Chapter 294
Alaric and Stellan were both ready. The children—Caspian, Harry, and Elisa—had already gone to boarding school, and as planned, they would spend their weekends at Marigold’s place. Elisa, easy to deceive, wouldn’t suspect anything. The secret treatment would go on for a month without raising any alarms.
“Everything’s ready. Shall we begin?” Stellan asked, her voice steady but full of the usual concern she always showed when dealing with Alaric’s health.
“Yes. I won’t let work distract me this time,” Alaric replied, his voice unwavering despite the looming pain. “I’ll fully cooperate with your treatment.”
“Alright,” Stellan said, preparing the syringe. “I’ll start the injection now.”
“Go ahead,” Alaric encouraged her, his gaze never leaving her face.
The injection was as intense as chemotherapy, and Alaric knew it would cause a severe reaction. The drug would set off a cascade of responses in his body, and though he expected the pain, it still felt like a shock each time. He prepared himself for what was to come.
Within half an hour, the effects began to take hold. Alaric’s head spun, his stomach churned, and fatigue wrapped itself around his body like a thick fog. His bones felt as though they were being crushed, and every breath was a painful reminder of the torment he was enduring.
“Is it very uncomfortable?” Stellan asked, her voice tight as she grasped his hand, trying to offer what little comfort she could. “The drug’s effects will go from weak to strong, then gradually weaken. Alaric, you have to endure it. It’ll get better soon, and the pain will lessen after a while.”
“It’s okay,” Alaric smiled through the pain, determined not to let her see how much it hurt. “I’ve been through all kinds of harsh training. This is nothing. Don’t worry, okay?”
Stellan could see right through him. She knew he was saying it to reassure her, but she also knew the severity of the drug’s impact. As a doctor, she understood how many patients had sought death during similar treatments because they couldn’t bear the agony.
She wanted to share his pain, but she couldn’t. All she could do was stay by his side, silently bearing witness to his suffering.
Alaric had no appetite and couldn’t keep anything down. He managed to force a little oatmeal into his stomach, but it came right back up. The only nourishment he could receive came through nutritional injections.
The first two days were the hardest, and Alaric was in a daze for most of it. By the third and fourth days, the worst of it seemed to pass, and he felt a slight improvement. But on the fifth day, it was time for the second injection, and the cycle began anew, tormenting his body once more.
Stellan had never felt time drag so painfully. Every minute felt like an eternity, and yet, it was only half of the first treatment cycle.
Alaric visibly lost weight as the treatment wore on, his strength drained. He spent most of his days in a daze, too weak to speak, his eyes dull with exhaustion.
The secrecy surrounding the treatment was becoming harder to maintain. While a few days might have gone unnoticed, Alaric’s worsening condition couldn’t be kept hidden for long.
One day, Marigold arrived at the company, visibly shocked to learn that Alaric had been abroad for nearly half a month.
“Are you telling me Alaric has been gone for half a month?” Marigold asked, a frown knitting her brows.
Silas, knowing the truth but bound by Alaric’s instructions, didn’t let on. “Yes, Mrs. Knight,” he replied carefully.
“Alaric is increasingly ignoring me as his mother,” Marigold said, frustration edging her voice. “He’s been gone from the company for half a month and didn’t even tell me.” She immediately called Alaric, but Stellan had just administered another injection half an hour ago, and Alaric was enduring the harshest reaction.
Alaric’s fever had been spiking over the past few days, his throat inflamed and covered with painful mouth ulcers. He could barely speak.
When Marigold’s call came in, Alaric, already suffering, turned his phone off to avoid speaking. Seeing the phone was turned off, Marigold grew even angrier.
“Alaric doesn’t treat me as his mother anymore. He avoids me like I’m an enemy. It’s all that bitch Stellan’s fault!” she muttered angrily to herself. Without thinking twice, she dialed Stellan’s number.
Stellan saw the call and hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should pick it up, but then Alaric, barely able to keep his eyes open, whispered, “Don’t answer.”
Hearing his voice, Stellan turned her phone off as well. Her focus was on her husband, and nothing else mattered.
“This is outrageous!” Marigold seethed. “They both turned off their phones!” Her chest tightened with anger. She slammed the phone down and turned to Silas. “Did Alaric say how long he would be gone?”
“Probably a month,” Silas answered, choosing his words carefully.
“A whole month?” Marigold’s panic deepened. “Alaric is away for so long and didn’t even tell me. The company can’t function without a leader. He’s being careless—he shouldn’t take the company lightly just to spite me.” She implied that she should temporarily take over the operations of Nexus Innovations in his absence.
Silas, understanding her motives, responded cautiously, “Mrs. Knight, don’t worry. Mr. Knight has already made arrangements. During his absence, Mr. Nash will temporarily take over.”
Marigold froze at the mention of Cormac. “Cormac?” she spat, the venom in her tone unmistakable. “Alaric didn’t let me take over, and instead of handing the company to someone capable, he gives it to Cormac?”
“Where is Cormac now?” she demanded, her anger rising.
Silas told her that Cormac’s office was located on the top floor of the entertainment building, so Marigold stormed off, determined to confront him.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she unexpectedly came face-to-face with Aurora, who was on her way to swimming lessons, her bag slung over her shoulder.
“Hello,” Aurora greeted her politely, entering the elevator.
Marigold stood still, taken aback. The top-floor office area was reserved for senior executives, so it was strange to see a little girl here.
“Who was that little girl?” Marigold asked Silas, her voice cold and demanding. “This is the top-floor office area. Where did she come from?”
“Mrs. Knight, that’s Mr. Nash’s family, Aurora,” Silas explained. “Mr. Nash and Aurora are living in the top-floor apartment.”
“Mr. Nash’s family?” Marigold scoffed. “The Nash family has long been ruined. How could Cormac have relatives, let alone a child?” She felt a sense of disbelief wash over her.
“It’s outrageous!” she continued. “This is an office area, a serious place, and he lets a little girl live here? Ridiculous!” Without another word, she stormed into Cormac’s office.
Cormac, already aware of her approach, braced himself for the confrontation.
“Cormac,” Marigold started, her voice sharp, “I’ve spoken to you nicely before, but you ignored me. Don’t blame me for being blunt now. Alaric allowed you to join Nexus Innovations out of friendship, to help you out. But you can’t be so inconsiderate—bringing a little girl to live here. Do you think Nexus Innovations is a charity? Alaric is kind, but you can’t take advantage of his kindness. He’s not at the company now, and the person who should be in charge is me, not you.”
If it were anyone else, Cormac would have walked away without a second thought. But this was Alaric’s request, and he intended to honor it.
“Mrs. Knight,” Cormac said, his voice low but firm, “since you’re being direct, I’ll be direct too. You’re just like my father—controlling, selfish, always thinking you’re right while doing the wrong things. You’re not helping Alaric; you’re harming him. Alaric is an independent adult. From the military to Nexus Innovations, he’s excelled in everything. You shouldn’t question his decisions.”
He went on, “Alaric is my boss now, and I’ll only listen to him. He asked me to temporarily manage the company, and I’ll do my job. If you interfere with my work, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Marigold’s face turned red with rage. “Do you know who you’re talking to? Do you know who’s the head of Nexus Innovations? You—” she began, but Cormac cut her off.
“Xavier!” Cormac called out, his voice steady. “Escort her out.”
Xavier, who had been quietly observing, froze. How could he refuse such an order?
“If you can’t handle this, you can leave too,” Cormac added, his voice unwavering.
Xavier had no choice. He stepped forward reluctantly, leading Marigold out of the office. “I apologize, Mrs. Knight, but I must ask you to leave.”