Chapter 22
On the first day of school, Alaric drove Harry to his new school. As they approached the gates, Harry was in awe. Luxury cars, all high-end models, lined up, but they all paled in comparison to his dad’s ride.
“Man, even getting into primary schools is so competitive now?” Harry commented, impressed.
The principal, with a warm smile, greeted him as he helped with Harry’s luggage. “Caspian, I haven’t seen you during the entire vacation. Look at you—a handsome young man now.”
It wasn’t just because of Alaric’s name. Caspian was the pride of the school, a model student who had won first place in a global math competition. He was the kind of student every teacher dreamed of.
“Dad, I’m off to school. Just focus on your work. No need to worry about me. I’ll be home for the weekend,” Harry said with a smile. But just as Alaric was about to respond, his phone rang. His expression shifted. With a swift flick of his hand, he dismissed the call and waved at Harry, “Got it. Be good and listen to your teachers.”
“OK,” Harry responded, reassuring him.
Before, Alaric would have been genuinely worried, hoping Caspian would make more friends. But now, seeing how Caspian had changed, Alaric had nothing to worry about.
The principal led Harry to the dorms, where he was shown to a luxurious single room, and even helped make his bed. Living the high life!
Harry quickly sent Caspian a message.
Harry: [Caspian, your school is amazing! All the teachers truly like you. Are you adjusting well to the new school your mom set up? If not, we can switch back temporarily.]
Caspian, alongside Elisa, had just stepped into the classroom and was still finding their seats.
Caspian: [No need.]
Seeing Caspian’s terse reply, Harry chuckled and replied again.
Harry: [Man of few words, huh?]
Meanwhile, Elisa had found her seat and was about to call Caspian over when a little boy sat down next to her. “Are you the new kid? What’s your name? Let’s be seatmates, OK?”
“You can call me Elisa. And about being my seatmate, well, that spot’s already taken,” Elisa responded, drawing a line in the air.
The boy, looking confident, shot back, “A taken spot can be reclaimed by someone else. From now on, I’m your seatmate!”
Before Elisa could even respond, a commanding voice boomed overhead. “Move aside!”
It was Caspian.
The boy craned his neck upwards and retorted, “And who might you be? Seats aren’t assigned by you. What gives you the right to tell me to move?”
“I’m her brother,” Caspian said, his tone firm. “Move aside!”
To the young boy, Caspian’s presence was enough to make him surrender. With a huff, he vacated the seat, grumbling under his breath.
Caspian took the seat beside Elisa, neatly stowing away his backpack before helping her organize the books scattered across the desk.
“Harry, you were so brave just now,” Elisa commented.
“You’re my sister. Of course, I’ve got your back. As long as I’m here, no one’s going to mess with you!” Caspian declared, his voice full of conviction.
He cherished his sister deeply. In a family that had once only doted on him, Elisa’s presence felt like a rare gift, one he was determined to protect.
“Thanks,” Elisa smiled back.
Meanwhile, Galatea had just finished a grueling surgery. A multi-vehicle pileup had kept her in the operating room for over twelve straight hours. After washing up, she slumped against the wall, exhausted.
“Dr. Galatea, you’re nothing short of amazing. A surgeon of your caliber is truly a rare gem,” a voice from her colleagues praised.
“Yeah, we’re lucky to have you here today. We would’ve been swamped otherwise,” another added.
Though exhausted, Galatea felt a sense of accomplishment. The gratitude of her colleagues and the lives she had saved made it all worthwhile. After a short break, she returned to her office and checked her phone. There was a missed call from an unfamiliar number. She ignored it, assuming it was irrelevant.
However, she did take note of a message from the teacher:
Teacher: [Mrs. Elisa, your children performed exceptionally well today. They’ve adapted quickly and are especially bright. This is undoubtedly due to your consistent efforts in their upbringing. Let’s continue to make great strides with their progress.]
Galatea’s heart swelled with pride. Her children were flourishing, and it was all thanks to her hard work.
She was about to respond with a thankful message when her phone rang again. This time, it was from the same unfamiliar number.
“Hello?” Galatea answered.
“You never learn, do you?” a man’s scolding voice greeted her on the other end. “I said to be on call 24/7, and you dare play hide and seek with me!”
Galatea was dumbfounded. “Mr. Knight, not everyone enjoys the luxury of setting their work hours like you do. I was in surgery and obviously couldn’t—”
“I’m not interested in excuses,” Alaric’s voice interrupted, sharp and commanding. “Get ready. I’ll pick you up shortly. We’re heading to the Nash residence.”
Galatea froze. The Nash residence? Orion’s home? Why? She had a million questions, but before she could ask, the call ended abruptly.
‘Arrogant and insufferable,’ Galatea thought to herself.
Alaric’s car arrived at the clinic, blocking the entrance, drawing the attention of everyone around. Galatea climbed inside, and whispers started to ripple through the crowd.
“Looks like Dr. Galatea is Mr. Knight’s latest flame.”
“Seems like it. Impressive indeed. It’s all about looks; beauty often means a stroke of good fortune.”
“Isn’t that the truth…”
Galatea could guess what people were saying, but she didn’t care. As soon as she was inside the car, Alaric’s gaze swept over her, making her feel uneasy.
“I wasn’t informed in time to prepare something special, so this is just my everyday work attire. It’s presentable, right?” She couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious. Though she was makeup-free and tired from the day’s surgeries, her natural beauty still shone through.
“It’ll do,” Alaric said nonchalantly before handing her a file folder. “These are some basic details about me that you’ll need to remember.”
He was expecting her to pretend to be his fiancée, and knowing the essentials was vital to avoid any slip-ups, especially in front of Mr. and Mrs. Griffon Nash.
Galatea glanced through the documents, but one detail caught her eye. Alaric had served in the military and had held the rank of colonel. Her curiosity grew.
She continued reading, and by the end, she noticed a puzzling three-year gap in the timeline.
“Why is there a three-year gap here?” she asked, brow furrowed.
Alaric’s expression darkened slightly as he avoided her gaze.