Chapter 47
For the next few hours, Galatea didn’t utter a word. Breathing felt like an exhausting chore, and with each breath, a searing pain shot through her chest. It wasn’t just difficult to breathe—it was agony.
“Galatea,” the doctor said, trying to reassure her, “You haven’t lost your memory, and there’s no impact on your hearing or cognitive abilities. The head trauma isn’t too severe. With proper rest, there shouldn’t be any lasting effects.”
Galatea didn’t respond.
Alaric, trying to offer comfort, said with a forced smile, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?” It was an old proverb, and even as he spoke it, he knew it wasn’t enough to ease her pain. In fact, it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than her.
Inside, Galatea couldn’t help but smile bitterly. She recalled the saying about those who survive great disasters being rewarded with great fortune. She had nearly died giving birth years ago, and it had taken so long to recover from those complications. How long would it take this time?
Under the weight of illness, her mood plummeted, but then she thought of something important. Weakly, her voice hoarse, she asked, “How are my children?”
Alaric gave her a reassuring glance. “Don’t worry, I told Elisa I took you on a trip.”
Galatea felt a wave of relief. If Harry and Elisa knew the truth, they’d be worried sick.
“Just focus on getting better. Don’t think about anything else,” Alaric added softly.
She nodded. For Harry and Elisa, she had to survive. She had to fight through this.
“Phone,” Galatea whispered, struggling to find the strength to communicate. She didn’t have the energy to make a call, but she could send a message.
Alaric looked at her, a small frown on his face. “Your phone died. It’s turned off. Here, you can use mine. Who do you need to call? I can do it for you.”
Galatea shook her head weakly. “No need. As long as they don’t suspect anything. Thanks.”
Alaric’s guilt deepened, recalling Cormac’s words about how sudden misfortune could affect a person’s spirits and temper. He wished so desperately for Galatea to return to her old self. He couldn’t shake the feeling that her condition was partly his fault, that his persistent pushing had led to this accident. Yet, she hadn’t said a word about it.
Still holding his phone, he glanced at a news alert that popped up. His heart sank.
“Top Surgeon from Serenity Heights Medical Center in a Coma After Tragic Accident!”
The media had somehow gotten wind of the accident. How had they found out? Alaric had been by Galatea’s side the entire time, and he hadn’t shared anything. His gaze shifted back to her, who had closed her eyes again. With a sigh, he turned his attention to the breaking news on his phone.
The comments below the article made his stomach churn.
[Justice served! She used to play God, and now it’s payback time. Hope she stays in a coma. Burn in hell!]
[I pray this monster gets what’s coming to her and never lives to harm another soul.]
[I’m not one for cyberbullying, but for a friend like her, I’ll look the other way. I hope she meets her end tonight. Hit the like button and retweet if you’re with me!]
These comments were endless, each one more vile than the last. It was a bitter reminder of the firestorm Galatea had been subjected to online after the last medical incident.
The truth was that Galatea had always been dedicated to saving lives. Yet, she was being crucified online, accused of greed and performing surgeries solely for money, despite family objections, leading to a patient’s death. Alaric had dismissed the previous online attacks as nothing more than ignorant chatter from trolls. But now, seeing Galatea in pain after the car accident and still being lambasted by strangers online, a surge of heartache and fury burned within him.
He dialed Silas Moon’s number, but then thought better of it. Instead, he called Cormac.
As soon as Cormac picked up, Alaric didn’t even give him a chance to speak. “Did you tell anyone about Galatea’s accident?”
“Of course not!” Cormac responded, baffled. “What’s going on? Who else knows?”
“It’s trending,” Alaric growled, his voice tight with anger.
“What? Is it trending?” Cormac sounded shocked. “Galatea’s just a doctor, not some celebrity. Why would her car accident make headlines?”
Alaric didn’t care for explanations. “I don’t care how you do it, just make it go away. Now!”
Cormac, though not on the best terms with Nash’s Family Entertainment, knew they were experts in PR and media management. “Fine, I got it,” Cormac said, a little frustrated but agreeing. After hanging up, he quickly flipped through the trending news on his own phone and saw the barrage of comments flooding in.
“These keyboard warriors have too much time on their hands,” Cormac muttered to himself in frustration.
“The woman’s already been through hell with the accident. Really, instead of sending good vibes, they’re throwing shade at her? What’s wrong with people these days?”
At that moment, Harry unexpectedly jumped into the car, leaning in and asking, “Who got in a car crash?” His sudden entrance startled Cormac, who quickly shut off his phone.
Harry was just there to pick up Caspian from school. If he found out about Galatea’s condition and the online trolling, Cormac knew it would devastate him.
“Nothing much,” Cormac quickly responded, trying to divert the conversation. “Just flipping through the news. Caspian, you’re out of school already?”
“How’s that early?” Harry grumbled, clearly irritated. “Cormac, you see others waiting at the school gate, and you can’t even step out of the car? Good thing I’m vigilant. If something happened to me, how’d you explain that to my dad?”
If it hadn’t been for Alaric’s call, Harry would’ve been out fetching Caspian by now.
“Caspian’s quite the champ,” Cormac replied, trying to distract Harry. “So, what’s Caspian in the mood for? Let’s go for a fancy meal. My treat.”
“Sure, I’m all for a luxurious meal!” Harry grinned, not suspecting a thing.
After finishing his call with Cormac, Alaric had a sudden realization. He quickly unlocked his phone and checked Orion’s Facebook page.
Just as I thought!
[What goes around comes around!]
Her fanbase continuously echoed the sentiment in the comments. Orion’s outspokenness had fueled the fire, making the incident even more public.
Alaric’s blood boiled. He wished he could strangle that malicious woman.
Then, another thought struck him, and he quickly pulled out his phone. He made two calls—one to Galen and the other to Silas Moon.
Meanwhile, Orion was seated in front of her vanity, all smiles as her makeup artist worked on her while she read through the comments with amusement.
When she heard of Galatea’s accident from her father, she could barely contain her glee, eagerly asking, “She got in an accident? Is she dead?”
“No, she’s still unconscious right now,” her father replied.
Orion’s face fell in disappointment, but as she scrolled through the comments, her spirits lifted. Galatea may not be dead, but at least the firestorm she had ignited was exactly what Orion had hoped for.