Chapter 185: Are You the Ex-Boyfriend of Stellan Storm?
When Galatea’s call appeared on the screen, Marigold felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The person she feared the most right now was Galatea—specifically, the fear that Galatea might discover her true identity as the “Marigold Rogers” from the past.
“Alright, I’m leaving now. But remember, be careful on the way, pay attention to your diet, get enough sleep, and don’t tire yourselves out.” Marigold’s voice was filled with repeated instructions as she spoke to the children, but Caspian, clearly uninterested, completely ignored her reminders. He grabbed Elisa’s hand, and the two walked away without sparing her another glance.
Only when they had completely left Marigold behind did Caspian finally answer Galatea’s call. “Hello, Mommy.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” Galatea’s voice was gentle and apologetic. “I haven’t been home for a few days. Do you miss me?”
“We miss you so much, Mommy,” Elisa replied cheerfully, “But for the sake of you and Daddy Alaric’s happiness, we can endure the time apart for now.” Elisa’s tone was lighthearted. “You should be enjoying some sweet time with Daddy during this period.”
Galatea laughed softly, “Elisa, you’re always so full of nonsense. How have you two been? How’s your health? Your studies? Have you made any new friends?”
“We’ve been doing well, Mommy. You don’t need to worry.”
Caspian responded next, his tone much more reserved than Elisa’s. “We’re fine, Mommy. Don’t worry about us. We’ll come home after school for dinner.”
After hanging up, Elisa looked at Caspian with a puzzled expression. “Harry, why didn’t you tell Mommy about this? That lady—she’s so strange.”
Caspian shook his head, lowering his voice. “If we tell Mommy, she’ll get worried and go looking for that woman. And she’s so fierce… I’m scared she might hurt Mommy. It’s better to tell Daddy directly. He’ll handle it.”
Marigold was Alaric’s mother, and if Alaric dealt with her, he could stand his ground. But Galatea? She was too kind and wouldn’t be able to stand up to Marigold.
“Fierce?” Elisa was confused. “That lady is always smiling at us. She bought us lots of toys and clothes—even though we didn’t accept them. She seemed really kind.”
“Kindness has nothing to do with it.” Caspian’s voice grew more serious, his face clouded with unease. “Marigold is like a nightmare from my childhood. She’s even worse than Orion. When I see her, I get this sinking feeling… she’s both fierce and unreasonable. Don’t let her appearance fool you. She’s like a wicked stepmother from a fairy tale. Very scary.”
Elisa blinked, clearly stunned. “Harry, did you know her before? Why do you say that?”
Caspian hesitated, guilt creeping in. He had said too much. This was bad.
“No,” he said, forcing a smile. “You’re just too naive. If you look at her face, you can tell she’s not a good person.”
“What?” Elisa’s confusion deepened. “Harry, when did you start understanding this?”
Caspian sighed. “I just know a little. But trust me, she’s definitely not someone we should get close to. It’s dangerous.”
Elisa didn’t fully understand, but she trusted him. “Even though I don’t quite get it, I believe you. Let’s leave it at that.”
Caspian let out a quiet breath of relief. At least Elisa’s intelligence had its limits—making her easier to convince.
Meanwhile, Marigold remained at the school gate, her worry deepening. She hadn’t expected Harry and Elisa to be so cautious, so alert, shutting her out completely. Worse, if they told Galatea, it could all come crashing down. Galatea might reunite with Alaric, and then she would become the Young Madam of the Knight family. If Galatea sought revenge, Marigold would have nowhere to hide.
“Mrs. Marigold,” Joe’s voice broke through her thoughts. “The children are far away now. Should we head back?”
Marigold frowned, anxiety gnawing at her. “There’s no progress. If this keeps up, my grandson won’t even recognize me, and Galatea will come looking for me again.” She glared at Joe, her frustration evident. The truth she was desperately trying to keep hidden seemed closer than ever to being exposed.
Joe hesitated before speaking again. “Mrs. Marigold, Galatea is already with Mr. Alaric Junior. It’s only a matter of time before she figures out who you really are. She might not have seen you yet, but she could have already seen your photo with Mr. Alaric Junior.”
Marigold spun around sharply. “You’re an old fool,” she snapped, her tone harsh. “Stop saying such unpleasant things.” She turned to walk towards the car. “Let’s go home.”
Just as she was about to get into the car, a voice called out behind her.
“Marigold.”
She froze, the familiarity of the voice sending a ripple of unease through her. Turning around, she saw Ambrose standing a few feet away, a faint smile on his face.
“Mr. Todd? What are you doing here?” Marigold asked, her surprise genuine. Ambrose’s sudden appearance caught her off guard.
“I’m here to see you, on purpose. I have something personal to discuss,” Ambrose replied smoothly.
Marigold’s lips parted in disbelief. “Personal? I don’t have anything to discuss with you. Alaric is back at the company now, so if it’s business, talk to him.”
Ambrose stepped forward, his smile unwavering. “Today, Mrs. Marigold, I’m not here as a partner of Nexus Innovations. I have personal matters to discuss with you.”
“Personal matters?” Marigold’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What could I possibly have to discuss with you?”
Just as she was about to close the car door, Ambrose spoke again, his voice low but clear.
“Today, I’m here as Stellan Storm’s ex-boyfriend. Can we talk now, Mrs. Marigold?”
The words hit Marigold like a thunderclap. Stellan Storm’s ex-boyfriend? The man standing before her, a partner at Nexus Innovations, was intimately connected to Stellan Storm’s past? She felt a cold shiver crawl up her spine.
Ambrose, with his calm smile, seemed to be waiting for her response.
“Mrs. Marigold,” he repeated, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. “Can we have a chat now?”