Chapter 277
Cormac stood in Alaric’s office, barely holding himself together. The mere thought of meeting with Alaric, the one person he least wanted to see, made his skin crawl. But Ambrose’s threats weighed heavily on him, and now he found himself trapped in this position—forced to do things he despised.
Alaric, who had been surprised to hear of Cormac’s arrival, looked genuinely confused but tried to mask it with his usual calm. “Cormac, what brought you here all of a sudden?”
Hearing the news from Linda, Alaric had thought it was a mistake. But when he actually saw Cormac standing before him, the situation still felt unreal.
“I need to talk to you,” Cormac replied, his voice clipped.
Alaric’s eyes brightened. “Just say it,” he urged, eager to hear whatever Cormac had to say.
Cormac took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “Do the things you mentioned last time still count?”
Alaric nodded without hesitation. “Of course, they count. They always count.” He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. “Cormac, have you thought it through? Decided to come help me?”
Cormac felt a wave of self-loathing wash over him. He didn’t want to do this. He never wanted to work for Alaric again, especially not under these circumstances. But what choice did he have? The life of Aurora hung in the balance.
“Aurora wants to learn a new skill, which requires a lot of money,” Cormac lied, grasping at whatever excuse he could think of. He didn’t expect Alaric to question him. It was a poor excuse, but it would have to do.
“No problem. How much do you need? I’ll give it to you right away,” Alaric responded, his tone upbeat.
Cormac shook his head. “No need. It’s not urgent until next month.” He paused, then said, “I’ll work for you. So just pay me my salary on time.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Cormac, I didn’t mean for you to work for me. I genuinely want you to come help me.” He sat back in his chair, his expression almost pleading. “Even though you say you’re a doctor and not skilled in managing a company, I know you’re just being modest.”
Alaric’s voice was warm with genuine respect as he continued. “Back then, Griffon insisted you inherit the family business and forced you to learn. You did learn. Even if you hadn’t, you’re not just an ordinary psychologist. You had your own hospital, and as the director, you were also a manager. It’s all the same.”
Cormac’s teeth gritted, and he felt a surge of bitterness. “Stop with the hypocritical words. I know my own capabilities,” he muttered.
“Yes, I spoke too much,” Alaric said, his voice softening. “I’m just so happy you can come help me. It feels like a dream.”
Hearing Alaric so genuinely happy surprised Cormac. He had known Alaric for years, and he had never seen him smile like this. It wasn’t forced or fake. It was real joy, and that made the situation even more painful for Cormac.
Alaric leaned forward again, eager to share more. “As I mentioned last time, I’m planning to acquire a jewelry company. Given the current situation of Nexus Innovations, each major branch has its own person in charge. Right now, I’m temporarily overseeing the entertainment division, which hasn’t been assigned yet.”
He paused for a moment, gauging Cormac’s reaction before continuing. “The jewelry company we’re acquiring also doesn’t have a designated person in charge. If you can, you could oversee both the entertainment division and the jewelry company. If that’s too much, you can choose one.”
Alaric’s voice was almost tentative, respectful, as if trying not to push too hard. It was a stark contrast to the demanding tone he had used in the past, and it made Cormac feel even more uncomfortable.
“Mr. Knight, I’ll follow your arrangements,” Cormac said, his words stiff.
Alaric looked pleased, but there was still a hint of something hopeful in his eyes. “You don’t have to call me Mr. Knight. Just call me like you used to.”
“Things are different. Since I’m your subordinate now, I should address you this way,” Cormac replied flatly.
Alaric’s face lit up with a smile. “Alright, as you wish.” He stood up and walked over to Cormac, placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie. “I’m genuinely happy you can come help me. I’ve already told Galatea that after the jewelry company is settled, I’ll stop working to get treatment. I was worried about who would temporarily take over, and you came just in time.”
Cormac kept his eyes down, unable to meet Alaric’s gaze. The more Alaric smiled, the more his conscience gnawed at him. Alaric’s trust in him was real—whether it was out of charity or compensation, it didn’t matter. But Cormac couldn’t ignore the fact that he had come with a purpose.
“You’ve been here often before, so you’re familiar with the environment. I’ll have Silas explain your specific responsibilities. For now, your office will be next to mine. Is that arrangement okay?” Alaric asked, his voice light but sincere.
The formality in Alaric’s tone made Cormac uncomfortable, but he simply nodded. “You’re the director. You decide. I’ll follow your arrangements.”
“Alright,” Alaric said, his expression softening. “Okay, Mr. Knight, you go on your business. I’ll find Silas myself,” Cormac said, trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism before turning toward the door.
As Cormac walked out, the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Alaric, oblivious to the inner turmoil Cormac felt, was only too happy to have him back. Cormac couldn’t shake the feeling of humiliation, but he knew there was no turning back now.
At home, Stellan picked up the kids from school, her phone ringing with good news. “Cormac is officially joining Nexus Innovations now?” Stellan asked, her voice laced with happiness as she spoke to someone on the other end.
“Is Cormac back?” Harry asked excitedly. “Did Daddy find Cormac?”
Caspian, who had known Cormac since childhood but had never been close due to his introverted nature, remained silent. He had always viewed Cormac from a distance, but now, seeing how Harry got along with him so well, he felt a pang of guilt.
“Yes, your uncle Cormac is back,” Stellan confirmed with a smile.
“Uncle?” Elisa frowned in confusion. “Isn’t an uncle supposed to be Mommy’s brother? How come I didn’t know you had one?”
Stellan chuckled lightly, trying to ease her confusion. “Cormac is not Mommy’s brother. Caspian got used to calling Cormac ‘uncle’ when he was young, so it just naturally became that way.”
Elisa seemed to take it in, though she was still a little confused.
Harry, however, quickly piped up, “Don’t think too much about it. Just know that Cormac is our uncle.” He then turned to Stellan, his eyes wide with excitement. “Mommy, can we go to Daddy’s company to see Uncle Cormac? I haven’t seen him in so long.”
“Okay,” Stellan agreed, a smile on her face.
As they talked, Caspian sat in quiet reflection. Harry’s closeness with Cormac made him feel even more guilty. Cormac had always been kind to him, but Caspian had never truly reciprocated, and now he was reminded of that fact.
Back at the office, Cormac was left alone in his new workspace. The room had been prepared for him, and Silas had already explained his responsibilities in detail. After Silas left, Cormac stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought. The city stretched out before him, but his mind was a storm of conflicting emotions.
When his phone buzzed with a new email notification, he opened it without hesitation. It was from Ambrose.
The message was simple and to the point:
“Mr. Nash, thank you for your help. Aurora is doing well here. If you want her to return to you unharmed, please keep this a secret and complete this task.”
The email vanished as soon as Cormac read it. No trace, no record—just the sickening confirmation that Ambrose had been watching.
A voice suddenly broke his thoughts.
“Uncle Cormac!”
Before he could react, Harry had already jumped into his arms, his bright smile filling the room.