Mommy，We Got a Husband
Chapter 30 Cyber Assault

Galatea felt as if she had slept for ages and had been caught in an endless dream where her father played the leading role. Initially, it was a warm scene, but it ended with her father standing on a precipice before diving off. Then the dream shifted to him lying on the ground, spitting blood, his body convulsing from the pain with dilated pupils. He couldn't utter a single word in his agony. The heartache was suffocating, and as she struggled to open her eyes, she found them streaming with tears.

"Thought you were tough around me, huh? How come you fainted in front of some thugs?" The first words she heard upon waking were a man's taunting.

Weakly surveying her surroundings, she was back in the same bedroom she had awakened in before.

'Had she been brought back here by this man again?'

Alaric knew all the details. Her actions were right from a human perspective, but according to the hospital regulations, she was wrong.

He had watched the whole scene unfold - the grabbing, the hitting, the insults. Yet Galatea Hartley didn't fight back, didn't even defend herself. She was like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Why so quiet?" Alaric prodded her as she remained silent. "You scared, speechless?"

Still, Galatea said nothing. She couldn't even hear what the man was saying. Her mind was overwhelmed by the image of her father in his final moments.

'Her mother had passed away from illness when she was very young, and it had always been just her and her father, reliant on each other. He had always treated her like a precious jewel, showering her with affection.

'She loved her father so much, yet, in the end, she also hated him. They could have faced bankruptcy and debt together. Why did he choose to end his life? And why did he leave her alone to face everything?'

Clutching the bedsheets tightly, Galatea bit her lip as tears poured down her face. Alaric, seemingly at a loss, paused for a few seconds before saying, "It's done. What good does crying here do?"

"How would you know why I'm crying? How could you possibly understand what I'm feeling? If you loathe me so much, why did you bring me here?" Galatea was teetering on the brink of an emotional breakdown, and Alaric's words were the last straw. Her grief and anger bled into her sobbing outburst.

Under his breath, Alaric muttered something inaudible, then turned and walked out, quietly shutting the door behind him.

After Alaric left, Galatea was alone in the bedroom. She had been harboring a deep-seated emotion since her father's death years ago.

Yet, somehow, seeing Andreas fighting for his life in so much pain tore open wounds that she had sealed deep within her heart.

She knew that crying was futile, that it was an act of weakness and helplessness, but she could no longer contain it.

Although Alaric stepped out of the bedroom, he did not leave. He stood just outside the door, where the sounds of Galatea's weeping were all too clear.

The authenticity of her grief was undeniable, and feeling the weight of her sorrow, Alaric inhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing with contemplation.

Meanwhile, the medical scandal involving Andreas sparked public fury. Andreas's son gathered a group of protesters outside the hospital, armed with placards, and called in the media to intensify the pressure.

Galatea was indeed at fault according to hospital policies, and the institution promised compensation, but Andreas's son was not satisfied with the amount and continued to create a disturbance. "That pain in the neck deserves it!"

Seeing the news, Orion couldn't help but laugh with delight and then proceeded to add fuel to the fire with a post on Facebook.

"Can't believe there are still doctors out there who care so little for human life. Aren't doctors supposed to heal and save the injured and dying?"

Orion was an influential celebrity with a massive following, and it didn't take long for a trending topic to emerge.

"Star Orion speaks up for the victim's family!"

Her call to action sparked a virtual mob against Galatea, and watching the vicious comments pour in, Orion couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction.

"What's got you so cheerful?" Mrs. Ravenna inquired upon seeing her in such high spirits.

"Just some good news," Orion closed her laptop and addressed her mother, "Mom, I'm feeling great today. Tell the kitchen to whip up something extra delicious." "All right, I'll go get that sorted out right away."

Ever since Alaric ended things with her, Orion had been depressed, so Mrs. Ravenna was more than willing to obligeto her rrequest while she was in a better mood.

Griffon, sitting in the living room, leafing through a newspaper, also noticed the buzz but only cast a glance at it without much interest.

At dinner, Orion was still visibly elated. Griffon mentioned, "You've had plenty of rest at home. It might be time to get back to work."

Orion pouted unhappily, "What? Am I becoming a nuisance around the house?"

"It's not about that. It's a reminder to stay diligent. Entertainment is a constantly changing field with fresh faces emerging all the time. You should take advantage of your current popularity to get more exposure," her father said.

"That's something only the powerless and insignificant stars worry about. We Nash's practically have a monopoly on the industry. You, Dad, are the power broker of show business. Who would dare to compete with me for resources?" "True, but it's always best to plan early because I won't be around forever. If Cormac won't take over, it would fall on you. But what capabilities do you have now to manage the Nash empire?"

"Dad, you're not old. You have at least thirty more years in you, and I've got plenty of time to learn," Orion assured him with a smile.

Griffon was just about to reply when a sudden thud sounded from the direction of the closet.

The walk-in closet was her treasure trove, and Orion dashed inside, only to find a maid on her knees, gathering items that had spilled from Orion's handbag.

The maid had accidentally jostled the handbag placed on the dresser while cleaning.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Nash. It was an accident," the maid hurriedly apologized.

"You klutz! Do you have any idea how much that purse costs? A lifetime of your salary wouldn't cover it!" Orion fumed as she gingerly picked up her handbag, inspecting it for any signs of damage. "I'm so sorry, Miss Nash, truly sorry!" the maid stammered, her hands shaking.

"It's just a bag. Let it go," Mrs. Ravenna interjected as she entered the room, "I'll get you a new one sometime."

"But this is my favorite, a global limited edition, irreplaceable now," Orion lamented.

At that moment, Griffon entered the scene. His eyes fixed on a piece of paper on the floor. He stooped to pick it up and unfolded it to reveal a portrait of Mrs. Carrington.

"Mrs. Marigold?" the name inscribed on the portrait.

'Mrs. Marigold? But this is clearly, Mrs. Carrington!' Griffon pondered.

"Orion, why do you have this?" he asked.

"It fell out when I visited Galatea. I just picked it up and forgot to discard it."

"Galatea's?"

Galatea had been carrying around a portrait of Mrs. Carrington, yet it bore another woman's name.

Suddenly, Griffon realized something.