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Chapter 10 After the Exchange

Still uneasy even after hopping into the taxi with Galatea, Caspian couldn't stop glancing back.

"Mom," he called out to Galatea. "You love me, right? No matter what happens, you won't abandon me, will you?"

Hearing the question, Galatea laughed gently, "Why the sudden doubt? I'm your mom. Even if the sky fell, I'd never leave you."

Caspian felt a surge of emotion at her words, his eyes brimming with tears. Orion had never said anything like that to him. "Thanks, Mom!"

Galatea chuckled and tapped the top of his head lightly.

After getting out of the car, Galatea held Caspian's hand as they entered the apartment building. Caspian had led a sheltered life, his world limited to a strict routine between school and home, and he hadn't ventured much elsewhere.

The modest apartment seemed foreign to him. Was this really where his mom lived? Was she living in poverty?

Once inside, Caspian observed his surroundings. The place was smaller than he had anticipated, but the thought of living with the mother he held dear in his heart made any place acceptable.

"Mia, give me a hand. I'm going to grill some barbecue for Harry and Elisa," Galatea called out after changing her footwear.

"Awesome!" Elisa burst out of her room at the mention of barbecued food. "Mom's cooking—I can't wait!"

Caspian watched the joyous Elisa. Was this Harry's little sister? She was so fortunate and incredibly cute, too.

Galatea and Mia changed clothes and retreated to the kitchen, and a curious Elisa sidled up to Caspian, whispering, "Did Mom scold you?"

Caspian didn't quite grasp her meaning but shook his head anyway. "No, Mom's really kind."

"Really? She didn't discipline you?" Elisa sounded genuinely surprised. "You've sneaked out twice already, and Mom didn't even scold you? Has she gotten that mellow?"

Caught off guard, Caspian grew more anxious. It wasn't some delusion; his mother truly had a son who bore a striking resemblance to him. He realized that both times, his mom had mistaken him for her real son.

What would happen if her actual son returned? His charade would be exposed then. How would he handle it?

"You tracked Mom down in your pajamas?" Elisa inquired, touching the fabric of his nightwear. "I've never seen these before. They're so soft. Did you buy them without telling me? Where did you get the money?"

As Caspian grappled with the barrage of questions, Elisa suddenly sprang up. "Did you steal my piggy bank savings?"

She dashed to her room, calling out, "Harry, if you dare to take my savings, I'll tell Mom!"

Caspian followed her into the bedroom to witness her pour a pile of coins from a piggy bank, counting them meticulously. He didn't understand the fuss.

"Do you really need to save this little amount?" he asked plainly, puzzled.

Caspian was insensitive to the concept of money. His allowances were always hefty sums, six figures, and always just numbers on a card—cash was an entirely alien concept to him.

"Harry, I'm already over four hundred dollars in the hole, and you're calling it chump change?" Elisa was livid. "You said that fancy restaurants in Arizona have a starting price of $320 per person. We could have gotten a half-price deal for the two of us, and this money would have covered a lavish meal for both of us!"

Could a meal for $320 be considered luxurious? Caspian had his doubts, but now wasn't the time to voice them.

After counting the money, Elisa found nothing missing and breathed a sigh of relief, considerably more at ease.

"Harry, you sneakily bought yourself nice pajamas and didn't get me any?" she accused.

"You like these pajamas?" he asked.

"Yes, they’re so soft."

"Then I'll buy you some." Despite having left home with nothing, he knew his dad had set up a bank account for him. He could simply go to the bank, use face recognition, and transfer money when it was safe. "How many do you want?"

"Just one will do."

"All right. Anything else you need? I'll get it for you," he promised.

Elisa fell silent.

Then, scrutinizing him from head to toe with shock, Elisa inquired, "Harry, you seem like an entirely different person all of a sudden?"

"Did she notice?" Caspian swallowed nervously, then quickly assured her, "No, you're my sister. Of course, I want to spoil you."

‘Would Harry say something like that?’ Elisa pondered.

Just as Elisa was about to ask something else, Galatea called from outside, "Dinner's ready!"

Hearing this, Caspian let out a quiet breath of relief and hurried out. They sat down together, ready to eat.

"It's my first time making this—let me know what you think?" Galatea asked, eagerly awaiting their judgment.

"It's delicious," Caspian remarked after a taste, finding it even better than the barbecue he'd had before.

"So good!" Elisa nodded enthusiastically. "Mom, you're amazing—a one-in-a-million lady, truly a rare find!"

Hearing Elisa speak so fondly, Caspian couldn't help but smile. The atmosphere was so comfortable, unlike his own home, where strict rules forbade speaking at the dining table.

Seeing the kids so content made Galatea happy, too, yet she couldn't fully conceal her worries.

She couldn't get back into Serenity Heights Medical Center, and finding her son seemed only possible through Mrs. Marigold. But how could she approach her?

"Is this my grandmother?" Harry was pointing to Mrs. Marigold's photograph in an album, showing it to Alaric.

"Yes."

Harry had gone through the photos several times. There were not many photos of Caspian, but even he was startled at the resemblance—it was uncanny.

No wonder Alaric was confused; he was reeling himself. Wasn't that his own photo?

"So, I have a grandma, a dad, and a mom?"

"Yes."

Harry fell silent. ‘How is this different from the novels? This guy, Caspian, looks so much like him—I bet he thought he was his long-lost brother. And he has his own real parents?’ he wondered to himself.

"Do you have a wife?" Harry asked seriously.

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