Chapter 154: Unspoken Tensions
Alaric continued to watch Galatea, his thoughts lingering on her expression when she had mentioned Ambrose earlier. There had been no bitterness, only sadness, as if she hadn’t yet connected the dots between Ambrose and the collapse of the Storm family. Galatea seemed to have believed, until now, that Ambrose had merely feared being implicated, which was why he disappeared without saying goodbye.
After considering this, Alaric reached out and gently rubbed Galatea’s head, his voice warm. “It’s Ambrose’s loss to leave you. I should thank him. If he hadn’t left when he did, I might never have had the chance to be with you.”
Galatea chuckled softly, though her cheeks turned pink. “Don’t scold me,” she said, her voice teasing but laced with genuine affection.
Alaric grinned, shaking his head. “Scolding? No, I’m celebrating.” He smiled with pride. “The acknowledged number one socialite in Arizona, possessing unparalleled beauty, intelligence, elegance, and medical expertise. Skilled in both fine dining and the streets… A woman like you, Galatea, is a treasure. I consider it the greatest honor that you’ll marry me.”
Galatea’s face flushed even deeper. She wasn’t used to such open praise, especially from Alaric, who was typically reserved and blunt. “I didn’t expect you to be so smooth-tongued,” she mumbled, clearly flustered.
Alaric’s smile softened, his eyes filled with admiration. “Every word is the truth, no exaggeration.”
Galatea couldn’t find the words to respond, feeling a mix of pride and shyness at his words. Before she could process her emotions, Alaric pulled her close, his lips capturing hers in a kiss.
It was a kiss both familiar and yet infinitely deepened by their shared connection. Each kiss between them seemed to bring a greater warmth, a greater sense of belonging. As they pulled away, Galatea felt a warmth spread through her entire body, her chest fluttering as she gazed into his eyes.
Alaric broke the moment with a gentle smile. “It’s late, and you must be exhausted. Go to sleep.”
Galatea nodded, already feeling the weight of the day press down on her. She had been mentally and physically drained, and the long walk in the rain hadn’t helped.
Lying in Alaric’s arms, she closed her eyes, and in a matter of seconds, she drifted off to sleep. Alaric watched her for a moment, a soft smile tugging at his lips. She had fallen asleep so quickly—impressive, considering the emotional toll of the day.
“Galatea,” he whispered softly, but she didn’t respond.
He smiled to himself, amused and affectionate. Whether in moments of joy or sorrow, Galatea’s peaceful sleep was a comfort to him. As her breathing evened out, Alaric finally allowed his own exhaustion to catch up with him. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes and slept.
Time passed, and in the quiet of the night, Alaric felt restless when Galatea wasn’t there beside him. He rarely slept well without her near. But tonight, as she slept soundly in his arms, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him.
The following morning, Galatea awoke to find it was already close to ten o’clock. As usual, Alaric’s presence was missing from the lounge. She assumed he’d already had an early meeting, considering how early he usually got up for work.
But with the memory of the late night still fresh in her mind, Galatea felt a pang of guilt. She had kept him up too late. Determined to make it up to him, she decided to prepare lunch for him.
Meanwhile, Alaric had indeed been busy since early that morning. After his meeting, he had remained in his office, handling the company’s affairs.
A knock on his office door broke his concentration. “Come in,” he called.
Ambrose entered, looking every bit the composed CEO he was. “I heard from Silas that you’ve returned to work, Mr. Alaric. Congratulations on your recovery.”
“Thank you for your concern, CEO Ambrose,” Alaric replied, his tone smooth but not entirely warm. “I also heard from Silas that during my absence, you’ve done quite a remarkable job. The construction site was even recognized as a model in the city. Congratulations on that as well. It’s good to know Nexus Innovations has such a capable partner.”
Ambrose smiled, nodding humbly. “You’re too kind, Mr. Alaric. It’s an honor to win the bid with Nexus Innovations, and I’ll work even harder to live up to your trust.”
Alaric’s smile was polite, but his next words were pointed. “I heard you were a senior executive at Storm’s Family group before, CEO Ambrose?”
At this, Ambrose’s composure faltered for just a moment. The mention of Storm’s Family was like a hidden landmine—one that Alaric had clearly placed intentionally. It seemed Stellan had already shared the full story with Alaric.
“Yes,” Ambrose answered simply, his voice guarded.
Alaric’s cold smile didn’t fade. “I know Storm’s Family was primarily in the food industry before, so your transition to real estate is quite impressive. It speaks volumes about your versatility. You’re certainly talented in many fields.”
Ambrose forced a smile, though the tension in the room was palpable. “It’s all just luck, really.”
Alaric chuckled softly. “Luck once may be chance, but twice? That’s no coincidence.”
Ambrose’s lips tightened. “You flatter me, Mr. Alaric,” he said, his voice strained. “Was that the reason you called me here today? To praise me?”
Alaric’s smile was tinged with something more insidious. “Of course not. After the meeting with Nexus Innovations, it was decided the opening day for the entertainment city should be advanced. That means the project needs to be completed at least half a month earlier.”
Ambrose blinked, processing the weight of the request. “The project needs to be finished half a month earlier?” he echoed, the question heavy in the air.
“Yes. Any problems?” Alaric asked smoothly.
Ambrose hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. “No problems. I’ll make sure the project is completed ahead of schedule. I’ll do whatever it takes, Mr. Alaric.”
Alaric smiled approvingly. “I like working with straightforward people like you, CEO Ambrose. I’ll look forward to hearing good news soon.” He stood up, signaling the end of the conversation. “I’m busy now, so I’ll let you get back to it.”
Ambrose nodded, though his face was tight with hidden frustration. “Of course, Mr. Alaric. I’ll take my leave.”
As Ambrose left, Galatea was arriving at the building, carrying fresh ingredients to make lunch. She had no idea that her path would cross with Ambrose’s in such a charged moment. When the elevator doors opened, she was surprised to find Ambrose standing right outside.
Their eyes met, but Galatea immediately felt an unfamiliar chill. A strange resistance surged in her chest as she noticed the way Ambrose was watching her. His gaze wasn’t hostile, but it was observant, almost as if he was reading her every move.
Ambrose, on the other hand, seemed momentarily taken aback by Galatea’s determined stride and the ingredients in her hands. It was clear to him that despite what he had told her about Brennan, Galatea’s focus had shifted—perhaps irrevocably—towards Alaric. The news about her father’s death seemed to have done little to shake her devotion to the man she had chosen to be with.
Without a word, Galatea walked past Ambrose, heading for the elevator. She could feel the weight of his presence behind her, but she chose to ignore it, focused only on her task: preparing a special lunch for Alaric.
Silas, who had been busy all morning, had no idea that Galatea had gone out to buy the ingredients. He was surprised when she returned, smiling knowingly. “Young Madam, you could’ve asked me to do this kind of thing for you,” he said, his tone light.
Galatea responded, her voice filled with purpose, “Making a loving lunch for Alaric is something I want to do myself. It’s important that he enjoys it, so I have to pick the ingredients personally.” Her words were intentionally directed at Ambrose, who stood by, watching in silence.