Chapter 89: Alaric’s Kiss
Galatea could hardly believe her eyes as she took in the scene before her. It was as if she was witnessing a picture-perfect family—Alaric, Elisa, and Caspian—all interacting so naturally, so harmoniously, like a real father and his children, with not a single sign of discord.
“Mommy, you’ve come at a perfect time! Harry and I just had tea with Daddy, and tonight, the four of us will have dinner together,” Elisa said, her excitement bubbling over.
Galatea froze at the sound of Elisa calling Alaric “Daddy.” “What did you just call him?” she asked, her voice full of disbelief. “You’re calling him ‘Daddy’ now?!”
“Mommy, don’t be upset,” Caspian quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over. “Elisa said that since you two are getting married soon, she started calling him ‘Daddy’ early to get used to it.”
Galatea felt as though she might explode. “What kind of nonsense are you talking about, young lady?” she snapped, her face flushed with anger.
“I’m not talking nonsense,” Elisa responded with an unshakable confidence. “You adults aren’t as honest as us kids. If you’re going to get married, just get married. Why hide it?”
“Elisa’s right,” Alaric chimed in, before Galatea could retort. “As adults, we do indeed have many things to reflect upon.”
Galatea couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in the middle of their banter. She stood there, slightly dumbfounded, as the two children, so easily at home with Alaric, continued to chat like old friends.
When lunchtime arrived, Alaric decided to take them to a breathtaking lodge nestled in the heart of nature.
Their dining spot was a stunning pavilion situated between mountains and water—the sound of a babbling lake at their feet, willows trailing the banks behind them, the soft chirping of songbirds in the air, and the majestic mountains towering in the distance. It was nothing short of magical.
“This place is so beautiful,” Elisa exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. “Daddy, Mommy, this would be perfect for your honeymoon.”
“A proper honeymoon would be traveling the world,” Caspian asserted, adding his opinion. “Coming here would be far too simple for our mom. It’s not acceptable!”
“Exactly, a trip around the world!” Elisa quickly agreed.
Galatea opened her mouth to respond, but Alaric shot her a look that clearly said, Don’t dampen the kids’ spirits. Galatea sighed and held her tongue.
Throughout the meal, the two little rascals continued to call Alaric “Daddy,” a fact that left Galatea with a mix of amusement and exasperation. These children certainly knew how to play their cards right when there was money involved!
“Harry, there’s a children’s amusement park at the lodge,” Alaric said, once he saw that the kids were nearly finished with their meal. “Once you’re done eating, take Elisa to have some fun.”
“Daddy, are you trying to get rid of us because we’re cramping your style? I get it,” Elisa piped up eagerly. “I’m done eating, Harry. Let’s go play!”
“Sure,” Caspian said with a smile, eager to let his father and mother have some time to themselves. He was more than happy to support any opportunity for them to bond and, hopefully, get married.
The two kids scampered off, and once they were out of earshot, Galatea finally confronted Alaric. “What have you done to my kids to make them call you ‘Daddy’? You can’t just throw around that title.”
“It was Elisa’s idea to start getting used to it. With such an adorable daughter offering herself, naturally, I wouldn’t resist,” Alaric responded casually, his tone laced with amusement.
“If you hadn’t said anything, how would my daughter ever think we were getting married?” Galatea shot back.
At that, Alaric laughed loudly, his amusement completely apparent. Galatea, baffled by his reaction, raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“You playing the victim first—that’s kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?” Alaric said bluntly. “If Elisa hadn’t seen the watch I gave you by your bedside, she wouldn’t have thought we were getting married, would she?”
The mention of the watch made Galatea’s face turn bright red. She was immediately mortified. The kids had sold her out so quickly!
Her cheeks burned under Alaric’s gaze as he drew nearer.
“Your hypocrisy is quite something,” Alaric teased, his voice low. “When I gave it to you, you went on about your high principles and refused to take it, but when I tossed it in the trash, you picked it right back out, didn’t you?”
Galatea clenched her hands tightly against her clothes, feeling utterly embarrassed and trapped in the moment.
“Answer me,” Alaric pressed, his voice taking on a teasing tone that stirred something within her. “Why did you secretly pick up that watch?”
Galatea’s heart fluttered erratically as Alaric’s proximity grew even more intense. Her mind raced as she tried to find a plausible excuse. “I… I just thought it was a shame to waste something so valuable. I can return it—” she stammered, but before she could finish, Alaric moved closer.
His lips hovered dangerously close to hers, and the air between them felt thick with tension. Galatea froze, her body pressed against a pillar, unable to move, with no escape in sight.
“Galatea, you really are an enigma,” Alaric murmured, his gaze intense as he looked deeply into her eyes. “What do you really want?”
He had given her the opportunity for a higher position, yet she resisted. If this was just a game to her, why couldn’t she be more carefree? These questions haunted him, and the more he tried to understand her, the more he found himself wanting to unravel her mystery.
“Can’t get that man out of your head?” Alaric asked, his voice probing.
That man? Ambrose? The mention of his name struck like a lightning bolt, and Galatea’s mind went completely blank.
“Answer me!” Alaric demanded again, his voice harsh with urgency. He wanted an answer, whether it was driven by desire or something else entirely.
“No!” Galatea finally snapped, her voice firm. “He’s been dead to me for a long time.”
For the first couple of years after Ambrose had disappeared, she had desperately searched for him. She wanted answers—wanted to know why he left and whether he had ever truly loved her. But so many years had passed, and Galatea had let go. What was the point in knowing now? It was better to let it all go quietly, to preserve some dignity for both of them.
“Really?” Alaric’s voice was low, skeptical.
“Of course,” Galatea said, her voice unwavering. “He’s been out of my heart for a long time.”
“Then forget him completely.” As Alaric spoke, his voice dropped to a dark whisper, and something in the air shifted.
And just like that, Alaric’s lips crashed into hers in a kiss—a kiss that was nothing like the one before. It wasn’t about punishment; this time, it was about conquering something, or perhaps letting go of something that had built up inside him for far too long.
Galatea’s heart raced as she panicked. She tried to pull away, but Alaric held her in place, his intensity overwhelming her. Her mind was a whirlwind, and her body was frozen under his gaze and touch.
Just as Galatea thought she might lose herself to the kiss, Alaric’s phone rang, cutting through the tension like a lifeline.
Galatea grabbed for the phone, her voice a whisper. “Cell… phone…” she struggled to say, but it was too late.
Alaric’s focus was entirely on her, and the world around them seemed to cease to exist.