Mommy，We Got a Husband
Chapter 50 Don't Hurt if You Don't Love

"The nurse mentioned you've been taking care of me here." There was a newfound strength in Galatea's voice, sincere yet tinged with a touch of melancholy, "Thank you."

Now, with virtually no family around, Mia was busy taking care of Harry and Elisa, and if it weren't for Alaric, her hospital bed would've been devoid of any care.

"Galatea, you don't need to thank me. I should be apologizing to you." Alaric had wanted to say sorry for a while but never found the right moment, "This accident could have been avoided. It was me, always rushing you. If you did not hurry to get to Nexus Innovations, it wouldn't have happened."

Harry, overhearing from the doorway, was startled, 'What? Is it his fault that Mom had an accident?'

"No," Galatea said with a forced smile, "Just my bad luck, I suppose."

Even though the car accident happened on her way to Nexus Innovations, she had followed all the traffic laws. Such misfortune was just a stroke of ill luck.

Alaric had half-hoped Galatea would unleash a tirade on him, but her forgiveness only deepened the guilt gnawing at him, leaving him at a loss for words.

"I'm feeling better now. You should get going," Galatea urged. "I am a surgeon, after all. I know what to watch for and how to take care of myself. I've already held you up for days."

Their relationship wasn't romantic. It was strictly professional - merely a boss and subordinate, a creditor and a debtor.

She couldn't justify taking up more of Alaric's time. He was always so busy, especially now with the company's upcoming entertainment complex construction.

At her insistence, Alaric felt a pang of distress but found himself unable to articulate his feelings.

Seeing his hesitation, Galatea couldn't help but laugh at herself and asked, "You don't think I'm playing hard to get, do you?"

"What?" Alaric was surprised by her words.

"You said it yourself - that I'm deceitful and manipulative."

Though those words had once come from him, hearing them now made him uncomfortable.

"Believe it or not, truly, that's not the case," Galatea explained earnestly. "There was never anything romantic between us. Your companionship while I was unconscious meant a lot to me, and I'd feel terrible if I caused any further delay." Griffon's words gave Alaric a fresh perspective on him—a man devoted to his career who shouldn't be squandering time in a hospital.

"I believe you," Alaric replied, his trust in her words reinforcing his resolve to stay. "I bear some responsibility for your accident. Besides, you once saved my life, and thanks to your treatment, my insomnia has improved. Whether out of guilt or duty, I won't leave until you're discharged."

Checking the time, Alaric quickly added, "It's been over forty-eight hours. I'll go grab some light food for you."

Alaric could have easily instructed his assistant to do this errand, but he needed a brief respite from his unease.

As Alaric stepped into the elevator, Harry quietly waited before entering the room. Surprised to see him, Galatea exclaimed, "Harry?"

Hadn't Alaric told Harry and Elisa they were going on a trip? Why was Harry here?

"Mom." Harry's voice cracked, and tears streamed down his face. It had been a while since he switched places with Caspian, and this was the first time he'd seen his mom since then.

Lying so frail on the hospital bed, she was a shadow of the vibrant woman he remembered.

"Harry, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice weak but filled with warmth.

"Mom," Harry stammered, looking her over with concern, tears spilling anew. "Are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Is it truly that bad?" Galatea's heart clenched at his words; the worry of her child was impossible to hide.

"Not at all," Galatea reassured him, stroking his hair with a gentle smile. "Just a slight bump from a car. I'll be up and about in a few days."

"You can't fool me. If it wasn't serious, why were you unconscious for so long?" Harry fought the tears, wiped them away, and mustered as much bravado as he could. "Mom, just wait for me. I'm going to grow up fast, and when I do, I'll protect you."

Galatea felt a surge of emotion, her eyes slightly tearing up, but she held back the tears and replied with pride, "Okay, I'll wait for you to grow up."

Harry leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. With a mixture of affection and concern, he made her a promise, "Mom, you need to behave and get better soon. I'll be good too, work hard at school, take care of Mia and Elisa at home, so don't worry."

Harry had never worried about Elisa. "Where's Elisa?" she asked anxiously.

"She doesn't know yet."

"Let's keep it our secret, okay?"

Harry simply nodded.

"You can never seem to stop wandering off on your own. It's getting dark, head straight home. And don't dare to come back to the hospital before I'm discharged, you hear?"

Harry nodded again, gave Galatea a litany of reminders, then reluctantly left the room.

However, he didn't leave right away. Outside the elevator, he waited for Alaric, who appeared after five or six minutes.

"Caspian?" Alaric was startled when the elevator doors opened, and he saw Harry. His surprise quickly turned to annoyance. Despite all the warnings to Cormac to keep Caspian in the dark about the situation, here he was! "Caspian, what's wrong? Have you been crying?" Alaric's concern was evident at the sight of Harry's reddened eyes.

"I heard everything you guys said in the room," Harry admitted bluntly.

'Everything said in the room?'

"Why?" Harry was truly livid. "I just don't get the adult world. It's either you're in love, or you're not. Why would there be any faking it? And why do you say my mom is pretentious and manipulative? Do you even know her? If she's that bad in your eyes, then stay away from her. She's the person I'm desperately trying to protect. Why should she be hurt by you?"

"Caspian, it's not what you think."

"I don't want to hear it." Harry's tone was resolute. "Someone cares about the people you don't care about. Someone loves those you don't love. If you don't care and don't like her, then leave her to those who do. Don't hurt the person you don't love. Even a kid understands that!"

Finishing his outburst, Harry ran out, with Alaric quickly following behind.

He chased Harry to the yard, and seeing him find Cormac, only then he felt at ease. The kid probably didn't want to see him right now, did he?

'Don't hurt the one you don't love. Indeed, even a kid understands such a simple truth.'