Chapter 144: Unraveling the Past
Galatea stared at Ambrose, unable to hide her disbelief. “Why are you here so early in the morning?” she asked sharply, suspecting this wasn’t a simple coincidence.
Ambrose gave a nonchalant shrug. “This is the hotel where I’m staying,” he replied, before asking, “But Mrs. Knight, what brings you here?”
“No comment,” Galatea replied curtly, not willing to entertain further small talk with him.
The breakfast buffet was self-serve, and Galatea grabbed a couple of slices of toast and a glass of milk, finding a quiet table by the window. She sat down, only to see Ambrose approaching with his own breakfast, heading directly toward her. Before she could say anything, he sat down across from her.
The move took her by surprise at first, but it quickly turned into irritation.
“Excuse me, may I sit here?” Ambrose asked, already seated without waiting for an answer.
Galatea didn’t respond, her gaze cold as she lowered her eyes to her food, trying to avoid looking at him. But the feeling of his presence, so close, made her stomach churn.
What was he trying to do? Galatea found herself almost amused by the absurdity of it all. Her former lover, pretending to be a stranger, acting as if nothing had happened. In the quiet of the hotel, with no one around, it seemed Ambrose was enjoying this game.
Galatea couldn’t take it any longer. Slamming her glass of milk down on the table, she stood abruptly. “Excuse me, I don’t like eating with strangers.”
Her appetite completely gone, she was ready to leave, hoping Ambrose would disappear from her sight for good.
“Stellan!”
Just as she turned to walk away, Ambrose’s voice, calling her by the name he used when they were together, stopped her in her tracks. The sound of it stirred something deep inside her, a mix of anger and something else she couldn’t quite name.
Back then, when they were together, Ambrose had always called her Stellan with affection and tenderness. But now, his use of the name felt like a violation. He had no right to call her that anymore.
Galatea turned back to face him, her voice cold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My name is Galatea.”
Ambrose didn’t seem phased. “Changing your name doesn’t change who you are, Stellan. Even if you’ve changed your appearance, I’d recognize you anywhere.”
At this, Galatea felt a surge of disbelief. What was Ambrose trying to achieve? His tone, as though she had wronged him, only made her more furious.
She sank back down into her seat, unwilling to pretend anymore. “Aren’t you afraid of Alaric?” she asked sharply. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out about our past and destroy your future by cutting ties with your company? Are you willing to risk it?”
Ambrose’s expression flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “If Alaric already knows, there’s no point in pretending,” he said with a shrug. “Besides, Alaric won’t find anyone more suited for this project than me.”
Galatea’s heart sank, and for a moment, she was speechless. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest.
“Stellan,” Ambrose continued, his voice softening. “I’m sorry for leaving all those years ago. It wasn’t my choice. I was forced to go. I never wanted to leave you, never.”
“Ambrose!” Galatea cut him off, her voice firm and unyielding. “That’s all in the past. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Ambrose’s eyes flickered with pain, but he pressed on, his voice low. “I came back, hoping to find you. I heard you’d died, and I was devastated. I thought—”
“Enough, Ambrose!” Galatea interrupted, feeling nauseated by his words.
“I don’t care why you left before. I don’t want to know if you tried to find me afterward. All I know is that it’s over. Stellan Storm died six years ago. My name is Galatea now. Alaric is my lover, and I have a new life. Please don’t come looking for me again, and we shouldn’t meet alone. I’m afraid Alaric might misunderstand.”
At the mention of Alaric’s name, Ambrose’s expression hardened, and his voice filled with venom. “You’re so worried about losing Alaric,” he sneered. “Do you love him?”
Galatea felt a knot tighten in her stomach. “Did you have… intimate moments with him last night?”
Ambrose’s words struck a chord. Since he claimed to be staying at the hotel, how did he know about Alaric being there?
Galatea’s anger flared. “Ambrose, you’re following me!” she exclaimed, standing up in a fury.
“I’m not following you,” Ambrose corrected, his tone steady. “I’m protecting you. The Knight family isn’t as innocent as you think. Do you really believe Alaric loves you? Don’t be naive, Stellan. Leaving him is the only way to avoid unhappiness.”
The words hit her like a slap. Galatea felt herself trembling with rage. “Meeting you has been the biggest misfortune of my life!” she shot back, her voice filled with disgust. “Don’t disturb my life anymore. Don’t follow me. If you do, I will call the police!”
Galatea turned to leave, but Ambrose stood up as well, blocking her path. His next words froze her in her tracks.
“Are you just going to leave like this?” Ambrose asked, his voice sharp. “Don’t you want to know the truth about your father’s death?”
Galatea’s world tilted. The truth about Brennan’s death?
Brennan had died in a tragic fall, a suicide brought on by crushing debt.
“What did you just say?” Galatea’s voice trembled, her mind spinning as a cold shiver ran down her spine. There were questions surrounding Brennan’s death?
Ambrose’s voice was low, but steady as he continued. “Galatea, you and Brennan were inseparable. He loved you more than his own life. In the face of bankruptcy and overwhelming debt, do you think Brennan—who loved you so much—would have left you with all his debts and taken his own life?”
The words hit Galatea like a knife. For years, she had struggled to understand how Brennan, who loved her deeply, could have abandoned her in his final moments. Now, something in Ambrose’s words made her heart twist.
What if Brennan hadn’t committed suicide? What if he had been murdered?
The realization hit her like a thunderbolt, and her emotions spiraled out of control. She stood up abruptly, grabbing Ambrose’s collar with shaking hands.
“What do you know? How did Brennan die? Tell me!” Her voice was loud, echoing through the restaurant.
The entire room fell silent as all eyes turned toward them. Ambrose glanced around at the onlookers, his gaze briefly flickering with uncertainty. He gently removed her hand from his collar and spoke in a softer tone.
“Stellan, I understand your feelings,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But this isn’t the place to discuss this.”
He handed her a business card. “If you’re willing to leave Alaric and come back to me, I’ll tell you everything I know. I’ll seek justice for you and clear your family’s name. The information you want is on this card. You can contact me anytime.”
Before Galatea could respond, Ambrose leaned in slightly and whispered, “Stellan, you loved Brennan so much. I’m sure you wouldn’t want him to leave without an explanation.”
The thought that Brennan might have been murdered tore at her heart, and as Galatea tried to gather her thoughts, Ambrose was already slipping away, disappearing into the crowd.