Chapter 15 The First Step of the Plan Completed with Finesse
The following morning, Harry awoke on Caspian's plush king-size bed, feeling utterly refreshed.
"Caspian, time to take your medicine," Alaric reminded him. He was worried because Caspian had skipped his medication all day yesterday and feared he might relapse.
"Dad, what the heck is wrong with me?" Harry was also extremely curious. What kind of illness could Caspian have?
"It's just a cold. You'll be fine once you take the medicine," Alaric mentioned, preferring not to bring up the past now that Caspian had amnesia.
"Dad, do I look sick to you? I'm bursting with energy." Harry flexed his muscles to make a point, "I'm all better now; no need for medicine, Dad."
"Ever since Caspian lost his memory, he's like a completely different person—lively and talkative. Maybe he truly is cured?" Alaric pondered. ‘Or maybe, if Orion isn't around, there's no chance of an episode?’
"All right," Since Caspian seemed fine, Alaric didn't insist on the medicine, "Caspian, let's have breakfast first."
Having made up his mind just now, Alaric watched his child head off to breakfast and decided to give Orion a call.
"Hey, Alaric, can I come back now?" Orion had calmed down and felt regretful. She knew if she had just endured a little longer, things would have been fine, yet the sight of that despicable brat made her lose control.
Given another chance, she was determined to seize it properly!
"I've decided to end our relationship from this moment on!" Alaric's voice was resolute.
"Alaric, what did you just say?" Orion's body went limp as she heard his words, "End our relationship? What do you mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like," Alaric was not in the mood to elaborate, "After I woke up, Caspian came into my life. I couldn't say no; I was willing to play the role of your husband for Caspian's sake, to give him a complete family. But it's clear to me that you can't be the mother he deserves, and he doesn't need a mom like you. So, there's no need to continue this charade of marriage. I'll raise Caspian on my own."
Without giving Orion a chance to respond, he hung up the phone, leaving her enraged. For six years, she had tolerated the disgust of pretending to be that despicable kid's mother, all to transition from Alaric's fake wife to his real wife. And now, Alaric was cutting ties so ruthlessly!
"That brat! I should have taken you out when I had the chance. You're nothing but trouble!" Orion was fuming.
She frantically tried to call Alaric, but he hung up on her, leaving her no choice but to call Mrs. Marigold. If there was one person in the world who could sway Alaric's decision, it had to be his mother.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is out of service."
"Out of service? Where the heck did Mrs. Marigold jet off for her vacation?" Orion tossed her phone aside in frustration. What was she supposed to do now? Were all her years of hard work going to unravel just like that?
No way! Absolutely not!
"Dad, how about we go stay in a hotel?" Harry suggested to Alaric after breakfast, initiating the plan he had hatched with Caspian.
"A hotel?" Alaric was puzzled. "Why should we go to a hotel? Aren't we comfortable enough at home?"
"Of course, it's not that; I just can't stand the sight of Orion. I'm afraid she'll bother me again, so why don't we just stay in a hotel?"
Before Alaric could respond, Harry began to cajole him, "Dad, it'll be like a father-son trip. I promise I'll behave!"
‘Ever since Caspian bumped his head, he seems like a changed person,’ Alaric thought to himself.
"All right." In the end, Alaric agreed, mainly because he was fed up with Orion's tearful confrontations. A hotel stay was just what he needed.
Alaric and Harry checked into the presidential suite at the hotel.
"Room 8808." Harry wasted no time in giving the number to Caspian. "It's up to you now if Mom can join us."
"Sure," Caspian responded simply.
"Mom!" Caspian ran up to Galatea and looked up at her, "Why haven't you been going to work lately?"
She had dreaded this question from the kids but knew she couldn't avoid it forever.
"I'm on a break for now. Why? Do you kids mind your mom not working?"
"Of course not," Caspian bit his lip. He honestly wasn't good at lying, but he had to continue, "Actually, I already know about you being let go from the hospital."
"What? How could you know that? A guess?" Galatea reckoned it made sense, considering Harry's brilliance. "I'm sorry, Harry, it's true. Are you disappointed in me?"
"Disappointed? No way!" Caspian replied. "I found out because I helped answer a call for you. It was from Serenity Heights Medical Center."
"Serenity Heights Medical Center called me?"
"Yeah, while you were in the shower," Caspian said. "Galen mentioned that losing you was a real shame, as you are quite talented. It seems like there's a tricky case right now that only you can handle."
"Is that so?" Galatea was skeptical. "With all the specialists and professors at Serenity Heights Medical Center, how can there be a patient that only I can cure?"
"He mentioned it's a unique case, and the patient can't come to the hospital. It requires a house call and utmost discretion. So, Galen thought, since you're not on the hospital roster right now, having you visit in person would keep it under the radar." Caspian's voice was serious.
"Room 8808 at Silver Star Hotel, that's where the patient is. It needs to be strictly confidential, and you must go alone, Galen insisted,” Caspian continued.
Galatea grabbed her phone, "This sounds suspicious. I'm going to call and confirm."
"Mom, you don't trust me?" Caspian feigned sadness. "It hurts that you feel the need to verify."
"Why are you so sensitive?"
Caspian tried to mimic Harry's speaking style, "No need to call, Mom. If you don't trust it, don't go. It's not a big deal."
"Fine, I won't call. I'll just go," Galatea decided. "Worst case, it's a wasted trip, no big loss."
"Awesome, you're the best, Mom!" Caspian immediately relayed the news to Harry, who was smug with a confident grin.
"This has to work!" Harry was brimming with confidence.