Chapter 146: A Slip Into Trouble
Harry could barely hold back tears.
He had imagined so many ways in which the truth might come out, but he never expected it to be like this—Alaric had actually done a DNA test with him. And now, the results were in: he and Alaric were not biologically father and son. What would they do now? Mrs. Marigold would surely be even more excited about this revelation, and the worst part was that Harry had caused trouble for Caspian.
His mind spun with panic, but Harry knew he had to act fast.
Seeing Harry’s distress, Alaric rushed to kneel down and comfort him. “I’m sorry, Caspian,” he said gently. “It was wrong of me to do this without your permission. I never meant for you to find out this way.”
“You did a DNA test behind my back and didn’t want me to know,” Harry said, his voice shaky with emotion. “Alaric, you never really treated me like your son!” He wasn’t sure if he could keep up the act, but he had to try. “Daddy, you’ve hurt my heart. How could you do this to me? I feel like I can’t breathe from the pain. My heart is breaking! I can’t take it, I’m in so much pain!”
His words were exaggerated, but Harry knew that if he didn’t sell it, Alaric wouldn’t buy it. He had to make this work.
Alaric’s expression softened, his concern deepening. “Caspian, I’m really sorry. It’s all my fault. Tell me, where does it hurt? I’ll take you to a doctor right now.”
Harry quickly waved him off. “No, no need for a doctor. I’ll be fine, as long as you promise to not get that result. If you don’t get it, I’ll forgive you.”
“But the result is already out, and Mrs. Marigold is waiting for me. I really need to get it,” Alaric said, regret and guilt in his eyes.
“Daddy, do you really not care about my feelings?” Harry said, trying his best to keep his voice weak. “You’re just going to go get it without thinking about how I feel?”
“I’m sorry, Caspian, I never meant to hurt you. I did this to shut up the people who doubted us. I want to assure you, I never doubted you were my son.”
Harry wasn’t listening. His mind was only focused on how to get out of this situation. “Daddy, do you really have to get that result?”
“I have to, Caspian. Cormac is waiting for me inside. Even if I don’t go, he’s going to bring the results to the Knight family,” Alaric said.
Harry’s heart sank. He was cornered. There was no escape.
Alaric gently guided Harry toward the hospital doors, but halfway through, Harry suddenly stopped.
“Daddy!” Harry said, pretending to sound urgent.
Alaric turned and looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to pee,” Harry said quickly, trying to stall for time.
“Alright, go ahead,” Alaric said, not suspecting anything. “I’ll wait for you here.”
Harry rushed into the bathroom, but as soon as he stepped inside, he looked around frantically for an escape route. Unfortunately, there was no way out. The bathroom had no windows, no exits—nothing.
His only option was to keep up the act, so he waited a few minutes, trying to think of another way. When he finally stepped out, Alaric was waiting by the door. “Are you okay, Caspian? Do you feel sick?”
“No, I’m fine,” Harry said weakly, his mind still racing.
As Alaric guided Harry toward the elevator, Harry quickly stopped him. “I don’t want to take the elevator. Can we take the stairs instead?”
“The stairs?” Alaric asked, puzzled.
“Yes, I need to get some exercise. Taking the elevator all the time is bad for you,” Harry explained, trying to delay as much as possible.
“Alright,” Alaric agreed, and they turned toward the stairs.
But as they passed another bathroom, Harry’s desperation flared up again. “I need to pee again.”
“You just went,” Alaric said, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, but it’s urgent,” Harry insisted, trying to buy more time.
“Alright, go ahead,” Alaric said reluctantly, already growing impatient.
Once inside, Harry saw his chance. A small window above the bathroom sink caught his eye. It was just big enough for him to climb through, though it was a little high. There was a pipe running along the wall, and Harry knew he could use it to climb up. His only choice was to escape—he had to.
Quickly, Harry began climbing the pipe, but just as he was getting close to the window, his phone slipped out of his pocket and fell into the toilet. He cursed under his breath, but there was no time to dwell on it. He had to escape.
Outside, Alaric was beginning to get worried. Harry had been in the bathroom for more than ten minutes. “Caspian,” he called through the door, his voice filled with concern. “Are you alright?”
The sound of Alaric’s voice made Harry freeze. He was startled, and in his panic, he hurried even more. But his foot slipped, and he lost his grip. In an instant, he fell from the pipe, landing hard on the floor with a painful thud.
“Caspian!” Alaric rushed to the door, kicking it open when he realized it was locked. As soon as he entered, he found Harry lying on the floor in pain.
“Oh my god, Caspian, what happened?” Alaric cried out, lifting Harry into his arms.
“My butt hurts, my legs hurt,” Harry whined dramatically, feeling the pain spread through his body. “I think I’m paralyzed! Am I going to be disabled? I’m only six years old—I can’t live like this!”
Alaric was panicked, his heart racing as he took Harry in his arms. He rushed to the hospital staff for immediate care. Harry was still groaning in pain, though he could tell it wasn’t as bad as he had made it seem. He had been more worried about getting caught than anything else.
The X-ray revealed a minor bone fracture—nothing too serious, but Harry would have to rest for a while.
“How are you feeling now, Caspian? Still in pain?” Alaric asked, concern written all over his face.
“It’s okay,” Harry said, trying to sound relieved. “I’m not disabled. That’s a relief.”
Alaric sighed with relief. “Caspian, you won’t be disabled. You’ll heal just fine.”
But just as Alaric was about to breathe easy, his phone rang again. It was Cormac.
“Alaric, where are you?” Cormac’s voice was anxious. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’m at the orthopedics with Caspian,” Alaric replied, his voice still tense. “He got hurt.”
“How did he get hurt?” Cormac asked, alarmed.
“He slipped and fell in the bathroom. It’s nothing major—he has a minor fracture. But stop talking, and just bring the DNA results,” Alaric said.
Harry could only groan inwardly. It seemed like everything was spiraling out of control. Maybe he should just confess everything to Alaric. The truth about his identity and Caspian’s—surely, it wouldn’t be a capital offense, right?