Chapter 11 A Hint of Disappointment

"If I didn't have a wife, where do you think you would come from?" Alaric responded helplessly to the question.

Having cleared that up, Harry felt a twinge of disappointment. Certainly, he and Caspian weren't long-lost twins after all.

But how could they look so alike?

"One last question." Harry looked at Alaric. "Why did I run away from home?"

‘Caspian's amnesia is real; he doesn't remember any of this, which is probably for the best—especially forgetting Galatea,’ Alaric thought to himself. "You weren't eating properly, and I lost my temper and scolded you."

"Over that?"

Alaric nodded.

‘Caspian, is that sensitive? My mom must have disciplined him countless times, yet they're still very close. He never even thought about running away from home,’ Harry thought. ‘The kids who grow up in wealthy families sure are fragile.’

"Now that I know what I need to do, can I see my grandma and mom?" He wanted to meet these people first, then dig deeper into whether his resemblance to Caspian was just a coincidence or if there were other secrets.

"Your grandma is on vacation abroad and can't come back now."

"Wow, my grandma really knows how to live it up. What about my mom?" Harry asked. "Is she out of the country, too?"

"No," Alaric said, "I'll contact her right away. You'll see her very soon."

"All right, Dad!"

"Then you go ahead and eat," Alaric said.

"Sure thing, I'm starving." Harry hadn't had breakfast since he took off with Galatea, and now he was so hungry he could barely talk.

Sitting at the dinner table, Harry was stunned by the spread before him. He looked at Alaric in amazement and asked, "Is all this for me?"

"Yes."

Harry was shocked. Wealthy people sure knew how to dine in luxury—laying out such a feast for just one kid.

"Dad, don't prepare so much next time; I can't eat it all."

Alaric was taken aback by this since Caspian, having special dietary restrictions, couldn't eat as he pleased. Alaric had always tried to give Caspian as many options as possible so he wouldn't feel deprived.

Harry turned his gaze to Liona, "Liona, why don't you join these lovely ladies and have a seat to dine with us?"

Liona was visibly flustered and quickly replied, "You are the master, and we are but servants. How can we sit at the same table and eat with you? It would not be proper!"

Harry was genuinely puzzled. Mia, their nanny, was treated with maternal reverence by his mother. Why were there so many rules here?

Harry spoke up definitively, "Since you call me master, my word is law in this house. So, my rule is the rule. I want you to sit and dine with me—understand?"

Liona, upon hearing this, seemed frozen with uncertainty before she turned to Alaric, asking hesitantly, "Mr. Knight, may we?"

"Just do as he says."

"Yes, sir." Accordingly, Liona and the maids took their places at the table, accompanying Harry for the meal.

"This truly is a feast fit for a king; it's exactly the lavish meal Elisa has been craving," Harry thought to himself. "If Elisa knew he was here enjoying all of this alone, she'd be very upset. He'd have to make sure Elisa got to enjoy it too!"

"Dad, may I bring a friend over to the house to hang out?"

A friend? Alaric was taken aback. "Do you even have friends?"

The usually solitary Caspian with a friend was an unexpected revelation.

"Why can't I have friends?" Harry was perplexed by the question. He had always been well-liked at school, beloved by teachers and fellow students alike.

Alaric found it hard to believe, and another question surfaced. "Caspian, if you're amnesiac, how do you remember your friend?"

"Maybe I have selective amnesia? I only remember her name as Elisa; I've forgotten everything else. We resemble each other quite a bit."

Alaric then asked Liona, "Did Caspian have a classmate like that?"

Liona looked just as puzzled as he was.

"I have so many classmates; how could you possibly know each one?" Harry responded, "Dad, you still haven't answered my question. Can I invite Elisa over to hang out?"

"Of course!" The idea that Caspian had made a friend delighted Alaric; how could he object? "Enjoy your meal then. I'll go and give your mother a call."

The little guy had taken a bump on the head, sadly resulting in amnesia, but it seemed to have brightened his personality considerably.

When Orion saw the incoming call from Alaric, she couldn't believe it and hastily answered, "Hello, Alaric."

"Caspian wants to see you; come home immediately."

"Caspian wants to see me?" Orion was astounded, "How is that possible?"

"It's a long story, but to put it briefly, Caspian hit his head and ended up with amnesia. In other words, he's forgotten everything from his past. This is your golden opportunity. If you can't make Caspian fall for you now, don't bother coming back home!" With that, Alaric hung up the phone.

Amnesia? Orion had her doubts.

"That little scoundrel's always causing trouble," Orion muttered with disdain for Caspian, tired of his antics. If it weren't for the need to charm Alaric, she wouldn't even bother giving Caspian the time of day.

Mrs. Marigold had spun a tall tale for Alaric, and in the guise of Caspian's mother, Orion had adopted the fictitious identity of Mrs. Knight. But a lie, no matter how well crafted, remains a lie.

She still hadn't quite figured out if her scheming had paid off or if she was at a loss.

"Forget it. I'll endure it for now. To marry Alaric, I can put up with anything," Orion said to her reflection as she primped in the mirror. "After the wedding, I'll find a way to get rid of Caspian, and everything will be perfect." A smug smile crept across her lips at the thought.