Chapter 120
Alaric knew all too well what Mrs. Marigold’s temper was like. She was a force to be reckoned with, and he could already predict what her reaction would be if she ever found out the true extent of his health problems. She would undoubtedly blame Galatea for everything, no matter the actual cause. And that was precisely why he had kept the truth from her.
He let out a quiet sigh, trying to calm his mother down. “Mom, please, don’t get so worked up. As the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Even God can’t cure my illness overnight.”
His attempt to placate her, however, only seemed to make matters worse. Mrs. Marigold’s face tightened, and she shot back with an irritated tone, “Even if Galatea can’t cure it all at once, she shouldn’t be making your condition worse.”
This comment only fueled the fire. Mrs. Marigold was already upset, and hearing Alaric defend Galatea only made her angrier. Her frustration reached a boiling point, and she snapped, “What about Galatea? Have her come and see me right now! I want to know if she can really treat your illness or if she has ulterior motives!”
Alaric winced inwardly. The last thing he wanted was for Galatea to meet his mother right now. He was already at odds with her, and introducing her to Mrs. Marigold would only make things worse. Despite their ongoing cold war, Alaric didn’t want his mother to make things even more complicated.
“Mom, just stop it. She’s a doctor. What could she possibly be planning?” Alaric tried to redirect the conversation, but his mother wasn’t having it.
Mrs. Marigold, however, was not so easily dismissed. “Who knows? You have a noble status. Any woman would want to marry you. Right now, she’s still your fiancée in reputation. Doesn’t that make her like a phoenix perched on a branch? If she has any ill intentions toward our family’s fortune, she could harm you while pretending to treat you. It’s not impossible!”
Alaric was stunned by his mother’s reasoning. “Mom, you’re overthinking this. Galatea isn’t that kind of person,” he said, trying to reassure her. But Mrs. Marigold only grew more angry, even a little jealous. It wasn’t just about Galatea’s potential motives; it was about Alaric’s attachment to her. Mrs. Marigold’s discomfort with Galatea was palpable. It wasn’t just about the treatment—there was something deeper at play.
“I don’t care what you think, Alaric,” she said sharply, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve never felt so unsettled by a woman in my life. I can’t stand the thought of you being involved with her.”
Alaric was starting to feel the weight of his mother’s words. She had never been emotionally attached to anyone but him, and now, with Galatea in the picture, he could see how she might feel threatened. She had been his emotional support for so long that the idea of anyone else stepping into that role made her uneasy. Alaric knew all too well that his mother’s intense protectiveness was a double-edged sword. While she loved him, she was also possessive of him. And it was clear that she saw Galatea as a rival.
“Mom, just listen to me. You need to focus on your own health right now. Galatea is nothing like you think,” Alaric tried to explain, his patience wearing thin.
But Mrs. Marigold was not ready to let go of her suspicions. She asked, “Alaric, tell me the truth. How are you really feeling? Are you in any pain? Don’t hide anything from me.”
Alaric sighed, feeling the exhaustion of trying to manage both his health and his mother’s worries. “I’m fine, Mom. I’m getting better. I’ll be discharged tomorrow.”
Mrs. Marigold wasn’t convinced. “No, no, you’ve already been through so much! How can you be discharged so quickly?” She shook her head, her concern growing. “Don’t worry about work or the company. Just focus on getting better.”
Alaric rubbed his temples. “But, Mom, I really do want to get out of here. I don’t want to be stuck in the hospital any longer than I have to.”
“No ‘buts’!” Mrs. Marigold snapped. “You’re my son. If anything happens to you, I won’t be able to go on. You don’t understand how serious this is. I need you to stay here until you’re fully recovered. Do you understand?”
Alaric didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. He just nodded reluctantly. “Alright, fine. I’ll stay.”
Mrs. Marigold, satisfied with his answer, softened a little. “Have you eaten? You need nourishment. I’ll have the kitchen send something up for you.”
Alaric, already tired of the constant hovering, tried to reassure her. “Mom, I’ve already eaten. I don’t need anything right now. You’ve done enough.”
But Mrs. Marigold wasn’t ready to leave just yet. She was still anxious about his condition. “You need to eat to get better. You’ve been through a lot, and I’m not leaving until I’m sure you’re taken care of.”
Alaric gave her a weary smile. “Look, I really appreciate it, but I just want to rest. Please, go spend some time with Caspian instead. He needs you too.”
Mrs. Marigold frowned at the mention of Caspian. She had always been critical of him, but Alaric’s suggestion made her pause.
“I’ve already seen Caspian. In just a few days, he’s changed so much. He’s gone from being quiet to constantly talking,” she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s actually a good thing, isn’t it? Now you have a chance to connect with him. You never really talked to him before.”
Mrs. Marigold scowled. “I’m not interested in bonding with that little brat. I’m here for you, Alaric, and that’s all that matters right now.”
Alaric could see that there was no convincing her, so he closed his eyes and sighed. “Mom, I need to rest now. It’s late, and I’m really tired.”
Mrs. Marigold wasn’t ready to give up yet. “How can you rest when you’re in such a serious condition? When you were a child, I didn’t want you to join the military, but you insisted. And then an accident happened. You’re still so young, Alaric. If you don’t take care of yourself now, these aftereffects could torment you for the rest of your life.”
She continued, “As for your wife… Orion treats you well. If you hadn’t fought with her, she would’ve come here to take care of you. But look at you, lying here all alone, in such a miserable state.”
Alaric had had enough. He didn’t want to hear any more of her concerns about Orion or his health. He closed his eyes again, pretending to fall asleep.
“Forget it,” Mrs. Marigold muttered, clearly frustrated. “If you don’t want to listen, I’ll just leave you be.”
As she sat there in silence, Alaric finally managed to get some rest, but his mind was racing. His mother’s words about Orion, Galatea, and his own health weighed heavily on him. He could tell that Mrs. Marigold wasn’t going to let this go, and he didn’t know how much longer he could keep up the charade.
The next morning, when Alaric woke up, he found that Mrs. Marigold had already left. He immediately called her, concerned. “Mom, where did you go?”
“I just arrived at the office,” she replied coolly. “You can’t handle work right now, so I’ll take over.”
Alaric breathed a sigh of relief. At least she wasn’t making a scene about his health anymore. But little did he know, his mother had her own plans, and those plans didn’t just involve Alaric’s recovery—they involved Galatea as well.