Chapter 3 I Want Her to Be My Mom

Nexus Innovations Conference Room.

The atmosphere surrounding Alaric became ominously heavy after he hung up the phone. His piercing gaze was intimidating.

"Caspian's gone?" he asked.

Although they weren't face to face, the deadly seriousness in his voice made his assistant, Silas Moon, extremely anxious over the phone.

"After the check-up with Caspian, he said he needed to use the restroom, and then he just vanished."

Today's meeting was crucial, and Alaric couldn't leave, so he had entrusted Silas Moon to accompany Caspian for a follow-up appointment.

"Rubbish!" Alaric barked, "Get all the surveillance from Serenity Heights Medical Center on screen. I'm heading there now!"

"Yes, Mr. Knight." Silas Moon responded.

Alaric raced to Serenity Heights Medical Center at breakneck speed. After fast-forwarding through the security footage, Silas Moon finally spotted Caspian.

"Mr. Knight, we've got something!" Silas Moon blurted out as Alaric strode in. "Caspian was taken by a woman from the restroom. I've already called the cops!"

Alaric's gaze turned icy as he stared at the figure of Galatea on the monitor, an intense fury was rising in his eyes.

Did that woman dare lay her hands on his son? She was as good as dead!

Meanwhile, Caspian, following Galatea out of the hospital, made sure that Silas Moon wasn't tailing them before he relaxed. Clutching Galatea's hand, he said, "Mom, I'm hungry."

"Hungry? Did you run out without eating? What would you like?" Galatea asked.

Caspian always had his diet strictly controlled by Alaric; a nutritionist drew up his daily menu, leaving him no choice in what he ate.

"Whatever you take me to is good with me." Although it was their first meeting, there was an inexplicable sense of closeness and safety with Galatea.

"Okay then, how about some Arizona barbecue? I've always loved it, and I've been craving it after being away for so long," Galatea suggested.

"Sure, I'll go wherever you say!" Caspian responded.

Galatea took him to a modest barbecue joint. It was Caspian's first time trying it, and after one bite, he found it delicious, far better than the delicacies his father fed him!

"Eat slowly; no one's going to take it from you," Galatea said gently before chiding him, "No matter how smart you are, you're still a kid. You're not familiar with Arizona, and it's dangerous for you to run off on your own. I should call Mia – she must be worried sick to find you missing."

As Galatea reached for her phone, Caspian quickly pressed her hand down, "She knows. It's my fault, don't blame anyone else. Please, don't be mad."

"Being so good at admitting your mistakes today?" Galatea mused to herself.

"I'm not mad." She laid the phone down. "Eat up, enjoy it. If you like it, I'll learn to make it at home for you and Elisa."

"Thanks, Mom."

Caspian kept eating, occasionally glancing at Galatea, feeling confused. How could she not have noticed he was not her real son after all this time?

Was it because the kid looked so much like her son, or did she share his intermittent bursts of delusion? Either way, she was just so tender. He adored that kind of mother!

After their meal, Galatea wiped his little mouth and took his hand to leave the diner when suddenly a group of uniformed officers rushed in, seizing her hands without a word, immobilizing her completely.

"We suspect you of child trafficking. You need to come with us!"

Galatea was stunned. Child trafficking? She was accused of a crime just for having a meal with her son.

"Isn't there some mistake? He is my son!"

"We'll talk at the station," the officer said, unyielding as they escorted Galatea to the patrol car. Caspian was shocked, too, rushing to the front of the car, pleading, "Let her go; she is my mom!"

But no one was listening. As a Rolls-Royce pulled up, the patrol car drove away quickly. Caspian couldn't get another word in before a looming figure overshadowed his small frame.

Alaric put Caspian in the car, scolding him before he could speak, "Caspian, what did I tell you? How could you leave with a stranger?"

From the surveillance footage, Alaric had seen Caspian willingly leave the hospital with that woman, which had startled him. For a moment, he feared she had drugged Caspian, though now it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Speak up!" Alaric grew angrier at Caspian's silence.

"I didn't want to see that woman," Caspian mumbled, looking down.

"Orion Nash is coming home today. After my check-up at the hospital, you could have seen her at home! She's your mother," Alaric stressed.

"She's not,” Caspian rebutted.

"She is!" Alaric insisted.

"I told you, she's not!" Caspian's voice grew agitated, "If she truly was my mom, why would she be scared of me? Why avoid me at night like I'm the plague? She doesn't love me at all. Her kindness is just to please you and Grandma; you both like her, but I just don't!"

Caspian's outburst left Alaric in silence, cautious not to trigger Caspian's condition, he conceded.

He pulled out his phone, dialed Orion's number, and said coldly, "Caspian's not in a good mood, don't come home today."

He ended the call and turned to Caspian with a softened gaze, "Is that better now?"

Caspian remained quiet, his eyes, glistening with innocence, looked at him.

"Even if you exactly don't like her, you can't just run off with a stranger. If you got lost, I'd be worried sick," Alaric said as he pulled Caspian close, trying to calm him.

"But she looks like Mom to me," Caspian pleaded with eyes full of innocence while looking at Alaric. "Dad, she's not a kidnapper. Please tell the cops to let her go. Don't hurt her."

Caspian's few words struck a chord with Alaric. Aside from his own family, the boy had always been rather detached, even towards his grandma, Orion.

"Come home with me. Take your medicine, and I'll let her go," coaxed Alaric.

Caspian nodded, "You have to keep your promise."

"Absolutely!"

At the police station, Galatea was furious, and her interrogation by the officers left her feeling utterly helpless.

"His name is Harry; he honestly is my son. I have proof!" Galatea showed the photos on her phone to the police officers.

There were many pictures of her with Harry and Elisa. The sight of these photos momentarily stunned the officers.

"You can verify it; these pictures are the real deal. If you're still not convinced, go ahead and do a DNA test. I'm not a kidnapper!" Galatea was hoarse from explaining the whole time from the vehicle to the station. What would it take for them to believe that they were mother and son?

After verifying the photos, the officers looked at Galatea, bewildered.

"Everyone knows Mr. Knight has a son, but the identity of the child's mother has always been a mystery. Rumors have swirled that Alaric and Orion have been secretly married, but due to their status, they never made it public."

"So, the child's mom isn't the famous actress Orion?"