Chapter 4 Undress and Lie down on the Bed
At a loss for a verdict, the police officers received a call.
"Mr. Knight called. She's not a kidnapper. Release her immediately!"
After setting Galatea free, two female officers exchanged a glance and couldn't help but sigh, "Rich people just do as they please. A couple's quarrel that involved the police."
Galatea, who just got out of the station, felt extremely unlucky. Her first day back in the country involved a trip to the police.
She was about to call Harry when her phone rang; it was Elisa.
"Mom, how are you? Why aren't you back yet?" The fancy dinner is ready.
"Where's Harry? Did he make it home?" Galatea asked urgently.
"Didn't Harry go to the hospital to look for you?" Elisa explained her frustration. After settling into their new home, Mia insisted they take a nap. Harry couldn't sleep and begged her to go to the hospital, but she was exhausted. After refusing, she fell asleep, and when she woke up, Harry was gone.
"So, Harry hasn't come home yet?" Galatea's heart leaped to her throat when she heard this. The cops are all about nailing traffickers, but what about the safety of the kids?
"He's back now!" Elisa barely got the words out when they saw Harry push the door open, "Mom, no need to worry, Harry's back!"
Galatea's heart settled just as her temper was about to flare!
After Elisa got cut off on the phone, her worried gaze held a hint of amusement that her brother was in trouble, "Harry, Mom knows you sneaked off to the hospital."
"How did she find out?" Harry, truly startled, quickly glanced at his smartwatch. He was certain he had disabled the tracking feature.
"Just know she knows, and she sounded really mad. You better watch out," Elisa said, a wary expression on her face. "If she docks your allowance, don't even think about hitting me up—I'm broke too."
Harry smirked, "Elisa, always the little money miser!"
With the assurance that Harry wasn't after her piggy bank, Elisa leaned in, eager with her inquiry, "So, did you find any worthy prospects at the hospital? Any guy who's handsome, loaded, and dad material?"
"Forget it, I didn't even get into the hospital," Harry deflated, "Something crazy happened—everything was locked down tight. Not just me, not even a fly could get in."
"Wow, if I'd known, I would've skipped my nap and gone with you!"
Just as Elisa finished speaking, they heard noises at the entrance. She hastily said, "Mom's back."
When Galatea entered, she saw two kids behaving exceptionally well at the dining table while Mia was setting down dishes, she had warmed up again.
"Stellan, dinner's ready," Mia said with a smile.
Galatea briefly acknowledged with a cool response, her stern gaze landing on Harry, who immediately hung his head in the admission of guilt, "I'm sorry, Mom."
"Stellan, don't be harsh on him. It's my fault," Mia hastily interjected, "It's my fault for sleeping so deeply that I didn't even notice him leave."
Mia was getting older, and the recent toil had worn her down. How could Galatea fault her?
"I don't blame you," Galatea quickly said, seeing Mia so full of self-reproach. "Let's put this behind us and never speak of it again."
Galatea then warned Harry, "If you run off on your own again, you're really in for it!"
"I got it, Mom. I promise it won't happen again," Harry immediately raised his little hand as if taking an oath.
With that settled, the two adults and the children joyously started their meal in their cozy, small home. Meanwhile, in a vast, empty mansion, Caspian had no appetite despite a table laden with delicacies before him.
"What's wrong, Caspian? Not feeling well?" Alaric inquired, noticing that he hadn't taken a bite.
Caspian shook his head and boldly met Alaric's gaze, his lips pressing into a thin line. "No, it's not that. I don't want to eat this anymore. I long for the food that I truly enjoy."
Alaric understood the meaning behind Caspian's words all too well.
"Caspian, your health is sensitive; you can't just eat anything you want. Once you're better, you tell me what you crave, and I'll cook it for you."
Caspian's head bowed again, biting his lips, hands rubbing together restlessly. It wasn't the barbecue that he yearned for; it was the feeling of sharing a meal with Galatea.
"Come on, no sulking. Eat up, and afterward, I'll take you out for some fun." Alaric served him another helping.
"Dad, I want Mom," Caspian said with a look of longing, his eyes gazing into Alaric's. Sensing what would come next, Alaric interjected, "Not Orion—I mean my real mom. Can that woman from today be my mom?"
The boy's voice was soft, his bright eyes filled with pleading.
He still hadn't forgotten that woman!
"You need to be a good boy first," Alaric murmured gently. "Eat your meal, and I'll give it some thought."
"Really?" Caspian's eyes sparkled with hope upon hearing Alaric's words.
"Of course," Alaric replied calmly.
After watching Caspian finish his meal, Alaric spent some time reading to him until he fell asleep. Once Caspian was tucked in bed, Alaric dialed Silas Moon, "I need details on the woman who took my son today."
It was Galatea's first official day on the job. She slipped into her white lab coat and was about to make her rounds when she got called into Galen's office.
"You wanted to see me, Galen?"
"Yes." Galen smiled warmly. "Galatea, your reputation certainly precedes you. Mr. Knight is here for a check-up and has specifically requested you."
Galatea knew that Serenity Heights Medical Center was sponsored by Nexus Innovations. So, he meant Alaric?
"Mr. Knight is our hospital's silent benefactor. You'll want to take very good care of him, Galatea," Galen instructed.
"Understood." Galatea wasn't sure if it was a stroke of luck or a sign of trouble, but she was going to follow through with Galen's instructions.
"Dr. Galatea, Mr. Knight is already in the consultation room." A nurse rushed up to inform her as soon as she stepped out of the elevator.
"He's already here?" Galatea straightened her coat and then headed into the consultation room. The moment she entered the room, she saw the man seated on the sofa.
He was clothed in a sharp black suit, legs crossed in a relaxed pose. From her angle, she could perfectly see his face.
With thick brows and a straight nose bridge, what truly captivated her were his deep, profound eyes. The early morning sunlight pierced through, casting a stark line of light across his strikingly handsome face, creating an intense visual impact.
"Good morning, Mr. Alaric. I'm Dr. Galatea, the physician assigned to your examination."
Hearing her, Alaric lifted his gaze to meet hers; her appearance was even more remarkable in person than on the security footage. Purely based on looks, one would never guess she was a woman of such intricate schemes.
That gaze made Galatea uncomfortable, but since Alaric was a VIP at the hospital, she held her tongue and continued, "If Mr. Knight is ready, shall we begin?"
"Sure," Alaric replied as he stood up. He was curious to see what tricks this woman might have up her sleeve.
"Let's start with some routine tests," Galatea said, reaching for the stethoscope. "Shirt off, please, and lie down on the bed."