Chapter 242: Growing Pains and New Beginnings
Stellan couldn’t help but feel uneasy. It wasn’t because she was afraid of Marigold—it was more about Alaric. She worried that he might be upset about how things had gone earlier. After dinner, while Caspian, Harry, and Elisa played outside in the yard, Stellan and Alaric took a walk.
“Alaric, you weren’t mad earlier, were you?” Stellan asked hesitantly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
“Mad?” Alaric raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Why would I be mad?”
“Because I didn’t invite Mrs. Knight to dinner… I…” Stellan faltered, unable to bring herself to say Marigold’s name affectionately after their recent fallout.
Alaric chuckled and pinched her cheek gently. “What’s the big deal? Harry wasn’t lying, and honestly, what she said behind your back was worse. I’m more concerned about you. She’s my mom, but right and wrong are clear—she was wrong, not you.”
Stellan’s heart warmed at his words, and she leaned in to kiss him. “Thank you, honey,” she whispered.
Alaric wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “I’m your husband. When things get tough, you’ve got me. Others might go to their parents, but you have me, and I won’t let you down.”
Stellan felt a lump in her throat, her eyes moistening with emotion. Alaric kissed her again, his lips soft and reassuring.
“Let’s finish our walk and head home,” he said, his voice tender.
“Okay,” Stellan smiled, feeling like the luckiest woman alive.
They continued their stroll, and Stellan couldn’t help but reflect on how people often said marriage was the “grave of love.” But with Alaric, it felt nothing like that. With him, love was alive and flourishing.
Alaric was usually cold and distant to most people, but with her, he was all warmth and tenderness. Stellan felt incredibly fortunate to be the woman who had his heart.
In the days that followed, Alaric and Stellan were as busy as ever. However, Stellan had hired three doctors to manage her patients, taking on only those who specifically requested her. This gave her some time to focus on her research in the lab. Unfortunately, her efforts weren’t yielding the results she had hoped for—every adjustment to the capsule ratio fell just short of success.
Frustrated, she picked up the phone and called Josep. “Josep, no matter how I adjust the capsule ratio, it doesn’t work. What am I missing?”
Josep’s voice came through the line, tinged with frustration. “Same here at the institute. We’re always a step away from getting it right. Drug development takes patience and precision. You can’t rush it.”
“Yeah, I know,” Stellan sighed, agreeing with him. “It’s just that this project feels so close. I don’t know how much longer I can keep going.”
Josep’s tone softened. “Listen, if you’re calling me for sympathy, you’re not getting it. But if you want to vent, I’m all ears.”
Stellan chuckled at the change in his mood. “Thanks, Josep. I needed that.”
He paused, then added, “By the way, I’m kicking your ass for not telling me about your marriage.”
Stellan blinked in surprise. “What? You’re mad at me?”
Josep huffed. “Mad? I should say so! You got married, and I didn’t even know. If I hadn’t seen it on the news, I’d still be in the dark!”
Stellan winced, feeling guilty. “I’m really sorry, Josep. It happened so suddenly…”
“The marriage itself, fine, whatever. But the wedding? You didn’t even mention that! You better tell me when you set a date. I want an invite!” he pressed.
“Wait, you want to come to my wedding?” Stellan was taken aback. Josep, a busy medical professor, was offering to fly back just for her wedding? That was unexpected.
Josep snorted. “Of course! You act like I’m not your family.”
Stellan’s smile softened. “It’s just that you’re so busy, Josep. I’m really flattered.”
Josep’s voice became more teasing. “Let me guess, you’re rushing this drug development for that ‘friend’ you mentioned, now your husband, right?”
Stellan hesitated, a little embarrassed. “Well… yeah.”
Josep laughed. “Knew it. Don’t worry, we’ll get this drug done. But the wedding? I’m showing up, you’d better believe it.”
Stellan laughed, relieved. “Alright, we’ll keep working on the drug, and I’ll definitely let you know when the wedding date is set.”
“Absolutely. It’ll be an honor to be there,” Josep replied.
After hanging up, Stellan felt a sense of peace. Despite the recent tensions with the Storm family, life had been kind to her. In Country M, she met Josep, who had not only helped her through her research but had also supported her during some of her toughest moments, including giving birth to her three children. Now, she was married to Alaric. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was good.
The weekend was approaching, and Alaric had already made arrangements for their trip. Silas had booked their plane tickets for an early flight the next day. They were headed to see Derek.
As Stellan dialed the phone to inform Caspian, Harry, and Elisa, she could hear the kids’ voices as they eagerly answered.
“Daddy, Mommy, this is too much,” Elisa complained. “You’re leaving us at Grandma’s? And you’re going on a trip?”
Stellan tried to explain, “It’s not a trip; we have business to take care of. We’ll be back soon.”
Harry, not missing a beat, added, “You’re abandoning us, and you’re making it sound so nice. If you wanted to be a loving couple, why even have kids?”
Alaric and Stellan exchanged a glance, stunned into silence by Harry’s bluntness.
Caspian took over the phone, his tone serious. “Don’t worry, Daddy, Mommy. I’ll be a responsible older brother and take care of Harry and Elisa.”
“Don’t take advantage of us!” Harry retorted, causing Stellan to laugh softly.
“Alright, Daddy, Mommy, you go ahead,” Caspian said. “If Harry misbehaves, I’ll handle it.”
As Stellan hung up, she turned to Alaric with a worried look. “Do you think Caspian and Harry will fight?”
Alaric gave her a knowing smile. “Possibly. But if they do, I’m pretty sure Harry won’t be able to beat Caspian.”
Though Caspian had struggled with psychological issues in the past, his physical strength was undeniable. Alaric had trained him well since he was little.
Stellan sighed, shaking her head. “You’re almost looking forward to them fighting, aren’t you?”
Alaric chuckled. “A little bit. Even though Harry can’t beat Caspian, his words will definitely get under Caspian’s skin. Don’t you think that’s cute?”
Stellan was speechless, shaking her head in disbelief. “You think it’s cute that they fight?”
Alaric laughed. “Alright, maybe not cute, but you’ve got to admit, it’ll be interesting to watch.”
Stellan could only roll her eyes, her thoughts torn between amusement and concern. The family dynamics were anything but dull, and she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next.