Chapter 54
Harry hadn’t expected the confrontation. As soon as Elisa snatched the black card from his hand, he lunged to grab it back, but she sidestepped with ease, her grip on the card firm.
“Harry, I’m your flesh and blood,” Elisa said defiantly. “Hiding your wealth like this—it’s downright sleazy!”
Harry felt the walls closing in around him. How did this become his fault?
“Listen, Elisa, this card isn’t mine, and we can’t use this money,” Harry explained, reaching for the card again, but Elisa hugged it tightly to her chest.
“Harry Storm,” she mocked, “you’ll invent any excuse to keep me from your cash. Didn’t you brag about raking in a fat bonus? Weren’t you the one who said what’s yours is mine? Now here I am, trying to get a hold of it, and you’re backpedaling, saying it’s not even yours. Don’t you think you’re overdoing it?”
Trapped and unable to defend himself, Harry sighed and gave in. “Alright, you win. The card’s yours. Consider it a gift from your big bro.”
There was bitterness in his voice. It stung more than he expected. The sister he had grown up with seemed to care more about Caspian than about him now.
“For real? You’re giving it to me?” Elisa’s face lit up with excitement, her eyes sparkling. “Is there a passcode? What’s the passcode?”
“Figure it out yourself,” Harry muttered as he turned and walked to his bedroom. How would he know the PIN?
Once behind his closed bedroom door, Harry threw himself onto the bed. He couldn’t sleep. A hollow, helpless feeling gnawed at him. If he were an adult, he could be at the hospital, taking care of his mom. Instead, he was stuck here, relying on someone else.
Mom, how are you feeling today? Better? Harry typed a quick text to Galatea, expecting a long wait. But to his surprise, her reply came almost immediately.
“Don’t worry, Harry. I’m feeling much better today.”
Galatea had been using a new phone Alaric had bought for her. She had resisted at first, but her old one had broken down, and she didn’t want Harry to worry if he couldn’t get in touch with her.
“Thanks for the phone. I’ll pay you back,” she had told Alaric when he handed it over.
“You’ve had to replace your phone twice because of me. It’s only right that I cover the cost,” Alaric had replied with a shrug, as though it were no big deal.
Galatea wasn’t in the mood to argue, so she simply let it slide.
“You seem more energetic today,” Alaric observed, his tone soft and caring. Galatea had been weak, barely able to speak, but now she seemed more vibrant, even if still recovering.
“I should thank you for taking care of me,” she responded, her voice steady. “I do feel better. Go ahead with your work, Alaric. Don’t let me keep you.”
Alaric was scheduled to deal with the Entertainment City project, a major undertaking that would keep him busy. But surprising as it was, he had pushed the bid opening for the project back by a month, just to stay by Galatea’s side.
“The company is mine, and I decide when I’m busy,” Alaric stated with quiet authority. “I’m responsible for your accident, and I won’t leave until you’re discharged.”
His words held an undeniable weight. Galatea knew better than to argue, not when he had made up his mind. She simply nodded and rested as he moved toward the door.
Before he could leave, his phone rang. Alaric glanced at the screen and felt a familiar dread. It was his mother, Mrs. Carrington. He stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him before answering the call.
“Hello, mom,” he said, his tone guarded.
Mrs. Carrington’s voice came through, sharp and filled with anger. “I leave the country for a few days, and you kick out my daughter-in-law? Do you even consider me your mother anymore?”
“Who told you?” Alaric asked, trying to stay calm. “Orion or Griffon?”
“Does it matter who told me?” Mrs. Carrington snapped. “Just tell me if it’s true.”
Alaric sighed, resigned. “Yes,” he said firmly. “It’s true.”
“You’re trying to be the death of me!” Mrs. Carrington’s voice rose in fury. “Alaric, you should realize that the connection between our Knight family and the Nash family is not just one of old friendship. Our economic interests are intertwined. If we sever ties, it will damage both families.”
“Moreover,” she continued, “after your father passed and I took over the company, Griffon was a great support during that tough phase. And Orion—she waited for you all those years while you were in a coma. So, both in business and in personal terms, Orion is the only one who can be your wife!”
Alaric couldn’t hold back a bitter chuckle. “Business and personal?” he echoed. “So, in your eyes, my marriage is just a tool for the family’s growth, void of love or happiness?”
Mrs. Carrington scoffed. “You’re not the child of an ordinary family. You were born with a mission. If a marriage alliance is beneficial for the family’s progress, then that’s what you must pursue.”
Alaric’s voice grew cold. “What if I say no? My engagement to Orion was arranged by the elders, and I never consented to it. I don’t like her. In fact, I loathe her now more than ever. I will never marry her.”
“Then who do you want to marry? Galatea?” Mrs. Carrington’s voice dropped, but her words hit their mark.
Alaric felt a sharp jolt in his chest at the mention of Galatea’s name. He had expected this—his mother must have heard it all from the Nash family.
“Did I hit the nail on the head?” Mrs. Carrington’s voice became venomous. “I’ll book a flight right now and come back. I want to see for myself how Galatea has managed to bewitch you.”
Alaric immediately felt a surge of panic. His mother was ruthless, and if Galatea’s health worsened because of her meddling…
“Mom, please wait!” Alaric urged, his voice tightening. “Don’t come. You don’t understand—Galatea’s recovery is fragile right now. If you stir things up, it could make everything worse.”
Mrs. Carrington was not easily deterred. “Is that what the Nash family told you?” she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “No wonder. I led them to believe that just so Orion Nash would back off. Galatea Hartley is merely my attending physician, treating a concussion. She’s the only one who can handle it.”
“Complications?” Mrs. Carrington asked, now sounding genuinely concerned. “Your condition has worsened? What happened?”
Alaric held his ground. “It’s nothing to worry about. It’s just some minor signs of worsening, but Galatea says it will be resolved. There’s no need for you to get involved.”
“How will it be resolved? And she’s the only one who can treat it?” Mrs. Carrington sounded unconvinced. “There are plenty of renowned doctors out there, both here and abroad. Alaric, you’re going to great lengths to keep me from interfering with her, aren’t you?”
Alaric’s patience wore thin, but he remained calm. “This is what’s best for her—and for me. Please, don’t make it harder than it needs to be.”