Chapter 5
As expected, the approach was direct.
“Do I really need to take off my clothes for the exam?” Alaric stood his ground, showing no intention of undressing.
“It’s not necessary, but it would make the examination easier. Since you prefer not to, we’ll skip it.” Galatea reluctantly advanced with the stethoscope in hand, muttering under her breath, “I’m going to reach in now.”
As she pressed the stethoscope to his chest through his shirt, Alaric suddenly seized her wrist with a force that made her wince. “What do you think you’re doing?” Galatea glared at him, her eyes flashing with fury.
“The question is, what are ‘YOU’ doing?” he shot back, his irritation growing. “Brainwashing my son and still playing the victim? Spare me.”
Galatea was momentarily stunned into silence. She’d dealt with many patients, but Alaric was something else entirely.
“Since you’re so reserved, Mr. Knight, perhaps you’d prefer a male doctor?” she suggested coldly. He had asked for her to perform his physical exam, yet refused her touch.
“Still pretending, I see.” Alaric’s expression darkened, his voice dripping with disdain. “Even after your visit to the police station, you still show no remorse? Are you begging to be locked up?”
‘What? He called the police?’ Galatea was taken aback.
Fuming, she set the stethoscope aside, her eyes turning icy. “What exactly are you implying? I’ve just returned to the States—how have I possibly offended you?”
Was he a concerned citizen now, or was there something more personal going on? She didn’t believe it was just professional.
“You don’t know what you’ve done?” Alaric huffed in disgust. “So unrepentant. I shouldn’t have bailed you out so easily!”
“This is ridiculous!” Galatea seethed. “I was simply having a meal with my son! How is that any of your business? First, you file a police report against me, and now you’re harassing me at my workplace? If you don’t stop this, I’ll be the one calling the police on YOU.”
“Your son?” Alaric’s voice was dangerously low, barely containing his rage. “You dare claim he’s your son?”
“He is my son! Why wouldn’t I say it?” Galatea shot back, anger flaring. “Mr. Knight, if you like children so much, get a wife and have your own. Coveting someone else’s child is disgusting!”
“Say that again!” Alaric’s eyes narrowed, blazing with fury as he stepped closer, forcing her into the corner. His towering presence was almost suffocating.
Galatea, although shaken, refused to back down. Was he delusional? What was wrong with him?
“He is my son!” she declared firmly, unyielding.
The room fell into a tense silence, where even breathing seemed too loud. Alaric loomed over her, his body taut with anger.
“Do you want to strangle me?” Galatea’s breath grew shallow, her pulse quickening.
Just then, the shrill ring of a phone cut through the tension, and Alaric’s frown deepened as he answered it.
“Mr. Knight! Caspian is having an episode!”
Alaric froze, his face tight with concern. Caspian hadn’t had an episode in nearly a year. He’d been so careful; how could this be happening now? “We’ll settle this later!” he snapped before turning and storming out.
Galatea let out a sigh of relief, muttering to herself, “What a jerk.”
Alaric raced back to the mansion without pause. As his car pulled into the driveway, a woman in a light dress, with sandy wavy hair and heels, hurried toward him.
It was Orion. Her face was etched with anxiety as she called out weakly, “Alaric.”
Without sparing her a glance, Alaric walked past and entered the house, where chaos awaited. The floor was littered with broken items.
Caspian sat against the sofa, his eyes blazing with defiance, a stark contrast to his usual obedient demeanor.
“Caspian,” Alaric said softly, moving to pick him up. But Caspian shoved him away with a forceful “Don’t touch me! Nobody touches me!”
During these episodes, Caspian’s secondary personality emerged, making him irritable and rebellious, often leading to self-harm. Alaric, though always gentle with him, knew he had to tread carefully.
“Okay, I won’t touch you,” Alaric said calmly, stepping back. He turned to the butler, his voice now demanding. “What happened?”
“Mr. Knight,” Liona glanced nervously at Orion, “It was just Ms. Nash and Caspian in the lobby. We have no idea what set this off, but soon after, this happened.”
“I didn’t do anything, I swear,” Orion protested, bewildered. “I don’t know why Caspian’s like this.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to return?” Alaric’s tone was stern, causing Orion to flinch. Her voice wavered with a touch of frustration, “I just bought Caspian his favorite dessert. I thought he might like it.”
“Get out!” Alaric barked, his voice brokering no argument. Orion stood frozen for a moment, a mixture of anger and defiance in her eyes, but with Alaric’s demand, she left. “Wait!”
Orion’s eyes brightened at the command, thinking she might be allowed to stay.
“Call Cormac. Tell him to come here immediately!” Alaric ordered.
Cormac, Orion’s brother, was a well-known psychologist and had practically been Caspian’s personal doctor since his condition first manifested. As Caspian’s condition had stabilized, Cormac’s visits had become less frequent.
“Got it,” Orion replied reluctantly before exiting to make the call.
“Caspian, she’s gone. Take your medicine,” Alaric said, holding the medication in his hand. As he offered it to Caspian, the boy violently snatched it away and scattered the pills across the floor before shoving Alaric.
“You liar!” Caspian’s emotions exploded. “You promised that if I behaved, you’d let her be my mom! But now you brought her back! I’ve told you a hundred times—she’s NOT my mother!”
Caspian’s shove had caused Alaric to cut his hand on the shards scattered on the floor. Blood began to trickle from the wound.
“Mr. Knight!” The household staff gasped at the sight of the injury, panic in their voices, but Alaric’s cold glare silenced them all. It was clear he had reached his breaking point.
“You don’t get to choose who your mother is,” Alaric’s voice thundered. “No matter how much you like that woman, she isn’t your mother. And no matter how much you dislike Orion, she is your mother. Do you hear me?”
“I don’t want her!” Caspian shouted, trembling as he stood his ground, eyes blazing. “I’ll choose my own mother. I’ll never accept Orion!”
His words echoed with defiance and pain.
“Caspian!” Alaric’s fury surged, his hand rising in a swift motion. But Caspian didn’t flinch. His gaze locked with his father’s, defiant to the end.
“Even if you beat me to death, I won’t accept her as my mother!” Caspian screamed, his voice raw with emotion.