Chapter 178: A Shocking Encounter
Marigold reached out and gently touched Caspian’s face. “It’s really shocking,” she murmured. “You look exactly like Caspian—so alike!”
The chill that ran through Caspian at her touch was unmistakable. Marigold had never been kind to him, nor had she ever shown any genuine affection. Her sudden interest made him cautious, and he instinctively stepped in front of Elisa, shielding her.
He narrowed his eyes and asked sternly, “Who are you, and what do you want with us?”
Elisa, confused and frightened, hid behind Caspian and added, “This is the school. If you’re trying to kidnap us, I’ll call security right now.”
Marigold, whose traditional values prioritized male children, was taken aback by Elisa’s presence. Among the triplets, Elisa stood out as a rare girl, making her even more precious in Marigold’s eyes. She couldn’t resist reaching toward Elisa, saying, “You’re Elisa, aren’t you? So adorable, with such a soft little face. Let me give you a kiss.”
Before Marigold could touch her, Caspian intervened sharply. “Don’t touch my sister!”
His tone was icy and commanding as he continued, “If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!”
Marigold’s expression softened as she tried to explain. “I’m not a bad person. I’m your grandmother.”
Just as things were escalating, Auntie Lynn arrived to pick up the children. Seeing the tension between Marigold and the kids, she hurried over, pulling Harry and Elisa away from her.
Recognizing Marigold, Auntie Lynn scowled. “You came to the house looking for Miss Hartley before, and now you’re here at the school gate looking for Harry and Elisa? What exactly do you want?”
“I’m their grandmother,” Marigold replied, her voice trembling with frustration. “What else would I want?”
Joe stepped forward quickly, whispering in Marigold’s ear, “Mrs. Marigold, take it easy. We’ll do this step by step. Don’t scare the children.”
“This is absurd!” Marigold fumed. She couldn’t understand why she was being treated this way. After all, she was their real grandmother. “I have every right to take them home.”
Joe tried to calm her again. “It’s important to let Harry and Elisa recognize you on their own terms. We’re not kidnapping them, just trying to build trust. Don’t rush things.”
Marigold’s frustration boiled over, but she forced herself to take a breath. “I can’t scare the children. I need to be a kind grandmother,” she muttered to herself. She then turned to Joe and asked, “I saw in their records that their surname is Storm, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Joe confirmed. “They are related to Stellan Storm, who raised them.”
“But they’re from the Knight family,” Marigold insisted. “They can’t keep that surname. Once they’re back, we’ll change it immediately.”
Her mind raced with concern. “Stellan Storm isn’t a suitable mother for them. She’s been neglecting them, and now she’s even letting an old woman come pick them up. It’s unsafe! We need to arrange a car and driver to take them home.”
Joe nodded. “Of course, Mrs. Marigold.”
“And this school!” Marigold continued, her voice rising. “It’s too ordinary! We can’t let the children stay here. We need to transfer them to Caspian’s school.”
“I understand,” Joe replied, trying to keep pace with her demands.
“As for clothes and toys, I need to buy them everything they need. Go now and get as much as you can. We’ll shower them with everything.”
“Yes, Mrs. Marigold.”
Meanwhile, Auntie Lynn had already taken Caspian and Elisa back home. Once inside, Elisa turned to Harry, still confused.
“Harry, that woman… she said she’s our grandmother?”
“Don’t listen to her,” Caspian replied, his voice firm. “We don’t know what’s going on with her. Be cautious. She could be using us to get to Galatea. I don’t trust her. She has no good intentions.”
Elisa’s eyes widened. “She said you look exactly like someone, like Caspian. Is that true?”
Caspian shook his head, trying to put her at ease. “Not at all. Don’t listen to her nonsense. I don’t even think she knows who we really are. She’s just trying to confuse us.”
“But if you really looked like Dad’s biological son, wouldn’t he have said something by now?” Elisa said, trying to make sense of it all.
“Exactly,” Caspian agreed. “We’re not falling for her tricks. She’s not a good person, and we need to stay away from her.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Elisa said, reassured.
Caspian, still troubled, tried calling Harry, but his phone was off. He didn’t want to call the Knight family mansion in case Marigold picked up. “Harry… you unreliable guy,” he muttered to himself. “Where are you?”
Meanwhile, Galatea, who had slept through most of the day, woke up with a start. Her dream had been unsettling—Marigold’s harsh words echoing in her mind: “With your status, are you worthy of entering the Knight family? Get out, delusional woman!”
Galatea sat up in a panic, her breath quick and shallow. “What was that?” she murmured.
Alaric, who had been sleeping beside her, stirred at the noise. “What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
“Yes,” Galatea nodded, her voice shaky. “It felt so real.”
“Was it about me?” Alaric asked, his brow furrowing.
“No,” Galatea replied, taking a deep breath. “It was about your mother. She… she doesn’t like me. She doesn’t want me to be a part of your life.”
Alaric sighed but reached out to comfort her. “My mother is traditional, but it doesn’t matter. You’re marrying me, not her. That’s what matters.”
Galatea bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “I know, but it would be better if she approved. Family harmony is important.”
After a pause, she continued more decisively, “But she didn’t even show up today. She just left without saying a word. I shouldn’t let her dictate things. I need to take control.”
Alaric watched her thoughtfully, then nodded. “Okay, I understand. Tomorrow, after your medication reaction settles, we’ll go visit my family together. We’ve already confirmed our relationship, so it’s time to meet the rest of the family.”
“Yes,” Galatea agreed. “I need to meet your mother and Caspian.”
“Alright, I’ll take you home tomorrow,” Alaric said, his tone firm but gentle.