Chapter 408: Knot

Aaron had arrived at James Harper’s home to meet Caryn.

Since the day Caryn was brought here, Aaron had wished to meet her, but he didn’t want to be a bother when she was finally with the man she loved. Moreover, he had waited until he could stand perfectly on his own feet, rather than showing himself in a weakened state.

As usual, he had been busy handling company matters along with Eric.

When he reached the place, the security guards mistook him for Justin, as no one there was aware of the existence of Justin’s twin brother.

Caryn was waiting for him, having already been informed about his arrival.

The servant guided him to the drawing room where Caryn was waiting.

Aaron saw the woman sitting on the sofa. She looked far better than she used to. It was partly because her health had greatly improved, but perhaps also because she finally had her true family—her husband and daughter—by her side.

She looked at him as he walked toward her. "How are you, Ms. Shaw?"

Though he was her adopted son, he had never called her ’mother,’ nor had she ever asked him to. Both were always aware of their reality and didn’t deceive themselves by finding comfort in a role that wasn’t truly theirs.

"I should be the one asking you that," she replied, noticing how he was standing normally and walking without any discomfort, as if he had never been injured. "Have a seat."

Aaron noticed that unlike her usual stiff demeanor, she seemed more relaxed, and even her tone was a little softer—unlike the strict and cold tone she always carried.

He sat opposite her on the sofa. There was a brief silence before he said, "Congratulations."

Caryn understood he was referring to her marriage with James. "Thank you."

He smiled lightly and said, "Now I’m free from taking care of you. I believe James Harper knows what to do—it’s not easy to look after you."

She almost glared at him, but it wasn’t serious. "Are you here to mock me?"

A smile widened on his lips. "I wouldn’t dare."

Caryn was well aware of how much she had troubled him. He wasn’t her son, but he had done everything a family would—going so far as to risk his life for her.

"That’s for you," Caryn said, signaling toward the large light brown sealed envelope.

Aaron picked it up and checked the papers inside. He looked back at her. "I don’t need this. It’s yours."

"Now that I’m free to relax at this old age, do you still want me to keep working?" she asked. "You’ve been handling this company for almost a decade now, since you were just a boy. I was always sick. I didn’t do much. It’s yours. Eric already has major shares in it. You two are going to handle the company. I want to be free now. Just sign it—if you’ve ever thought of me as something in your life, even if not a mother."

Aaron had no choice but to sign it when she put it that way.

Once it was done, she asked, "Your brother has gone back to your family. What’s your plan?"

"I’m heading there as well," he replied.

She hummed and said, "Be careful. I don’t need to tell you how dangerous those people are."

"I will," Aaron assured her.

Just then, someone arrived—Julia.

The moment she saw him, Julia said, "Justin, when did you return?"

Aaron looked at the old woman, while Caryn said, "Mother, he is Justin’s twin brother—Aiden... I mean, now we call him Aaron."

"Oh!" Julia was clearly surprised at how similar the two brothers were. She was now aware of the entire story about Justin, so she didn’t need to ask more.

"Am I disturbing your talk?" Julia asked.

"Of course not," Caryn said politely. "Please, have a seat."

Aaron almost felt shocked inwardly to see Caryn being so polite and ladylike—at least to someone.

Julia sat next to Caryn and looked at Aaron. "I never knew identical twins could be so alike. I can never tell you apart from Justin," Julia said as she walked ahead. "Good to see you, Aaron. You are always welcome in our family, just like Justin."

Aaron offered her a polite nod. "Thank you, Madam Harper."

"Madam Harper?" Julia frowned slightly. "Justin calls me Julia. Either you call me by name, just like him, or call me Grandma."

"Sure... Julia..." he said a little hesitantly.

It reminded him of his own grandmother, Marina, who was always good to him. He wondered when he would get to meet her again.

"I was here to meet James. But he hasn’t returned yet?" Julia asked.

"He’s left the office," Caryn informed her.

