Chapter 145: Doubts and Revelations
After her encounter with Ambrose, Galatea felt a storm of emotions that she could hardly describe. The pain of the past had faded, buried under her life with Alaric. But now, with Ambrose’s sudden reappearance and the unsettling revelations, the pain returned, stronger than ever—like a fresh wound, deeper than before.
“Mrs. Galatea, where are we going now?” James asked politely as he opened the car door for her.
Galatea didn’t hear him at first, lost in her thoughts. He repeated his question, his voice slightly more insistent.
“Anywhere,” she murmured, her mind still a tangled mess. “I just want to take a drive.”
She wasn’t in the mood to deal with the business of the shop’s decorations or anything else. She just needed to clear her head, to feel the wind on her face, to empty her mind completely.
“Alright, Mrs. Galatea,” James replied, nodding, and drove aimlessly into the city, letting the silence between them stretch.
Meanwhile, Alaric was in a hurry. He was on his way to the hospital when his phone rang, the caller ID showing it was Caspian.
“Hello, Caspian,” Alaric answered, trying to keep his tone light despite the stress of the morning.
“Dad, where did you go last night?” Caspian’s voice sounded a bit concerned. The tension in his voice made it clear that he had been worried. With Alaric’s recent hospital discharge and his obvious affection for Harry, Caspian had been feeling neglected.
“I’m sorry, Caspian,” Alaric said, apologizing. “I should’ve told you. I didn’t make it home last night.”
“Can you be more reliable? You make us kids worry too much,” Caspian complained, sounding frustrated. “You’re so hard to deal with.”
Despite his irritation, Alaric couldn’t help but smile at his son’s directness. “I’m really sorry, Caspian. It won’t happen again.”
“Where are you now, Dad? It’s the weekend. Are you still working?” Caspian continued. “I’ve been feeling neglected lately. It’s so boring at home. I want to go out and do something.”
Alaric felt a pang of guilt. He had been so focused on everything else that he hadn’t noticed how much Caspian was missing his attention. “I have to go to the hospital first, but after that, I’ll pick you up. We can go see Galatea.”
Harry’s ears perked up at the mention of Galatea’s name. It was clear he had been hanging onto every word, but he was more fixated on the first part of Alaric’s sentence than the latter.
“Dad, why are you going to the hospital again?” Harry asked, his voice tinged with worry. “Is your health not good? Are you sick, and you’re just not telling me?”
Alaric couldn’t help but laugh at this. “No, I’m not sick, Caspian.”
“Then why are you going to the hospital? No one goes to the hospital when they’re healthy. You’re definitely lying!” Harry insisted, now convinced that his father must be hiding something serious.
“I’m really not,” Alaric said, trying to reassure him, though the situation was becoming more difficult to explain.
“I don’t believe you,” Harry said, his voice filled with stubbornness. “Take me with you. I’m bored at home, and I want to go for a walk.”
Alaric hesitated for a moment. He hadn’t planned on bringing Harry with him, but given how worried he was, it seemed like the right thing to do. “Are you sure you want to come with me?” Alaric asked, his voice softening.
“Of course,” Harry said, determined. “What if you’re really lying to me? I don’t want to be deceived.”
“Alright,” Alaric sighed, giving in. “I’ll come pick you up. Wait for me at home.”
Once the phone call ended, Alaric turned the car around and drove back home to get Harry. When Harry climbed into the car, he gave Alaric a long, scrutinizing look that made Alaric feel uncomfortably self-conscious.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Alaric asked, feeling awkward under Harry’s intense gaze.
“I feel like you’re different today,” Harry said, his voice thoughtful. “When you said you were going to the hospital, I was worried at first. I thought maybe you had a terminal illness. But now, looking at you, I can tell I was overthinking.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What makes you think that?”
“First of all, Dad, you’re driving. If you really had a terminal illness, you wouldn’t be behind the wheel. And most importantly, you look… radiant,” Harry said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re glowing, like someone who’s in a really good mood.”
Alaric blinked, taken aback. “Do I really look radiant?”
“Yes,” Harry said, nodding sagely. “You’re positively glowing. It’s unusual. You’ve had a lot on your plate lately, so you shouldn’t be this happy. Did you disappear last night because you were with Mom?”
Alaric’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he felt a wave of guilt. Harry had hit the nail on the head, and Alaric didn’t know how to respond.
“Did I hit the mark?” Harry pressed, his eyes narrowing.
“How can you figure that out?” Alaric asked, genuinely curious despite himself.
Harry shrugged, grinning. “It’s simple. You’re acting just like a guy who’s had a good night, if you know what I mean.”
Alaric’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he immediately reached over, smacking Harry lightly on the mouth. “Caspian, what kind of shows are you watching? You’ve been too exposed to those movies!”
Harry rubbed his cheek, looking mischievously at his father. “You’re so defensive, that means I must be right. Does this mean I’m going to get a new brother or sister?”
Alaric groaned, frustrated but trying not to laugh. “Caspian, your thoughts are dangerous. Kids should focus on their studies and stay out of adult matters.”
“Okay, I won’t say anything,” Harry said, holding his hands up in surrender with a grin.
Alaric parked the car at the hospital entrance and took Harry’s hand as they walked inside.
“So, since you’re not terminally ill and you’re in such a good mood, why are we at the hospital?” Harry asked, still suspicious.
Alaric hesitated. He hadn’t planned on telling Harry the truth yet, but it seemed he couldn’t hide it any longer.
“I’m here to pick up our DNA results,” Alaric said quietly.
The words hit Harry like a thunderclap. His eyes widened in shock. “Dad, what did you just say? DNA results?”
“Because of Mrs. Marigold’s suspicions,” Alaric explained. “She’s been doubting that you’re really my son. I had to prove it to her, so I asked Cormac to do the tests for us.”
Harry’s mind went blank for a moment, then panic surged through him. “What?! You did a DNA test with me? When did this happen? How did I not know?”
Alaric winced, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry, Caspian. I didn’t want to tell you. I took a strand of your hair while you were sleeping the other night.”
Harry’s anger flared. “Alaric, you’ve gone too far! I treated you like a father, and you suspect I’m not your son? How could you do a DNA test without telling me?”
The tension in the air thickened as the weight of the situation settled between them.