Chapter 139
The moment Orion’s interview hit the media, it exploded online. Within minutes, the comment section flooded with a mix of anger, sympathy, and outrage.
“I never expected Alaric to be this despicable, having a child with another woman and deceiving Orion. Orion is just too kind. That’s why Alaric managed to deceive her for so many years.”
“Could Caspian’s biological mother be Galatea? Alaric has always protected Galatea. If it weren’t for Alaric’s pressure, why would Orion have apologized to Galatea before? This situation is not simple.”
“My heart aches for Orion. Love makes one vulnerable, only to be left completely wounded by a scoundrel in the end.”
“Money doesn’t make you great. With money, one can do whatever they want. It’s unfair for Orion. Being a fan of Orion can’t be acceptable. How dare they treat Orion this way!”
Orion, who already had a large fanbase, found herself surrounded by a cloud of sympathy. The internet was abuzz with emotional reactions, the majority of which painted Alaric as the villain. There were dozens of theories—some questioning Caspian’s true parentage, others speculating that Galatea might be the real mother, and a few claiming that Alaric’s refusal to marry Orion was the root of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, in the barbecue restaurant, Galatea’s eyes darted over the screen when Orion’s face appeared. She quickly grabbed her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the comments. The outrage, the blame—everything felt suffocating.
These people don’t know the truth, Galatea thought, fury rising. How dare they talk like they know anything about the situation?
Her anger was interrupted by Elisa’s worried voice. “Harry, are you feeling unwell?”
Galatea snapped back to reality and noticed Harry—or rather, Caspian—sitting with a pale face. He looked distant, lost in thought.
“What’s wrong, Harry?” Galatea asked, her voice laced with concern.
Caspian blinked, coming back to himself, and forced a smile. “I’m fine,” he said quickly. “I just… empathized with that Caspian in the interview.”
Galatea frowned, sensing there was more to it. But Caspian brushed it off, not wanting to share too much. Deep down, though, he felt a growing pit of sorrow. If Orion wasn’t really his mother, then everything had been a lie—his past, his relationship with her, the forced connection he’d been carrying. But what did it matter? It wasn’t as if he had ever had a real choice in the matter. Everyone just expected him to accept it, and now the weight of that truth was starting to crush him.
Elisa, ever the optimistic one, leaned in. “But once you marry Alaric, you’ll be a part of our family, right? Caspian will be so happy with a mom like you, and me and Harry will be the best siblings!”
Caspian felt a small spark of hope in her words. Could it really be that simple? Could he, someone who had always felt out of place, finally belong?
“Can Caspian really be considered a brother?” he asked, his voice a little shaky, though he tried to mask it.
“Of course!” Elisa replied, her voice as bright as ever. “We’ll be a family, and if Caspian ever feels sad, I’ll cheer him up every day.”
“Thank you, Elisa,” Caspian said softly, genuinely touched by her kindness.
“You’re not Caspian, why are you thanking me?” Elisa teased, her brow furrowing in thought. “But do you think that Caspian, being a young master from a big family, would find it hard to get along with us? What if he doesn’t like us because we’re not rich?”
Caspian immediately shook his head. “Of course not! Elisa, you’re such a lovely little angel. Who wouldn’t like you? Caspian will treat you like a princess!”
Elisa beamed at him, her eyes sparkling. “That’s right, Harry!” she giggled.
Galatea, however, was distracted. She checked her phone once more, and despite seeing no missed calls from Alaric, a sense of unease settled over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
She remembered the conversation from the night before. Alaric had been upset then, and now, with all the media attention, he was probably even more furious. Galatea didn’t want him to go through this alone, but she was unsure how to help him through it.
Alaric, meanwhile, was furious. After watching Orion’s interview and reading the malicious comments online, he felt like he was being suffocated. Every word felt like a stab, not just at him, but at Galatea as well. People were blaming her, dragging her name through the mud, and that was something he couldn’t stand.
The anger coursing through him was almost unbearable. He grabbed his phone and dialed Orion’s number. The moment it rang, his grip tightened, his patience fraying.
When Orion picked up, her voice trembled. “I’m at home.”
Alaric didn’t waste a second. He hung up without a word, his anger bubbling over. Orion, sensing the storm that was coming, turned to Griffon with wide eyes.
“Alaric will be here soon. Dad, are you sure everything will be okay?” Orion asked, her voice shaking.
Griffon, ever the calm figure in the storm, sighed. “I said it would be fine. Stop worrying.”
But Orion couldn’t help it. Her mind kept returning to the issue of Caspian’s parentage. If Alaric finds out the truth, if the Knight family investigates the DNA test… The thought of being exposed haunted her.
“Griffon,” Orion said, her voice cracking, “How do we keep this from coming out?”
Griffon’s expression darkened. “The doctor we bribed back then is long gone. As long as they can’t find him, there’s no proof.” He raised his voice, his frustration breaking through. “We’ve been over this! Stop looking so guilty. If you want to stay calm, then do it!”
Orion hung her head, shame clouding her mind. “I regret everything, Dad. Especially marrying Alaric. Look where we are now.”
Griffon’s stern voice cut through her thoughts. “You said Alaric would be here soon. If you don’t want him to see through you, pull yourself together. No one will help you if you keep acting like this.”
Orion nodded quickly, gathering her composure, though inside, she was falling apart.
Not long after, the door opened. Alaric walked in, his anger practically radiating from him. Griffon, ever the gracious host, put on his usual friendly smile, though it faltered as Alaric’s eyes bore into him with cold fury.
“Griffon,” Alaric said, his voice low and dangerous. “There’s no need to beat around the bush. You know why I’m here, right?”
Griffon’s smile dropped, and he straightened up, suddenly serious. “Of course I know. We lied about Caspian’s parentage, and I apologize for that. Now that you have Galatea, I was worried it might affect your new relationship, so I had Orion clarify things in the media.”
Alaric’s gaze never wavered. His jaw clenched, his thoughts spinning. He wasn’t here to hear excuses, but he needed answers. And he was done being the pawn in their game. The truth would come out—no matter the cost.