"Well, now that you’ve started to keep track of where your husband is, that’s a good thing," Julia teased.

"He happened to send a message a while ago," Caryn replied, letting her know it was her son who kept updating her.

"That shows my son is responsible toward you—he never informs me about his whereabouts," Julia commented.

Caryn had nothing to refute this claim. Like a young man in love, James kept messaging often, updating her about himself and even asking what she was doing. It had felt annoying at first, but now she’d gotten used to it—and sometimes even replied to him.

Just then, they heard the sound of a car arriving outside. James had returned home, but he wasn’t alone. Natalie was there as well.

Father and daughter returned home together. James was aware that Aaron was coming, so he brought Natalie along—knowing his mother was already there.

"Now that we’re all here, how about dinner together?" Julia offered. "Aaron is here as well."

"I’ve already instructed it," Caryn assured her.

"Justin’s not here, but Aaron’s presence makes it feel like my Justin is just nearby," Julia said as she looked at Aaron and sighed. "Don’t know when he’s going to return. Not even once has he called me since then."

"Grandma, he often asks about you," Natalie tried to coax her.

"Yeah, but he can’t call me directly," she said and looked at James. "It’s all your fault for raising him just like you. Both of you are the same."

"I’ll ask him to call you and not be like me anymore," James assured her.

Julia frowned while the others smiled at her.

They all had dinner together and chatted. Aaron was glad to see Caryn could walk now—not much, but at least she could roam around the house for a little while.

After dinner, Natalie found time to talk with Aaron. "When are you going there?"

"In a day or two. I need to hand over some matters to Eric before I leave," he informed her. "Also, Aiden doesn’t want them to know about my existence yet, so I have to keep it discreet and avoid being noticed when I enter that country."

"I was planning to come there as well," Natalie said, a little hesitant.

"No," Aaron said firmly. "I know you’ve been to Xyros and know how to deal with danger, but the Eastern country is an entirely different world. Even Aiden has to tread carefully there."

"I just want to meet Justin," she said softly.

"Do you think Aeldric Riverdale will let you go once you enter his territory? He’ll treat you as Aiden’s weakness—just like he did with my father. Stay here," Aaron said, though it worried him deeply. He knew what Aeldric was planning—to make Justin marry the daughter of the Hartz family.

Natalie might flip everything upside down before Justin could even carry out his plan.

Natalie could only nod, seeing how protective Aaron was being, and didn’t press him further.

After talking with everyone, Aaron was ready to leave. Caryn came alone to see him off outside. Before Aaron sat inside his car, she said, "Aaron, you might think I did you a favour by giving you a life back then, but it was the other way around. Having you in my life was a favour you did to me when I was at my lowest. That little boy I saved somehow gave me the strength to keep fighting and living. So, you owe me nothing at all."

Hearing her say all this, Aaron froze. He had never expected her to say something so compassionate.

He inhaled deeply and calmed himself. "Still, I will always be thankful that it was you who gave me this new life."

Neither said anything further, and Aaron left in his car.

Natalie and Julia also left. Caryn turned to return inside the house, only to see James standing a few steps away, watching her.

"How about a short walk in the garden?" James asked.

She looked down at her legs and said, "I might not be able to keep up with you for long."

"Then I’ll just carry you," he said and walked toward her anyway.

Caryn almost rolled her eyes at him but listened to him anyway.

"The Lawson family is celebrating their patriarch’s seventy-fifth birthday, and we’re both invited," James informed her. "I’d like it if you accompany me. But the decision is yours."

"I’ll come," she replied.

James was delighted to hear it. From now on, he would be taking her everywhere as his wife—what he had always dreamt of in the past.

"Let me know if your legs are about to give up," he offered.

She hummed, and both of them continued to walk slowly, at her pace.

Things between them were getting normal as Caryn had actively started to accept their relationship, though not entirely open yet, as if something was still holding her back.

There was that knot inside her heart, which James was sure he would untangle it sooner or later.