Chapter 19
In the hotel room, Alaric had finally recovered. His face, once ashen, now showed signs of color returning.
“Are you all right?” Galatea asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Alaric lifted his gaze to meet hers, his eyes sharp with warning. “Don’t breathe a word of what just happened to anyone,” he threatened in a low, menacing tone. “Or I’ll make you pay.”
The three years he had spent in a coma were no secret, but the world was unaware of his chronic condition. In his line of work, revealing such weaknesses was dangerous. He had countless rivals, and showing any vulnerability would only invite attacks.
Only his closest family and personal doctors knew about the episodes, those rare but debilitating episodes that could strike at any moment. This was the first time something like this had happened in public.
“You think too poorly of me,” Galatea responded calmly, keeping her voice steady. “I’m a doctor. I respect doctor-patient confidentiality. I won’t tell anyone, but I have one request. Let me continue my job at Serenity Heights Medical Center.”
Alaric’s expression softened for a brief moment, but it quickly hardened again. “You can return to work on one condition,” he said gravely, locking eyes with her. “From this moment on, you will be known as my fiancée.”
Galatea blinked, disbelief flashing across her face. “Alaric, you’re a married man with kids, and you dare make such a proposal to me? You’re utterly shameless!”
Alaric’s jaw tightened. “She’s not my wife,” he explained, his voice clipped. “And I’m not going into details. If you want your job back at Serenity Heights, you’ll follow my terms.”
For years, Alaric had played the role of Orion’s husband for the sake of their son, Caspian. But the truth was, there was no love between him and Orion. She had never been the mother figure Caspian needed, and it was becoming more and more evident that he didn’t care for her. It was time to end the charade.
If it had just been about ending things with Orion, Alaric wouldn’t have hesitated. But there was more at stake. The Nash family, long-time friends of the Knights, had ties that couldn’t be ignored. And in this case, Galatea was the perfect reason to sever those ties. Especially since Caspian seemed to have developed feelings for her.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Galatea said, her voice rising with indignation. “I won’t agree to this!”
“You don’t really have a choice,” Alaric responded, his tone domineering as he stood in the Arizona heat. “If I were you, I wouldn’t refuse. Being my fiancée comes with only benefits for you. Don’t be ungrateful.”
Galatea paused, her mind racing. She remembered when she had been a socialite, surrounded by wealth and privilege. Back then, everyone was eager to lend a hand. But in her fall from grace, not a single friend had stayed. With the title of Alaric’s fiancée, she’d be able to continue her investigation into her son’s birth at Serenity Heights Medical Center. She could live with the pretense for now.
“Fine,” she said, finally conceding. “I agree.”
Alaric’s eyes narrowed, a pleased glint in them. “At least you’re sensible.”
“A deal is a deal,” Galatea replied, her tone cool. “I won’t claim to be the best doctor, but my skills are above average. Pretending to be your fiancée and offering my medical services for free… you’re getting a bargain.”
Alaric chuckled, his lips curling slightly. “You make a fair point.” He then handed her his phone. “Put your number in. Be on call 24/7. I’ll contact you whenever I need you.”
Was she his pretend fiancée or an on-call nanny? Galatea thought dryly. Regardless, she had to locate her son. Taking the phone, she entered her number and handed it back to him without a word.
“That’s enough for tonight,” Alaric said abruptly, as he moved toward the bed. “I need rest. You can leave.”
Galatea kept her silence, but her thoughts were loud. This man is so infuriating!
“I’ll honor our agreement,” she reminded him, her voice firm despite the storm brewing in her mind.
“Don’t worry. I keep my promises.” Alaric said, his voice more composed. “Tomorrow, you can return to work at Serenity Heights Medical Center. No one there will dare give you any trouble.”
With that, Alaric strode toward the foyer, swinging the door open without a trace of warmth. “Out.”
“OK, goodnight, Mr. Knight,” she replied, not missing a beat as she stepped out of the room.
After the door closed behind her, Alaric exhaled a long, tired breath. He collapsed on the bed, his eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion overtook him. Why did I lose control like that? he wondered briefly, the image of Galatea’s determined face still lingering in his mind. If she hadn’t been there, the consequences could have been… unthinkable.
Meanwhile, Harry was wide awake, unable to sleep. His mind churned with thoughts of Orion—whether she was Caspian’s biological mother or stepmother, it didn’t matter. He was determined to push her out of the picture for good. His real mother deserved the top spot.
The following morning, Alaric drove to the McCall residence to pick up Caspian. As soon as he stepped inside, Orion hurried down the stairs.
“Alaric, you’re here?” she asked, her voice light with an attempt at cheerfulness.
“Where’s Caspian?” Alaric responded coldly, his eyes scanning the room.
“Dad, I’m here!” Harry came rushing out of the bathroom, leaping straight into Alaric’s arms. “Dad, I missed you so much! I even dreamed about you last night.”
Alaric felt a sense of warmth stir within him, though it was quickly tempered by the lingering tension. The boy had changed so much since his fall, becoming far more agreeable.
“I missed you, too,” Alaric said, lifting Harry into a tight embrace.
“Dad, mom yelled at me again yesterday,” Harry began, his voice small but clear. “She even tried to grab my collar and hit me.”
“How dare you lie like that!” Orion’s voice was laced with fury, and she stepped forward, glaring at Harry.
“I’m not lying, Dad!” Harry insisted, his voice rising with sincerity. “If you don’t believe me, ask Cormac!” he added, turning toward the man who had just entered the room.
Cormac froze for a moment, caught off guard. He wasn’t sure what to say.
“Cormac,” Alaric said, his tone sharp, “let’s be honest. You know the situation between your sister and me. She had a child while I was in a coma, and I had no choice but to accept it. But you can’t force love. We’ve played pretend as husband and wife for years, all for Caspian’s sake. But it’s clear now—she’s not fit to be a mother. With her around, Caspian’s health will only worsen. It’s time to end this charade. I hope you can understand.”
There was a long pause as Cormac absorbed Alaric’s words. They had grown up like brothers, and Alaric knew he had just laid it all out in the most honest terms.
After a moment of silence, Cormac remained still, torn. Objectively, he knew Alaric had never truly loved Orion. She had used Caspian to tie him down, holding him hostage emotionally. But, at the same time, Orion was still his sister—his flesh and blood.
Orion, however, wasn’t done. Her voice wavered with emotion as she stepped forward. “Alaric, is it because I wasn’t a good mother?” Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him. “I gave up everything for you. I gave up my career to have a child when it seemed like you might never wake up. I stood by your side all those years you were in a coma. Surely that counts for something. Is that why you’re casting me aside? I can’t accept this!”
Alaric didn’t hesitate. “I’ve already fallen for someone else. Is that reason enough?”