Chapter 8 Swapping Identities Again
After hanging up the phone, Alaric stood by the window, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. That Caspian was really getting out of hand!
Meanwhile, in a corner of the villa district, Harry was hiding behind some bushes like a scared kitten, barely daring to breathe.
He watched as the uniformed men searched back and forth, his palms sweating with anxiety. Only when they were far away did he dare to peek out.
"Mr. Caspian Knight! You're finally back!" A sharp-eyed servant screamed as if discovering a new continent and rushed over.
Harry was stunned. Why was this person rushing over?
Before he could react, the servant had already checked him from head to toe, her tone a mix of surprise and joy. "Mr. Caspian Knight, how could you run off alone? Mr. Alaric Knight will be furious!"
Harry was bewildered. What was going on?
He opened his mouth to explain but swallowed his words. It was better to see what was happening first.
It wasn't his first time here, so he knew his way around.
Alaric strode into the living room and immediately spotted Harry, a spitting image of a younger version of himself.
He rushed over and scooped Harry up, his voice a mix of urgency and anger. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there? What if something happened to you?"
Harry was so startled by the sudden scolding. He tried to struggle, but Alaric held him tightly.
"I'm not..." Harry wanted to say he wasn't his son, but Alaric wasn't listening.
"Enough, don't say anything. Just come with me!" Alaric carried Harry inside with long strides.
Harry was completely confused by the situation. He was carried into the villa, his eyes wide with amazement.
This place was hundreds of times bigger than his tiny apartment! Crystal chandeliers, leather sofas, and all those respectful servants made Harry feel like he had entered a palace.
"I think I have amnesia," Harry said, sitting on the soft sofa, trying to look pitiful, his voice barely a whisper.
Alaric frowned. Amnesia? What kind of trick was this?
"What don't you remember?" he asked in a deep voice.
"I don't remember who I am," Harry's voice was even softer, but his eyes were darting around, sneaking glances at Alaric's reaction.
Alaric's face darkened. This was no joke. He immediately called the family doctor. "Get here immediately! Caspian might have hit his head!"
Meanwhile, the real Caspian was dragging Galatea around the villa district.
"Mommy, I want to eat at that restaurant we went to last time! Now! Right now!" Caspian suddenly stopped, looking up with a face that brooked no refusal.
Galatea looked at her son's face, her heart melting. She crouched down and pinched his cheek. "Alright, I'll take you there. You can eat as much as you want, but we have to bring some back for Elisa."
She had no idea that the Harry beside her was actually Caspian.
The two of them hailed a cab and drove off, leaving the Knight Mansion in chaos.
The Knight family's private medical team arrived quickly and gave Harry a thorough examination.
"Mr. Alaric Knight, Mr. Caspian Knight is in perfect health," the doctor said confidently after removing his stethoscope.
"Then why does he have amnesia?" Alaric pointed at the bewildered Harry, wishing he could pry open his skull to see inside.
"Well," the doctor scratched his head, "it could be temporary amnesia from shock. Kids have quirky brains; it's quite normal."
Alaric's brow furrowed deeply. He stared at Harry, feeling very puzzled.
"Mr. Caspian Knight, why don't you go to your room and see if it jogs your memory?" Joe suggested from the side.
Harry, eager for a chance to be alone, nodded quickly.
Alaric personally took Harry to the room.
The room was as big as a playground, with toys piled high, but Harry's attention was drawn to a photo on the wall.
In the photo, a little boy stood by the window, holding a rope made from bed sheets, grinning proudly, like a scene from a crime!
Harry suddenly understood. Caspian had climbed out the window to escape!
An idea formed in his mind.
He took out his smartwatch and sent a message to Galatea: [Mommy, everything's fine here. Just wait and see!]
He decided to go along with it and pretend to be Caspian, playing the role to the end!
At the same time, the real Caspian, who was enjoying a feast with Galatea, saw the message Harry sent to Galatea.
He looked at Galatea and quietly deleted the message, deciding to continue pretending to be Harry and play a game of identity swap!
"Mommy, will you always love me, no matter what I become?" Caspian asked eagerly, his mouth still greasy from the food, his eyes filled with unease and hope.
Galatea was taken aback, then felt a warm rush in her heart. She gently wiped the grease from his mouth. "Of course, you're my precious. No matter what you become, my heart will always be with you."
Caspian felt a mix of emotions at her affirmation.
He wasn't like the naive Harry. His mother's love felt like a fairy tale to him.
He began to observe Galatea quietly.
Her clothes were rough and old, even worse than what the Knight family's servants wore.
He looked around the small apartment, with its old furniture and simple decor, a stark contrast to the Knight family's luxurious villa.
The huge disparity made Caspian feel very uncomfortable.
"Mommy, are we poor?" Caspian asked cautiously, afraid of touching a sore spot.
Galatea paused slightly, not expecting such a question from her son.
She forced a smile and patted his head. "We're not poor. We have each other, and that's the most precious wealth."
Caspian didn't say anything more. He quietly ate his barbecue, his mind busy with his own plans.
In the kitchen, Elisa was helping Galatea wash dishes. She suddenly pointed to the oversized pajamas Caspian had taken off. "Mommy, whose pajamas are these? They're so big, like a giant bag!"
Caspian's heart skipped a beat. Those pajamas were what he wore when he escaped from the Knight Mansion, and he hadn't had a chance to deal with them. Now, Elisa had found something amiss.
"Those are my old pajamas. They've stretched out over time," Caspian stammered.