Chapter 160: Unveiling Trust
Galatea and Alaric had kissed many times before, but this time was different. It was the first time she took the initiative, and the intensity of her kiss completely surprised Alaric. She held the kiss longer than usual, leaving him dazed as she pulled away.
Alaric blinked in surprise, trying to process the sudden change. “What’s with you today? So affectionate all of a sudden?”
Galatea didn’t answer immediately. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, clouded by her conversation with Ambrose. She had come to question everything, her heart torn between trust and doubt. Ambrose had made her cautious, especially since the bankruptcy of the Storm family seemed to be tied to him in some way. She didn’t know if she should blame Ambrose for keeping secrets or blame herself for being too blinded by love.
She stared at Alaric, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “Alaric… can I trust you?”
The question hit him harder than she expected. Galatea wasn’t used to feeling this insecure, but lately, she had been losing her sense of stability. She needed to know, once and for all, if Alaric could be trusted in the way she needed him to be.
“Will you be loyal to this relationship, without any ulterior motives?” she pressed. “Just… being with me, for me?”
The question seemed silly even as she asked it. In the world they lived in, who could ever answer ‘yes’ with complete confidence? And yet, she found herself asking him, needing to hear it from his lips.
Alaric’s response was immediate and firm, his voice unwavering. “I swear on my faith, as long as I’m alive, you’ll be my only Mrs. Knight.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Hearing him say those words gave her the reassurance she desperately needed. In that moment, everything else faded away—there was only him and the promise he made.
“This is what you said. You’re a soldier. You must keep your word.”
“I will,” Alaric confirmed, his voice low but full of conviction.
Before he could start the car, Galatea’s sharp nose caught something. She frowned, leaning in slightly. “You smell like alcohol. Have you been drinking?”
Alaric hesitated, a soft laugh escaping his lips, which only seemed to infuriate her more. “I told you I’m going to treat you, and you’re out here drinking and driving?” Her tone was angry as she scolded him, giving him a light shove. “Get out, I’ll drive.”
The sight of Galatea’s anger made Alaric laugh even harder, but that only made her more upset. She punched him in the arm.
“Why are you laughing? This is serious!”
Alaric’s laughter finally subsided, and he sighed. “Let me explain. I haven’t touched a drop today. It was Cormac who got drunk. I just dropped him off at home before coming to pick you up.”
Galatea’s anger flickered out, replaced by curiosity. “Big Brother Cormac got drunk?”
Alaric nodded, his face growing serious again. “Yes, he’s been feeling down.”
“Because of Ravenna’s illness?”
“No. It’s because of his ex-girlfriend, Rowena,” Alaric replied. “He got reminded of her, and it triggered a lot of emotions.”
“His ex-girlfriend Rowena?” Galatea was intrigued now. “What did she look like?”
Alaric smiled at her curiosity. “You’re interested in Cormac’s past now?”
“I’m just curious about the people close to me, especially when they’re in my life like he is.”
With a sigh, Alaric recounted briefly how Cormac and Rowena had broken up due to Griffon’s opposition, adding, “I still don’t understand why Cormac became a psychologist, though. But it turns out, it’s because Rowena suffered from depression, and he wanted to help people like her.”
“So, he became a psychologist because of her?” Galatea’s surprise was evident.
“Yeah. That’s the only explanation I can think of,” Alaric said, though he hadn’t directly asked Cormac about it. “And it’s not something you’d expect from Cormac. He always comes off as a carefree playboy, but he’s really devoted when it counts.”
This new insight into Cormac made Galatea look at him in a different light.
“Yes, exactly,” Alaric agreed. Then, as if to shift the topic, he added, “Let’s talk about us. You’ll be working hard to treat me, so my future wife and personal doctor will need to stay with me at the company.”
Galatea rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. “I’ve never met anyone as obsessed with work as you. Treating you at the office? That’s so strange.”
“It’s the only option,” Alaric admitted, sounding almost apologetic. “There are too many enemies in the business world. Last time, when I pretended to go on a business trip, it got exposed. If I leave the company for too long, my condition will be discovered. So, I need you to stay with me, Galatea.”
Galatea sighed again, her gaze softening. “Is it just because you don’t want people to know about your condition? Or is it because you’re worried about your business rivals?”
“Both,” Alaric confessed with a sheepish grin.
“Well, I know you’re all about face-saving,” she muttered. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure to cure you before anyone else finds out about it.”
“I trust you,” Alaric said sincerely, his tone deepening.
As Galatea glanced at him, she realized how much he had changed. His usual aloof, arrogant demeanor had softened, replaced by a smooth-talking charm that made her smile. But there was something else too—an underlying vulnerability that he never let anyone see.
“Poor Harry and Elisa,” Alaric lamented, changing the subject again. “I won’t see them for a while.”
“It won’t be long,” Galatea reassured him. “I’ll take them out this weekend to make up for it.”
“Let’s talk about that after you get out of bed,” she added, her tone firm. “And remember, even though you’ve been shot and seriously injured, the medication has side effects. Nausea, fever, and loss of appetite—don’t underestimate it. This isn’t a small thing. Don’t take it lightly.”
“I understand,” Alaric replied, his voice tinged with seriousness. “If I can’t get out of bed, I’ll be counting on you to take care of me.”
Seeing his laid-back attitude toward his health, Galatea couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry. She wanted to believe everything would be fine, but she couldn’t ignore the risks involved.
Alaric led her to the company’s lounge, a space so luxurious it felt more like a private suite than an office. The top floor was his domain, with everything he could ever need—his office, lounge, private dining room, and even a gym. Staying here with Galatea would certainly be convenient, though she found it a little overwhelming.
After arriving, Galatea’s first instinct was to take a shower. The encounter with Ambrose had left her feeling uneasy, and she wanted to wash away the remnants of that tension.
When she emerged from the bathroom, she found Alaric standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze lost in thought.
“Are you okay?” he asked, turning toward her.
Galatea nodded quietly. “Yes.”
Alaric inhaled deeply, then approached her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You smell… nice. What body lotion are you using?”
“Why?” Galatea asked, confused.
Alaric stepped closer, his eyes mischievous. “Earlier, you mentioned that I might not be able to get out of bed during the treatment. Does that mean… we can’t do anything else?”
Galatea’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
He smiled, a little defeated, then picked her up effortlessly, carrying her toward the bed. “Do you understand now?”
Galatea went silent, her eyes widening as she realized what he was suggesting.
“So, tonight we can…” Alaric leaned in, kissing her mid-sentence.