Meanwhile, Julia had woken up.
Justin sat beside her, attending to her while also working on his laptop. Once she was settled and had eaten something, the two of them moved to the drawing room and sat together in comfortable silence.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" Julia asked suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Justin hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was the right time. But since she had brought it up herself, he decided not to hold back.
"Julia, is there any record of my life before I was brought to the Harper family? I know there is nothing in the record, but by chance father has ever mentioned anything to you. Like, where I was for those first ten years? Where I was born and where I spent my childhood?" he asked patiently. "Father never told me, and I haven’t been able to find anything, no matter how hard I’ve tried."
"You were just a ten-year-old boy when James saved you and later brought you home," Julia began softly, recalling the distant past. "When you were in the hospital, James tried to find any information about you, but there was none. After caring for you for months, he decided to bring you home and adopted you. I’m not sure what made him send you out of the country later, but he seemed tense during those days—almost as if he couldn’t wait to send you away."
Justin hummed as if in deep thoughts, "I used to think he kept me hidden so later he could reveal me as his secret son and no one would think I was adopted. Till date, father had kept it from the word that I am his adopted son. But, I now feel there is some other reason."
Julia nodded thoughtfully. "I remember him saying that your life might be in danger if he kept you here. I assumed it had something to do with James’s business rivals. Maybe he was worried they’d harm you to get back at him," she looked at him, her gaze soft, "but it is true that he doesn’t want anyone to know that you are adopted, because he considers you as his own. He doesn’t want anyone to ever question your presence, your rights, in the Harper family. He is not a man to say such things, but as his mother I know this well."
Justin didn’t deny this claim. Without having much conversation with James, Justin could feel his care for him.
"What kind of accident was I in? The one Father supposedly saved me from?" he asked. "I don’t believe in what I had been told, that he once went on fishing and saved a me from drowning in the river."
Julia’s expression turned pensive. "He found you during one of his sea adventures. He never explained it clearly, but I always assumed it happened at sea."
Justin hummed, processing her words. "I keep having these nightmares—of being caught in a storm and drowning in the sea. I can clearly feel it’s not a river but a sea. And, they don’t feel like ordinary dreams. It’s as if they’re memories of something that really happened."
"It’s possible," Julia said gently. "Only James can answer that for sure. You should ask him directly."
"I’ve tried before, but he always dodges the question. Maybe that’s why we don’t talk much," Justin admitted, a trace of bitterness in his voice.
"James is a stubborn person who keeps everything to himself. It’s just his way to protect us."
Justin could not deny it and added, But lately, in my nightmares, I’ve started to hear someone calling me Aiden. It feels like they’re truly calling out to me—a woman’s voice sometimes, and other times, a man’s. At first, I thought it was just some psychological issue, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore."
"Do you think your real name could be Aiden?" Julia asked, her eyes widening slightly.
Justin nodded slowly. "It feels like my name. What’s even stranger is that Natalie’s husband’s name is Aiden as well, and he looks exactly like me."
Julia’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Do you think her marriage conspiracy has something to do with you and James? Perhaps with James’s rivals?"
Justin considered it carefully. "It’s possible. Maybe someone knows about Natalie’s true identity as James Harper’s biological daughter, and they also know I’m his adopted son. So they arranged for her to marry someone who looks like me... or created someone to look like me. I can’t say for sure what they’re plotting, but her husband being my exact replica can’t be just a coincidence."
"True. It’s indeed suspicious and seemed dangerous," Julia’s expression turned serious. "I would not stop you from finding out, but you have to promise me that you would be safe. Though not blood related, you are mine, my grandson. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to take it."
Justin reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "I promise, Grandma. Your grandson is not someone to be taken lightly."
"If you were the biggest underworld mafia boss, only then would I not worry—because no one would dare be more dangerous than you!" she joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Justin chuckled. "Then, I guess I’ll have to become one so my dear Grandma won’t have to worry."
She laughed, "Sure sure, you have my blessings."
"Natalie hasn’t returned yet. It’s already evening," Julia commented.
"Must be busy with work," Justin replied casually.
"You are always so considerate of her and you do care for a lot," Julia said, trying to gauge his expressions.
There was no change in his expressions at all as he hummed, "Isn’t she our family?"
"Indeed. And I am glad you are there to look after her...your sister," the last words were intentional.
There was a slight change in his expressions which he hid well, but Julia noticed it.
He kept his laptop aside and asked, "What do you want to have for dinner?"
Julia didn’t press further and said, "I want Natalie as well. How about we go out for nice dinner and you call her there as well? Make it as a surprise for her."
Justin nodded and proceeded to make arrangements.