Chapter 192: Alaric, Why Are You So Clueless?
Caspian left Nexus Innovations feeling utterly defeated. As he stepped out of the building, a wave of depression hit him.
“Harry, why are you so unreliable?” he thought, frustration bubbling up inside. “A bone fracture like that, and you don’t even think to check in with me? This is a total giveaway.”
As Caspian made his way home, Alaric was deep in thought. He couldn’t shake the confusion that had settled in his mind. After a while, he dialed the Knight family mansion.
“Where is Mr. Knight Junior?” Alaric asked the servant.
The servant replied, “Mr. Knight Junior was taken to the Knight family manor by Mrs. Marigold.”
Alaric’s thoughts immediately turned sharp. Marigold spoils Caspian so much. His fracture couldn’t have healed that quickly. She wouldn’t let him leave alone. But the child who just came must be Caspian. If he was not the one with the fracture, then it means that the one with Marigold must be Harry.
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Wait… the identities of Harry and Caspian have been swapped? Alaric’s mind raced as he tried to piece together when the switch had occurred.
He thought back to the first time Galatea had come to the Knight family mansion—that’s when it all started. Caspian’s personality disorder had been treated, and his behavior shifted drastically after that incident.
Alaric’s thoughts spiraled. Harry was the one who underwent the DNA test with me, but it was Caspian who had been by my side all along. I panicked when I realized Harry was my biological son. The whole thing’s been chaotic, and I never saw it.
He stood still, feeling both incredulous and foolish. How could I have been so clueless?
Alaric quickly picked up the phone again, dialing Silas. “Go to Serenity Heights Medical Center immediately. Look up a case from six years ago named Stellan Storm. Check if the cause of death listed is difficult childbirth, and whether there were two children who died?”
“Got it, Mr. Alaric,” Silas responded, already on his way.
Alaric hesitated to ask Galatea directly; it would only bring pain. What if Mrs. Marigold lied about Galatea’s death?
As he pondered, a feeling of bittersweet affection washed over him when he thought of Galatea. She was the woman he had always wanted to marry, and now, it turned out she was the mother of his children. It felt like fate. No wonder Caspian had always been so attached to her. And Harry… and Elisa—they were triplets, his own children. It was all so miraculous.
Alaric’s spirits lifted as his mind calmed, and surprisingly, the side effects of the medication seemed to ease. It was strange how a positive outlook could make such a difference.
Just then, the door to the lounge opened, and Galatea walked in, her head down. She had walked back in a daze, struggling with her thoughts. She had gone out for some fresh air, but now, it seemed like nothing made sense.
Alaric looked at her softly. “How are you?”
She gave a faint smile, but it was clear she wasn’t fine. “I’m fine. I stayed longer at the shop. How are you feeling? Is the discomfort easing?”
Alaric smiled, his mood lifted. “I feel great now. I don’t even feel the side effects anymore.”
Galatea raised an eyebrow. “Don’t try to be brave. This reaction is worse than the last time.”
She glanced at the clock. “It’s almost evening. You didn’t eat lunch. If you’re not hungry, I’ll make some cream of mushroom soup for you. Didn’t you say you liked the one I made last time?”
Alaric started to protest, “No need for—”
“Even if you don’t want it, you should eat.” Galatea interrupted him, her tone gentle but firm. “I’ll make the soup. Wait for me, it’ll be ready soon.”
Before Alaric could respond, she was already leaving the room. He sat there, a bit helpless. He really wanted to tell her he felt fine and that a regular dinner would suffice, but Galatea wasn’t having any of it.
He sighed contentedly. Let her do as she pleases, he thought. Galatea is mine for life now—she can’t run away.
Meanwhile, Caspian was far from happy. Although he liked Alaric a lot, his heart ached for the time he spent with Galatea and Elisa. He’d much rather be Harry than Caspian, especially now that the truth was starting to unravel.
The fear of the upcoming revelation loomed over him. He would have to go back to the Knight family mansion soon, but what if things didn’t work out the way he hoped? Alaric and Galatea were always together, but the adults’ words felt unreliable. They talked about getting married, but there was still no actual plan. If they never married, would Caspian ever get to see Galatea and Elisa again? The thought made him feel hopeless.
“What’s wrong, Harry? Did you lose miserably at basketball?” Elisa’s voice pulled him out of his dark thoughts as she noticed his downcast expression.
“No,” Caspian muttered, though the sadness lingered in his voice.
Elisa raised an eyebrow. “Then what happened? Did someone beat you up?”
“No,” Caspian said again, but he couldn’t stop the frustration from welling up inside. He wanted to tell her the truth, but how could he? The revelation would surely shock her.
“Then what’s wrong?” Elisa asked, her face full of concern.
Caspian hesitated, then sighed. “Elisa, come with me. I need to tell you something. It’s important.”
Elisa’s curiosity piqued, she followed him into the study, where he closed the door behind them.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are you being so mysterious? Did you really get a girlfriend or something?”
Caspian shot her a frustrated look. “Can you stop thinking about that? This is serious. I need to tell you something really bizarre. It might shock you, but I swear it’s the truth.”
Elisa looked at him, intrigued. “Okay, spill it. What is it?”
Caspian took a deep breath, then said it all in one go. “The truth is, I’m not Harry. We look exactly alike, so we swapped identities. Your brother is at my place right now. My real name is Caspian.”
He looked at her, expecting her to be shocked, but Elisa didn’t react the way he anticipated. She simply stared at him, calm and composed, as if she had already known.
“Did you hear what I said, Elisa?” Caspian asked, confused by her lack of response.
Elisa nodded slowly. “I heard you. You said your name is Caspian.”
Caspian’s mouth went dry. “Yes, I’m sorry, Elisa. I didn’t mean to deceive you, but I—”
“Harry, stop boasting,” Elisa cut him off, not even flinching. “Caspian is Dad’s biological son. He’s Mr. Knight Junior. A few days ago, I asked you if I might be a lost little princess, and you said I’m not from a wealthy family—I’m your little princess. So, if I’m not a princess from a wealthy family, does that make you a prince? Just because you were born a few minutes earlier, you think you’re nobler than me?”
Caspian stood there, stunned. He couldn’t believe his ears. Elisa already knew? How long had she known?
Her words hit him like a cold shower, and for the first time, Caspian realized that Elisa wasn’t as naive as he thought. She had already figured out the truth.