Chapter 151: A Dark Search
The night had fallen, and Alaric’s anxiety intensified as he tried calling Galatea again. The phone went straight to voicemail. A deep sense of panic gripped him. His thoughts were clouded by fear, remembering the accident she’d narrowly escaped not long ago.
His mind began spiraling with dark possibilities. He dialed her phone once more—still off. The more he thought, the more terrified he became.
Frantic, Alaric called Galatea’s driver, James, who answered with an honest report.
“After leaving the hotel, Young Madam said she wanted to take a drive around. I drove for about an hour, and then she said she was tired and wanted to go home. I dropped her off at her building. She said she wouldn’t need the car for the rest of the day.”
Relieved that she was home earlier, Alaric rushed to Galatea’s apartment. When Auntie opened the door, she didn’t recognize him immediately and asked, “Sir, who are you looking for?”
“Is Galatea home?” Alaric asked quickly, his voice tight with urgency.
“Around noon, she came back but left again shortly after,” the maid explained. “She didn’t say where she was going.”
“Do you know where she went?” Alaric pressed, dread creeping into his voice.
“No, she didn’t mention it.”
Panic surged again. Galatea wasn’t home. With the rain now pouring heavily, Alaric’s worry grew. He bolted out of the building and jumped into his car, his hands trembling as he gripped the wheel.
His destination: Galatea’s store. But when he arrived, the lights were off, and the door was locked. She wasn’t there either. His heart pounded louder with every second that passed.
The rain continued to fall, harder now, as if nature itself was mirroring his unease. His pulse raced as he thought of the accident she had barely survived. His rational mind was fading, consumed by irrational fear. What if something had happened to her again? What if she was in danger?
He quickly called Silas Moon, hoping for some clarity.
“Hello, Mr. Alaric.”
“Silas, find the surveillance footage near Galatea’s building from noon onward. Trace where she went. If she took any route, find out where it leads.” Alaric’s voice was frantic.
“Understood, I’ll get to it right away.”
Hanging up, Alaric couldn’t sit still. He drove through the rain, calling Galatea’s phone again and again, but it remained unreachable. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios: Had she been kidnapped? Or worse, had she met with another accident, and no one was there to help her?
Galatea, however, wasn’t in any of the situations Alaric feared. She had, in fact, been at Yusong Cemetery on the hill, trying to find a quiet moment for herself. But as the night grew darker, her phone died, and she was left stranded.
The cemetery was isolated, perched high on the hill with no lights or passing vehicles. The rain worsened, and Galatea had no choice but to start walking downhill in the downpour. The road that had seemed so short when she drove it now felt endless in the darkness and rain. With no light and no sign of help, she trudged on, tears mixing with raindrops.
Just as she felt herself breaking, a pair of headlights pierced the darkness. The sudden appearance of a car startled her at first, but the vehicle stopped beside her.
Earlier, Alaric had finally received an update from Silas.
“Mr. Alaric, we traced the route. The car Young Madam took vanished on Stellar Avenue, and while there’s no footage beyond that point, we know that road leads to Yusong Cemetery.”
Relief washed over Alaric. At least now he knew where Galatea was. She was safe, not kidnapped or in danger—just alone in a cemetery. It didn’t make sense why she would go there, but at least she wasn’t in immediate danger.
Alaric, his worry still heavy, drove to Stellar Avenue, praying to see her soon. When he finally did, the sight of Galatea standing alone in the rain brought an overwhelming sense of relief. His racing heart finally slowed.
To Galatea, seeing Alaric approach was like a beacon in the storm. Her gratitude in that moment was indescribable—like finding a light in the darkest place.
Alaric quickly got out of the car. His anger erupted when he saw her drenched, but beneath it, his concern was clear. “You don’t answer your phone, and then it’s switched off. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”
Though his words were harsh, his actions were tender. He immediately took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Gently, he lifted her into the car, holding her closely as the warmth of the heater filled the vehicle.
“I’ve told you so many times to answer the phone. I assigned James to you. If you need help, you should’ve called him! Why did you go up to that cemetery by yourself? It’s late, and with the rain coming down like this… what if something happened to you?”
Galatea, overwhelmed by his care, couldn’t hold it in any longer. She collapsed into his arms, her voice hoarse. “I’m sorry.”
Her apology hit him harder than he expected. He knew it wasn’t like her to act recklessly. The events that had been weighing on her—the words of Ambrose and Brennan’s death—had driven her to do something she never would have otherwise.
Alaric, his anger fading, pulled her closer. “Alright, let’s go to the lounge. You need to take a hot bath, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Galatea nodded, too exhausted to speak further.
On the drive back to Nexus Innovations, she sat in silence, her body curled up in the passenger seat. Alaric didn’t ask questions, though he could feel the heavy weight on her shoulders. He didn’t know everything that was troubling her, but he knew it was something serious.
By the time they arrived, it was well past midnight. Alaric carried her into his lounge, careful to avoid any further strain on her already exhausted body.
Inside, he quickly prepared the bath, his voice gentle now. “Go take a shower first. I’ll be right here.”
Galatea nodded, grateful for his care, even as her heart remained heavy.