Mommy，We Got a Husband
Chapter 56 Galatea, I Don't Like That Joke!

'Her past? Her experiences?'

'Having been Galatea for six years, it's likely that no one even remembers Stellan anymore.'

"You honestly know how to rub salt in old wounds, don't you?" Galatea forced a bitter smile, her past was something she'd rather not discuss, but Alaric kept probing relentlessly.

"It might be cruel," Alaric said earnestly. "If you can't face the pain, you'll never reconcile with it. Your silence is not resolution, it's avoidance. Only by truly moving past the pain can you keep moving forward." "It sounds reasonable."

"So, care to share?" Alaric looked at her intently. "Start with the reason you chose to become a doctor. I've seen your resume. For someone your age, your medical skills are impressive."

The things Alaric had told Mrs. Carrington over the phone contained some embellishments, but most were true-the medical research institutes in the States were indeed the pinnacle of medicine, and it was quite a feat for someone as young as Galatea to be part of that.

"It's rare to hear a compliment from you, Mr. Knight," she quipped. Her dark eyes grew serious as she gazed into the distance. "I wanted to study medicine because of my mom. I only have faint memories of her, just that she was ill and always taking lots of medications."

"Then the memories stop. She was never home, and my dad would lie, telling me she was away on business. As I got older, he finally admitted that she had passed away from her illness."

"When I was little, I couldn't understand. I told my dad to just take her to the doctor. They could cure her, and then she wouldn't have to die. He told me that some illnesses even doctors can't cure that was the kind my mom had."

"I thought then, when I grow up, I'll become a doctor who can cure any illness. Once I started medical school, I learned no one is omnipotent, not even doctors." After Galatea finished speaking, Alaric's expression turned somber. After a pause, he cautiously asked, "What about your dad? Did he also pass from illness?"

'Her dad?'

'Because her mom died when she was very young, she didn't have as deep an impression or attachment. However, it was different with her dad-they had only had each other for so many years.'

Alaric watched her, saw her eyes gradually darken, and become moist.

"He committed suicide," Galatea said slowly. "Jumped from a building."

'Suicide? That was the last thing Alaric expected to hear. He thought it was an illness or an accident.'

Even after so many years, speaking these words still pained her. Galatea exhaled deeply, then chuckled mirthlessly, "I still can't wrap my head around why my dad chose that path. Maybe, like some say, I'm cursed, bringing calamity to those around me."

Alaric found no trace of humor in her dark joke. The suicide of her sole kin, the anchor in her life, was a wound too deep for words.

He had wanted to inquire about her husband, but the heartache written on her face stopped him.

"It's all in the past," Alaric offered with a gentle tone, "They say after hardship comes the joy. Things are going to get better for you."

Was this perhaps the kindest thing Galatea had heard from Alaric since they met?

"Thanks," Galatea replied, her voice cool and detached.

Another question nagged him. "One thing I don't get though, why did you give up a prominent position at the American Medical Research Institute? You could've made enough to buy a big house in cash after a few years. Instead, you come back home to work as a local doctor, cramming into a tiny apartment with others?"

She couldn't very well tell him it was to search for her son.

"Alaric, are we chatting here or are you running a background check on me?" Galatea turned to look at him, "Worried I'm some sort of a charity case staying close? Relax, I've got medical ethics. I'll give my all to treat you." Alaric was speechless.

"How about you, Mr. Knight?" Galatea was genuinely curious, "As the heir to the Knight family fortune - what made you enlist?"

"Wanted to, so I did. No big reason."

"That's evasive," Galatea muttered under her breath before probing further, "You said you've never been in a relationship. Is that truly the case?"

"Absolutely," Alaric declared. "Grew up in the military with no women around. Returned to run the family business after my injury and just got wrapped up in work."

'So, it's true. Alaric genuinely has never been in love.'

"So that means, not only did you never date Orion, but you also never loved her?"

"Right."

"Then why on earth did you let her have your child?"

Alaric fell silent.

"That seems rather low," Galatea pressed on. "I mean, I'm no fan of Orion Nash myself, but just sticking to the facts, it's pretty low for someone to have a kid without love. Shouldn't you have kept your distance instead of leading her on with talks of marriage? Are all guys like this, using women as playthings?"

At that moment, Galatea couldn't help but think of Ambrose Vale and blurted out a curse.

"That's not how it is!" he defended.

"Oh really? Last time I checked, she couldn't have that kid all by herself."

Seeing him at a loss for words, seemingly with a secret he couldn't share, Galatea couldn't resist teasing him a bit. "Could it be that you don't even like women? That you faked a marriage with Orion to sire an heir for the Knight family; and maybe to cover up your personal preferences, am I right?"

"Galatea!" Alaric rebuked her sharply.

His stern anger wiped the smile off her face instantly, and she hurriedly said, "I was just kidding around with you, just a joke."

"Galatea, I don't appreciate those kinds of jokes!" Alaric reminded her sternly. He couldn't understand why he was so angry at that moment.

Seeing him genuinely upset and that fierce, Galatea felt immediately flustered and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry."

Galatea wished she could just slap herself for her thoughtless words, especially considering her previous mistakes.

Alaric just looked at Galatea, noticing her obvious fright, and he averted his eyes in confusion, feeling regret.

Since her injury, Galatea's mood had been consistently low, and the rare moment where she felt at ease enough to crack a joke was now spoiled by his outburst.

Alaric was about to apologize to her when the nurse at the entrance to the inpatient ward called out, "Patient in bed 3, Galatea, time to head back to your room for your injection!"