Chapter 12 Harry Sees Right Through It

"Is this my mom?" Harry looked at Orion doubtfully and frowned. This woman was nothing like his mother in looks. The man's taste was seriously questionable.

"Yeah, I'm your mom. I heard you hit your head; I was so worried. How are you feeling now? Does it still hurt?" Orion approached, attempting to touch his head, but Harry swiftly dodged it.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Thanks for your concern, Mom."

Hearing this, Alaric couldn't help but smile contentedly. The kid was finally speaking politely to Orion.

"If you're not in pain, that's great. My dear son, go and play. Call me if you need anything," Orion suggested warmly.

"Okay!"

The mansion was remarkably huge; it would take some time to explore the entire place. Harry needed to familiarize himself with his new surroundings.

As Liona accompanied Harry upstairs, Orion turned to Alaric with a meek expression. "I never imagined Caspian would accept me one day. I've even canceled all my appointments recently. Since Caspian isn't resisting me now, I guess I can stay here, right?"

Alaric gave his tacit approval.

Orion beamed with joy. "That's wonderful!"

"Kids are genuine; they reciprocate kindness, and the reverse is true as well," Alaric lectured, his face stern. "Caspian's condition is caused by you. You honestly need to reflect on how you've treated him."

Orion felt a surge of hatred toward Caspian and Mrs. Marigold. Why on earth did Mrs. Marigold insist on keeping that brat around? However, she didn't dare voice her resentment; she needed to use Caspian to her advantage.

"I understand," Orion lowered her head, feigning remorse. "I've been reflecting on how I've failed as a mother. From now on, I'll cherish him, even if it means setting aside all my work just to be there for him."

"Make sure that you do," Alaric said, heading towards the door. "I'm off to the office. Take good care of Caspian. If something happens to him again, I won't let you off the hook!"

"Got it," Orion replied, escorting him to the door. "Don't worry about work, Alaric. I'll take care of Caspian."

After watching Alaric drive away, Orion's gaze turned cold as she looked upstairs.

Harry had roamed around the villa, eventually tiring himself out. Checking the time, he found it strange that he had been gone so long without his mom or Elisa noticing.

Seizing the chance during a bathroom break, he called Elisa, who was out shopping with their mother and Caspian.

"Hello?"

"Elisa, it's me!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. "I've got to tell you something shocking—but don't freak out."

Elisa glanced at Caspian browsing clothes in the store and sighed. Cutting off Harry, she said, "Let me guess, you've found my brother's smartwatch, haven't you?"

Just moments before, Caspian's bare wrist prompted Galatea to ask about the smartwatch. Caspian casually mentioned he'd lost it and that his attempt to call it had failed.

Harry paused, bewildered. What did she mean?

"If you found it, we're grateful, but why impersonate my brother? Trying to scam us? Well, too bad—We’re broke."

Harry was utterly confused.

"All right, I'm busy. Just return my brother's smartwatch, okay?" Elisa hung up.

"Who was that?" Galatea inquired.

"Some scam artist," Elisa remarked. "Tried to sound like Harry, and it was pretty convincing."

Caspian stayed silent. Could it truly be Harry himself?

Harry was left holding the phone, puzzled. ‘A scam artist? How did he turn into a scam artist? How could Elisa not even recognize his voice?’

Caspian had taken off just before his mother arrived home, and the Knight family had scoured the neighborhood until they found him. Was it possible that Caspian had impersonated himself and returned home with his mom?

How could these parents be so incompetent? Could they not even tell their own son apart from an impostor?

And Elisa, she really broke his heart. But what's done is done.

Harry stepped out of the bathroom and into the foyer, only to find Orion lounging comfortably on the couch, her legs being massaged by the maid while she rolled a facial massager over her skin.

"Where's Dad?" he asked.

"At the office," Orion replied dismissively, a hint of disdain in her voice. "Your dad is a big shot in the business world, always busy. You don't expect him to hang around the house all day, do you?"

Harry was taken aback. Caspian's mom had two faces—one for when her husband was around and another behind his back. But he wasn't Caspian. If this woman turned out to be bad news, he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve to deal with her.

Meanwhile, the real Caspian was quietly shopping at the mall with Galatea and Elisa.

"Harry, why so quiet?" Galatea noticed the unusual silence.

"Yeah, it's like he's had a soul switch, from chatterbox to cool and aloof," Elisa chimed in.

Caspian offered a shy smile and replied, "Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to listen to Mom and Elisa. Mom, that dress earlier looked gorgeous on you. Why didn't you buy it?"

"It was beautiful but too pricey," Elisa interjected quickly. "Mom probably didn't want to splurge."

Back when she had left for the States with her two children, she was penniless, and that year was incredibly tough. Fortunately, her credentials and medical expertise landed her a job with a prestigious research institute in the United States with a hefty paycheck.

But between taking care of her health, raising two kids, and daily expenses; there wasn't much left for savings. Just as she was about to be promoted to be the youngest team leader in the institute's history and her health finally restored, she shocked everyone by quitting and returning home. Only she understood that nothing was more important than finding her son.

So, back home, times were tough, and years of struggles had taught her to be frugal.

"I have plenty of beautiful dresses. I'm not missing that one," Galatea said with a laugh. "You two, just tell me what you want, and I'll buy it for you."

Caspian felt a pang in his heart at her words. Looking up, he saw a bank across the street from the mall.

"Mom, you guys go ahead and shop around. I need to use the restroom. It might take a while, so don't wait for me," Caspian said before dashing off.

Elisa couldn't help but make a remark, "Harry still loves to wander off on his own."