Chapter 2 Two Children Swap

Stellan took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the memories in the air and bury them deep within her heart.

She turned around, her face calm once more, but her eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

"Sorry about that. I have two kids myself, so I really like children," Stellan said softly, her tone flat.

"I see." Galen replied quickly, a nervous smile on his face, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

He stole a glance at Stellan, hoping to decipher her expression, but she remained remarkably composed, revealing nothing.

"Dr. Hartley, your office is ready. It's on the top floor."

In the office, a familiar figure made Stellan freeze in place, her body stiffening.

A boy of about six, his back to her, was engrossed in a medical journal on the desk. Despite his young age, he exuded a maturity beyond his years.

"Harry?" Stellan called out tentatively.

She could hardly believe it, her voice trembling as she struggled to control her emotions.

The young boy slowly turned around, his delicate facial features nearly identical to Harry's; however, those eyes conveyed a coldness and detachment uncharacteristic of one his tender age.

The boy didn't respond, just stared at her with deep, piercing eyes that seemed to see through everything.

"Mommy!" A clear, childish voice broke the suffocating silence.

Elisa Storm, like a joyful little bird, ran in and hugged Stellan, nuzzling her cheek affectionately.

"Mommy, why did you take so long? I've been waiting forever!" Elisa pouted, her voice sweet and playful.

She tilted her head and glanced at the boy, "Mommy, who is he? He looks so much like Harry! If Harry wasn't busy crunching numbers in the car, I'd think he teleported here! He said he overspent today and needs to do some serious calculations, so he definitely couldn't come."

Elisa pouted, clearly displeased.

Stellan looked at the boy again, a strong sense of unease rising within her.

"You're not Harry?" Stellan asked again, her tone urgent.

The boy remained silent, his eyes growing even deeper.

"Are you lost, little one?" Stellan endeavored to adopt a tender tone, lowering herself to the child's level as she met his eyes, striving to establish a cordial rapport with him.

The boy suddenly spoke, his voice cold and impatient, "Who are you?"

"Mommy, forget about him. Let's go; I'm hungry," Elisa tugged at Stellan's hand, trying to lead her away.

Stellan took one last deep look at the boy before turning and following Elisa out.

In the hallway, a man's anxious voice broke the hospital's tranquility.

"Mr. Caspian Knight! Mr. Caspian Knight! Where are you?"

The voice belonged to Joe Green, the Knight family's butler.

Stellan's heart sank, as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe.

Mr. Caspian Knight? Could that boy be a child of the Knight family?

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Elisa noticed Stellan's unease and asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Stellan forced a smile, trying to suppress her shock and anxiety. She quickened her pace towards the elevator.

At the hospital entrance, Mia Reed, the former Storm family butler, had been waiting for a while. Seeing Stellan and the kids, she hurried over.

"Hi, Mia!" Elisa called sweetly, her voice clear and pleasant.

Harry sat in the back seat, his head down, fingers flying over the keyboard, his expression focused.

"Overspent again?" Stellan asked softly as she got into the car.

"Yes," Harry replied curtly, sparing no words.

Stellan felt something was off with her son today.

"Mom, we made a ton of money today!" Elisa exclaimed excitedly, holding up a small, fancy bag stuffed with bills. "So many people wanted to take pictures with me and gave me lots of money!"

"Really? My Elisa is amazing!" Stellan lovingly patted Elisa's head, her eyes filled with pride and affection.

As the car slowly drove away from the hospital, Stellan's heart remained unsettled.

Who was that boy? A child of the Knight family?

Could he be the child she had fought to give birth to six years ago, only to have him cruelly taken away?

"Mom, what's wrong?" Harry asked as he sensed Stellan's emotional turmoil. He put down his keyboard and looked up, concerned.

"Nothing." Stellan shook her head, trying to hide her feelings.

"Mom, are you thinking about my brother?" Elisa suddenly snuggled into Stellan's arms, speaking softly, her voice cautious.

Stellan's heart ached sharply, like being pricked by a needle.

She indeed missed him. She missed him every moment.

She longed for the child who had been wrested from her embrace, whose destiny remained shrouded in mystery—the precious life she had so valiantly struggled to usher into existence.

"Mom, we'll find my brother, right?" Elisa held Stellan's hand tightly, her small hand warm and strong.

"Yes," Stellan nodded, her eyes flashing with determination, the resolve of a mother.

'I will.' She swore inside.

She had returned to find him and strived to uncover the truth of six years ago.

No matter the cost, she would find him and bring him home.

...

Caspian Knight stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the hospital.

"Mr. Caspian Knight, Mr. Alaric Knight wants to see you," Joe entered the room, his face full of urgency and worry.

Caspian slowly turned and left the room, leaving Joe alone to sigh deeply.

In the study of the luxurious hospital room, Alaric sat in a wheelchair, holding a document, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Dad?" Caspian approached Alaric, calling out, trying to hide the confusion in his voice.

The air in the study was thick, as if time itself had slowed.

Alaric slowly put down the document, his deep eyes lifting to focus on Caspian, probing.

Why was the boy acting so strangely today?

Caspian had always resisted calling him dad, but today he did so effortlessly?

Little did he know, the boy before him was not Caspian, but Harry.

This was the result of an agreement between the two boys after meeting at the hospital.

Harry wanted to see his father, and now that he had, he could go back and tell his mom.

But he felt his dad was a bad guy. Fortunately, he had found his brother, and his mom would be happy once she knew the news.

"Don't run off again and worry Joe," Alaric's deep voice broke the silence, carrying an undeniable authority.

Alaric's fingers brushed over his suit, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles, every movement exuding the composure and elegance of a leader. "I need to go to the office."

Alaric's brow furrowed slightly; he had a crucial international meeting to attend, and every minute was precious, leaving little time to waste.

At the Nexus Innovations Group Building, in the conference room, Alaric sat at the head of the table, his expression stern, like a deity in control of everything.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated, breaking the tense atmosphere.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was the butler from home. His brow furrowed slightly.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call," Alaric apologized to the attendees, then answered the phone, his voice low.

"Mr. Alaric Knight, Mr. Caspian Knight is missing again!" Joe's voice was frantic on the other end.