Chapter 216: Unspoken Truths
Alaric took a deep breath, his mind still unsettled by the nightmare he had woken from. “Yes,” he muttered, trying to calm himself, “I dreamt that Cormac fell from a tall building.”
Galatea, who had been holding him close, gently reassured him. “Isn’t it said that dreams often reflect the opposite of reality? Yes, the Nash family incident has shaken Cormac, but I believe he’s strong-willed. He won’t take such a drastic step. Judging from what he said in the media, he’s deeply affected, but I don’t think he’s on the path to suicide.”
Alaric sighed, the worry still heavy in his chest. “I’m still a bit worried.”
He couldn’t shake the thought that Cormac, having lost everything in a single day, was on the verge of falling apart. The shock of losing his wealth, status, and family… it was too much for anyone to handle.
“Maybe time will help him come to terms with it,” Alaric mused, “but I don’t know if he’ll be able to cope in the short term.”
The fact that Cormac refused to see him only intensified his concern. With no family or friends around to help, who could he turn to?
Suddenly, a thought struck Alaric. “No,” he whispered to himself. “It’s not Cormac… it’s Harry.”
Harry, who had always been more open, more approachable than the real Caspian, might be the key. Though the real Caspian was closer to Alaric, Harry and Cormac had developed a good relationship over time. Harry had a natural talent for connecting with others, for listening when needed.
Just as Alaric began formulating his plan, Galatea’s phone rang, cutting through the tension. It was Elisa.
Galatea answered quickly, “Hello, Elisa.”
“Mommy, where are you and Daddy? You promised we’d go out and play!” Elisa’s voice sounded disappointed. “Why weren’t you here when we woke up?”
Before Galatea could respond, Alaric gently took the phone from her. “Elisa,” he said calmly, “something came up suddenly, and Daddy’s busy. But don’t worry—Mommy will take you out, and I’ll make it up to you later, okay?”
“Alright,” Elisa replied eagerly, “Mia is too old to take us far. We want to go to the amusement park!”
Alaric smiled, despite his worries. “Okay, let Mommy take you first. We’ll make it up to you soon.”
“Okay!” Elisa cheered.
As Alaric hung up, Galatea furrowed her brow, still puzzled by his sudden request for her to take the kids out. “Why did you ask me to leave? What are you planning to do?”
Alaric hesitated only briefly before answering, his tone serious. “I’m still worried about Cormac, but since he doesn’t want to see me right now, I can’t go to him directly. After thinking it over, Caspian—no, Harry—might be able to help. A child is easier to approach, and they have a good relationship.”
Galatea’s eyes widened in understanding. “I see. So, I’ll take the kids out while you take Harry to find Cormac.”
Alaric nodded. “Yes, that’s the plan.”
Alaric knew that now wasn’t the right time to bring up the subject of Caspian and Harry’s identity swap with Galatea. There were too many complicated feelings involved, and with everything else going on, it would only add to the confusion.
After Galatea took the children to the amusement park, Alaric made the call to Marigold. She had just left Tranquil Valley mansion and was caught off guard when she saw Alaric’s name on the screen. Should she answer or not?
Joe, ever the cautious one, gave her a look that silently urged her to take the call. Reluctantly, she answered.
“Hello, Alaric,” Marigold’s voice was sweet, a stark contrast to her usual tone when dealing with him.
“Where’s Caspian?” Alaric asked without preamble.
Marigold’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected this question. “Why? Did you bring that woman back?”
“No,” Alaric replied, his voice sharp, “The situation has changed, so that plan is postponed. But I need to know where Caspian is right now.”
Marigold, a little taken aback by his tone, snapped, “What kind of tone is that? Are you interrogating me?”
“I’m not in the mood for this, Mom,” Alaric said firmly, his patience running thin. “I’ll ask one last time: Where is Caspian?”
Before Marigold could answer, Joe gave her another stern look, this time signaling her to comply.
After a moment of silence, Marigold begrudgingly relented. “At Tranquil Valley mansion. I’ll have Joe send you the location. But since you’ve postponed bringing that woman back, don’t bother me right now. I’m finally feeling better, so don’t upset me again.”
With that, she ended the call abruptly.
Once Alaric received the address from Joe, he wasted no time and drove straight to Tranquil Valley mansion. He couldn’t help but feel suspicious about Marigold’s secrecy. Her deliberate attempt to keep Harry hidden only made Alaric more certain that she didn’t want Galatea to find out about Harry’s role.
But with all that was going on, Alaric couldn’t focus on Marigold’s games. He had a bigger issue at hand: Cormac’s well-being.
When he arrived, he found Harry lounging lazily under a patio umbrella, being pampered by staff—fanning him and offering snacks. It was a scene of pure indulgence. Harry, looking up at Alaric’s arrival, seemed surprised.
“Daddy? Why are you here?” he asked, his voice light.
Alaric smiled warmly despite the tension. “I missed you, so I came to see you. How’s your bone fracture healing? Does it still hurt?”
Harry grinned. “With over twenty doctors around me every day, treating me, it hasn’t hurt for a long time. Marigold just came by and tried to get me to stay longer, but I wanted to leave. This place is completely isolated—no cell service or anything.”
Alaric nodded. “Well, you must be feeling quite lonely. Let’s get you out of here.”
Harry’s face lit up. “Really? That sounds great! I haven’t seen Mommy in so long. I miss her.”
“I’ll take you to see her,” Alaric promised, picking Harry up and carrying him toward the car.
As they drove down the mountain, Alaric casually asked, “How’s life been for you here? Bored yet?”
Harry let out an exaggerated sigh. “Of course! The place is beautiful, but it’s so isolated. It’s like being stuck in a primitive time.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow. “You’ve always been good at handling solitude. Doesn’t it bother you now?”
Harry hesitated. “Well… I’ve changed. I didn’t mind being alone before, but now I do. Is that so strange?”
Alaric’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Not at all. You’ve changed a lot. Your illness is gone, you talk more, and now you complain about being bored? You really have changed.”
Harry shot him a confused look. “Daddy, what’s all this about? Why are you saying these things?”
Alaric’s smile deepened, but his tone turned pointed. “You know exactly why I’m saying it.”
Harry blinked. “I don’t understand.”
Alaric’s eyes glinted with unspoken knowledge. “Really? You don’t understand, Harry?”