Chapter 74
“The only way to win a child’s affection is with sincerity,” Galatea said, her voice light and assured. “What do children understand about feelings? It’s just about loving those who love them.”
“Is that so?” Alaric asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course,” she replied. “If you’re willing to spend time with them, to understand them and play with them, they’ll naturally grow closer to you. On the other hand, if you’re reluctant to spend time, they’ll drift away.”
Alaric sighed, his thoughts darkening. “I do spend a lot of time with my son, but… he seems to care more about you than me.”
Galatea tilted her head. “That’s just about finding the right approach,” she said matter-of-factly. “After all, I’ve raised two kids myself, so I have some parenting experience. You’ve always wanted me to meet your son, right? Maybe I could talk to him, give you a hand.”
Alaric’s mind raced. Caspian had asked him not to tell Galatea about him. And even though a part of him longed to share that part of his life with her, another part wasn’t ready yet. He remained silent.
“Galatea, can I ask you a question?” Alaric’s voice was thoughtful.
“Sure, go ahead,” she replied.
“Would you ever mistake someone else for your own son?”
Galatea blinked in confusion, then burst out laughing. “Alaric, what kind of silly question is that? How could I ever mistake my own flesh and blood?”
Alaric’s lips twitched, but he quickly suppressed a smile. So, you didn’t recognize him, did you? he thought, irony lacing his thoughts. Caspian had crossed paths with her several times, yet she had never noticed anything unusual.
Seeing his expression shift, Galatea grew curious. “What are you laughing at?” she asked, frowning. “You think because you treat my son like your own, that gives you free rein to diagnose everyone with delusions like yours?”
Alaric chuckled harder, struggling to control himself. “Yes, I’ve got delusions. And today, I’ve come to realize just how serious they are.”
Galatea’s face twisted in confusion, her frustration mounting. “I always thought you never laughed because you had a really high threshold for humor. Or maybe you lacked a sense of humor altogether. But I never imagined it was because you have such a peculiar sense of what’s funny. What was so hilarious about what I said?”
Alaric laughed again, amusement dancing in his eyes. She had no idea what he was laughing at, and that was what made it so funny to him.
“You’re insane!” Galatea exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “Can you just listen to me and maybe see a psychiatrist?”
“Right, Dr. Galatea does have a point,” Alaric conceded, still grinning.
Dinner with her felt like an odd dream. Galatea couldn’t pinpoint what had amused him, but something about it felt strangely freeing. When he didn’t smile, there was always a wall between them. But tonight, he smiled so freely that it almost felt like a different person sat across from her.
She remembered how he usually ate quickly, always rushing through meals, but tonight he was unusually slow. It was nearly nine when they finally finished.
“If I had known better, I wouldn’t have agreed to eat first,” Galatea said, half-joking. “It’s already nine, and by the time I finish your acupuncture, it’ll be past ten.”
Alaric only gave her a sly smile, not responding.
He drove them to the lounge at his company, and as soon as they arrived, without waiting for her to speak, he pulled off his shirt. Galatea raised an eyebrow.
“You seem eager today,” she remarked, taking out her acupuncture toolkit.
In their previous sessions, Alaric had been stoic, indifferent to the needles. But this time, when the first needle entered his skin, he winced. “Ouch…”
“Ouch?” Galatea blinked, surprised. “You’ve never felt anything before. Does it hurt now?”
“Yes, it hurts,” Alaric confirmed, his face tense.
Galatea paused, unsure if he was messing with her, and decided to proceed with more care. “I’ll be lighter then. Stay still.”
Alaric nodded, his gaze fixed on her as she worked. His focus was so intense that it almost made her feel self-conscious. There was something captivating about how intently he watched her, the way his features softened as he observed her hands at work.
Once all the needles were in place, Galatea let out a small sigh of relief. “Make sure not to move,” she reminded him.
“Mm,” Alaric murmured in acknowledgment. “I’d like some water.”
Galatea looked at him, confused. “Water? You can’t move, but your hands aren’t broken, are they?”
“No,” Alaric replied. “But there’s an IV in my chest, so I don’t want to move my hands too much.”
“Just be careful. It won’t affect it,” she said, already heading toward the water pitcher.
“It does affect it,” he argued, his voice deadpan.
Galatea let out an exasperated sigh but couldn’t help smiling at his stubbornness. She poured him a glass of warm water and brought it to his lips. He drank it slowly, as if savoring the simple act.
Once finished, she set the glass aside and sat down opposite him.
“After a few sessions, you should see significant improvement with your insomnia,” Galatea said, her voice professional again. “Once we have that under control, we can start addressing your other symptoms. But for that, I’ll need to think carefully about your treatment plan.”
Alaric gave her a genuine smile. “Thank you, Dr. Galatea, for all your hard work.”
She shrugged, dismissing it lightly. “It’s not hard work. I’m just paying off my debts by working for you, right?”
Alaric’s smile deepened, and for a moment, they sat in comfortable silence. Then, without warning, he asked, “Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it?”
Galatea froze. “How did you know?” she asked, genuinely surprised.
“I have my sources,” he replied with a mischievous gleam in his eye. “I’m psychic.”
Galatea frowned, not amused. “That’s a pretty cold joke.”
Alaric just smiled faintly. “It was a joke, alright.”
Galatea couldn’t help but snort with laughter. “Alaric, what’s with you tonight?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, feigning innocence.
“You’ve been smiling all evening,” she said, shaking her head. “I really don’t get what’s so funny.”
“That’s because you’re not getting it,” he teased.
“Yeah, keep thinking you’re the smart one,” Galatea muttered, standing up and walking to the window.
She stared out at the night, her gaze drifting toward her own house. As she looked closer, she noticed something surprising.
“So, you can see my house from here?”
Alaric didn’t seem fazed. “Well, we’re close by. It’s not surprising.”
Galatea squinted at the view, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve been watching me… haven’t you?”
Alaric chuckled softly. “I’m not as shifty as you think.”
Galatea felt a strange pang at his words. There had never been any real reason to distrust him, yet tonight, there was something unfamiliar in the way he spoke, something that made her pause.
When it was time to remove the IV, Galatea was gentle, her fingers careful as she extracted the needle and tidied up her toolkit.
“It’s late,” she said, glancing at the clock. “You should rest. I’ll be going now.”
“I’ll see you out,” Alaric said, moving toward the door.
“No need. It’s just a short walk,” she replied, stepping toward the door. But just as she reached it, Alaric stopped her. He stood in the doorway, so close that she could feel his breath on her skin.
“Goodnight, Galatea,” he said quietly.
“Goodnight, Mr. Alaric,” she replied, her heart racing unexpectedly.