’d never reconcile with a man who has hurt me before.”
Cormac nodded, his face a little more relieved. “As a bystander, I believe you. But Alaric? He’s not as rational as you are. He’s still hung up on his insecurities, and I think that’s part of why he behaves the way he does.”
Galatea’s heart softened a bit at Cormac’s honesty. “I never thought Alaric would have a genuine friend like you.”
“Well, there’s no other choice,” Cormac grinned. “We grew up together. If I hadn’t known him for so long, I probably wouldn’t have put up with him either.”
Galatea chuckled despite herself. It felt good to hear someone speak about Alaric with such understanding, especially someone who had been through it all with him.
After lunch, Cormac dropped her off at her new clinic. She gave him a quick tour, although the place was still under renovation. “We’re still working on it,” she said apologetically, “but make yourself at home.”
Cormac didn’t seem bothered by the mess. “The location is great, and there’s plenty of space. I can see why you like it.”
“I really fell in love with it when I first saw it,” Galatea said with a small smile.
“I can tell. You’ve got good taste,” Cormac complimented. “But opening a clinic involves a lot of paperwork, you know. Don’t worry about the follow-up steps, though. I’ll take care of them for you.”
“I’ll thank you in advance, then,” Galatea replied gratefully. It would be a relief to have Cormac’s help navigating all the bureaucracy involved.
That evening, Cormac went to the hospital to update Alaric on the day’s events. Alaric was waiting for him, impatient.
“How did the investigation go?” Alaric asked as soon as he saw Cormac walk in. “Where did she get the money?”
Cormac took his time sipping water before answering, dragging out the suspense. “I found out she took out a legal bank loan,” he said nonchalantly, “and she rented a shop on Everpeace Street to open a clinic. I’ve already seen it, and the place is nice.”
“Open a clinic?” Alaric blinked in surprise. What? He hadn’t expected this at all. Where did this woman suddenly get such ambition?
“Yeah, it’s on Everpeace Street,” Cormac added. “But that area has its share of troublemakers. Keep an eye on her. You don’t want her getting caught up in anything.”
Alaric’s brows furrowed. “You’re right. Make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. And… keep an eye on Ambrose. Don’t let him get anywhere near her while I’m not around.”
Cormac raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You secretly care so much for her, but you always do things that upset her in person. What’s the point of that?”
Alaric remained silent, his anger simmering. But after a moment, he muttered, “If I care about her… I’ll deal with it in my own way.”
“Sure, sure,” Cormac teased. “Keep denying it, though.”
Alaric didn’t respond, but his eyes were unreadable. After a pause, he suddenly looked at Cormac with intensity. “What about Ambrose? Don’t let him get close to her.”
Cormac grinned. “Speaking of Ambrose, Galatea told me something today. Do you want to hear it?”
Alaric’s gaze sharpened. “Just spit it out!” he snapped, eager to know what Galatea had said.