Chapter 296
A few hours passed, and Alaric slowly regained some strength. He could prop himself up to sit and even manage to stand and walk around a little.
At that moment, Stellan’s swollen, red face caught his attention. The memory of the abuse she had endured and the harsh words Marigold had thrown at her made Alaric’s heart ache with both anger and guilt.
“Galatea, I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Alaric said, his voice thick with remorse.
Stellan smiled faintly, though her eyes were tired. “Don’t apologize. Marigold and I don’t get along, but I’m a mother too. Seeing you like this, she must be heartbroken as well.”
Alaric’s guilt deepened at her words. He moved closer, gently pulling her into an embrace. “Once this treatment is over, I’ll talk to her. If she bullies you again, I’ll—”
“What will you do?” Stellan interrupted, her voice light but her smile warm. “Really cut ties with Marigold?”
She shook her head, her smile softening. “Alright, don’t worry about it now. Just focus on getting better.”
Before Alaric could respond, Stellan’s phone rang. It was Rowena.
“Rowena’s calling. I’ll take it,” Stellan said, reluctantly stepping out of Alaric’s embrace. She answered the phone, trying to mask her concern. “Hello, Rowena.”
“Stellan, are you busy lately?” Rowena’s voice sounded cheerful, but Stellan could hear a hint of something more.
Stellan hesitated for a moment before replying, “Not too much. Is something going on, Rowena?”
“It’s a personal matter,” Rowena explained. “My birthday’s coming up in a few days. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but my fans have arranged a party for me. I can’t really refuse. I want to keep it low-key this year and not invite anyone from the music industry. Stellan, would you come?”
A birthday party?
Stellan had known Rowena’s birthday was approaching and had even prepared a gift. But with Alaric in this condition, she felt torn.
“Rowena, I’ve checked the date. It’s on the weekend, and I might have to take my kids to their tutoring class. Let me check the time and get back to you,” Stellan replied, trying to keep her response non-committal.
“Alright, Stellan. Just check your schedule. But I’d really love it if you could come,” Rowena said earnestly.
Despite the quick bond they’d formed, Rowena’s request surprised Stellan. Rowena was now very popular, surrounded by people from the industry who were mostly just acquaintances. Yet, she had always treated Stellan warmly.
“Yes, she invited you to her birthday party?” Alaric’s weak voice drifted from the bed, having overheard the conversation.
Stellan nodded, her gaze lingering on him.
“Since you’ve already got a gift for her, you should go,” Alaric said with a soft smile. “And she’s asking you so warmly, it wouldn’t be nice not to go.”
“I know, but that day is when you get your treatment shot. It’s the hardest time for you. How can I think about going to a birthday party?” Stellan said, her brow furrowing with worry.
“That’s exactly why you should go,” Alaric insisted. “You said it’s just a normal reaction to the medication. I’ll get through it. You staying here and worrying won’t help me. It’s better for you to go out and relax. There are enough servants and doctors here to take care of me.”
Stellan hesitated. For the past month, she had barely left Alaric’s side, spending nearly every moment with him during his treatment. Alaric had been through so much, and it had taken a toll on both of them.
“Alright, then,” Stellan finally agreed, though her voice was tinged with reluctance.
Before she left, Stellan gave Mia strict instructions. “Please take care of him. If he feels uncomfortable, call me immediately.”
“Don’t worry, Stellan. I’ll take good care of him,” Mia reassured, handing her a piece of paper filled with notes. “I’ve written everything down.”
“Thank you, Mia,” Stellan said, grateful for her unwavering support.
After changing her clothes and preparing everything for her brief absence, Stellan checked on Alaric one last time. Seeing that he was resting, she quietly left the room.
As she stepped into the car, she couldn’t shake off the heaviness in her heart. Even with Mia and the doctors present, Stellan’s worry lingered. She decided to call Cormac for peace of mind.
“Sorry to bother you on the weekend, Cormac,” she said once he picked up. “I need to go out today, and Alaric just had his treatment shot. He’s not feeling well, and I was wondering if you could…”
“I’m already on my way,” Cormac interrupted, his voice calm and steady.
Alaric had been in treatment for over a month, and during that time, Cormac had been busy with work. Though new to the job, he’d been working long hours, not wanting to burden Alaric further. Now that it was the weekend, he had finally finished most of his work and was on his way to visit.
“That’s great. With you there, I can be at ease,” Stellan said, relieved.
“Go ahead and do what you need to. I’ll stay with him until you get back,” Cormac assured her.
“Thank you, Cormac,” Stellan replied gratefully.
With Cormac on his way, Stellan felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She could trust him—he knew Alaric’s condition well and was always reliable in a crisis.
When Cormac arrived, Alaric was still asleep, but his rest was troubled. Seeing Alaric in such a weak state, pale and frail, was hard for Cormac to bear. He had grown up with Alaric, who had always been strong and commanding. But now, seeing his friend in such a vulnerable state, was unsettling.
A while later, Alaric woke, feeling incredibly nauseous. Cormac quickly went over to help him sit up, gently patting his back, but Alaric had nothing left to vomit.
“Here, drink this,” Cormac said, quickly offering Alaric a glass of water. After a few sips, Alaric felt slightly better, though he still looked dazed.
“Did Galatea ask you to come?” Alaric asked, his voice hoarse.
“Do I need her permission?” Cormac retorted lightly but then grew more serious. “Is this reaction normal? Why is it so severe?”
Though a skilled doctor, Cormac wasn’t well-versed in this particular condition, and seeing Alaric in such pain made him anxious.
“It’s normal. It’s just the treatment shot,” Alaric explained, though his face twisted in discomfort. “I’ll be fine after today.”
He looked at Cormac and asked, “How come you have time to visit? Don’t you need to take care of Aurora?”