The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Christian and Zachery Swap Identities

Twenty minutes later, Zane Grant was stopped in the living room.

He looked at the Christian before him, astonished. "Christian, your fever broke?"

The young master, who had been listless and sick just this afternoon, was now bursting with energy, his face rosy and the very picture of health.

Zane Grant touched his forehead, stunned. "It’s a miracle..."

Christian’s health was poor. Even for a minor cold, the entire Imperial Crest would go on high alert, terrified he wouldn’t pull through. freewёbnoνel.com

He had suddenly come down with a fever this afternoon, which had given Zane Grant a real scare. But after an examination showed nothing serious, he had agreed to Christian’s request not to tell Nathaniel Sloan about it.

And now, after a nap, Christian was all better?

Zachery, disguised as Christian, was speechless.

Zachery’s eyes darted around, unable to hide his nervousness. "Right, I-I’m all better now. Uncle Grant, I was hoping you could help me with something."

Zane Grant felt something was off about Christian, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. "What is it?"

Zachery cleared his throat and said:

"Daddy is going to be at Rosalind Manor for a few days, and I miss him a little. Uncle Grant, can you take me to Rosalind Garden?"

Zane Grant looked utterly shocked, his eyes wide. "You’re saying you miss Nathaniel?"

Christian had a rather cold personality, almost a carbon copy of Nathaniel Sloan. A person like that would never say it out loud, no matter how much they missed someone.

This was especially true for Christian. Due to his chronic poor health, he had no friends his age and would always keep things bottled up inside.

When had he ever expressed his feelings so directly?

Zachery was taken aback by Zane Grant’s dumbfounded expression and was at a loss for a moment. ’Oh crap, I’m not going to fail at impersonating the young master on day one, am I?!’

Just as he was about to say something to salvage the situation, Zane Grant suddenly knelt down in front of him. His face was filled with emotion, a mix of sympathy and resolve, as he said firmly, "Okay, Uncle Grant will take you!"

’Even Christian, who’s so bad at expressing himself, is saying he misses his daddy,’ Zane Grant thought. ’Just how much must he miss him?’

’It might just be a simple "I miss Daddy," but for all I know, my dear Christian is secretly crying into his pillow at night!’

The more Zane Grant imagined it, the more his heart ached for the boy. He silently cursed Nathaniel Sloan for being so damn lucky to have such a well-behaved son.

"But it’s too late today. How about this, my dear Christian? I’ll take you to Rosalind Garden first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"

Zachery said guiltily, "Okay, but Uncle Grant, you can’t tell Daddy, okay? I want to give him a surprise."

Zane Grant’s face was full of affection. "Of course, of course. No problem."

The next day, Zachery applied his disguise and, while he was at it, disguised Christian as well.

Seeing Christian wearing his face, Zachery didn’t find it strange at all. Instead, a strange sense of closeness welled up from the bottom of his heart.

’How strange.’ freewebnoveℓ.com

His disguise skills usually weren’t this good, but for some reason, after he had disguised the young master and himself, not a single person in Imperial Crest had noticed.

’Maybe it’s because the two of us already look a bit similar.’

’After all, we’re both sons of that scum daddy.’

Zachery patted Christian’s shoulder. "Young Master, I’m heading out. You rest up and get better at home, and while you’re at it, take care of that little dummy, Mia!"

Christian replied with great solemnity, "Don’t worry."

Mia, standing to the side, had a complicated expression.

’Is this really going to work?’

Christian, wearing Zachery’s face, was incredibly well-behaved. Zachery, wearing the young master’s face, was lively and energetic.

’Are all these adults blind? How can they not see it?’

Then again, the two of them really did look alike. For a moment, even Mia herself was a little confused.

"Mia." As soon as Zachery left, Christian turned to her. "Don’t you guys have a video call with Mommy every day? Isn’t it about time?"

"I’m Zachery now," Christian added. "Let me do the call today."

Mia was baffled.

’Seriously? Have you completely gotten into character already? How can you say "Mommy" so naturally?’

...

「Seven in the morning, Rosalind Manor.」

Estelle Lockwood was woken up by her alarm. She pressed her temples.

The meeting yesterday had dragged on until nine at night. No one was willing to budge on the price of the raw materials, and the debate had been endless. They finally settled on a price that satisfied both parties, and then she had rushed off to inspect the raw material supply base.

She hadn’t gotten back to her room until midnight, and Estelle Lockwood was so exhausted she didn’t even want to move. But she had to inspect Rosalind Farm today, so the moment the alarm went off, she quickly got out of bed to wash up.

Before long, her phone rang. It was a video call from Mia.

As soon as the call connected, two little faces appeared on the screen. "Good morning, my sweet Zachery, my sweet Mia."

Mia chirped happily, "Good morning, Mommy!"

Estelle Lockwood only heard Mia’s voice and was a little surprised. "Why is my sweet Zachery so quiet today?"

Just as she asked, she noticed something was wrong and her expression immediately turned serious. "Zachery, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"

Christian was impersonating someone else. Logically, he should have been nervous.

But he was so composed he didn’t seem like a novice at all. "Mommy, it’s just a little cold. It’s nothing, please don’t worry."

Estelle Lockwood was a bit surprised. Zachery was usually headstrong and didn’t care about being sick. Even with a fever, he’d be running around all day. Why was he... so well-behaved today?

Estelle Lockwood’s heart softened. "If you’re sick, you need to rest properly. Mommy will be home by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

In his current condition, Christian couldn’t go out. He felt a little apologetic. "Mommy, I can’t go to kindergarten today either. I’m sorry."

Estelle Lockwood was even more shocked, starting to wonder if the fever had fried her son’s brain.

"You want to go to kindergarten when you’re sick? My sweet little Zachery, since when did you become so diligent and eager to learn? Now, your health is the most important thing. Be good, and don’t even think about school today. Just rest at home, you hear?"

Christian bit his lip, feeling an inexplicable envy for Zachery.

’So this is what it’s like to be cared for when you’re sick? You’re allowed to not study, to not force a smile?’

Christian asked in a small voice, "But Mommy... won’t you think I’m not being mature enough?"

Estelle Lockwood wished she could pinch his cheeks. Zachery was so cute when he was being clingy.

"You’re only five, what do you need to be mature for? You should play when it’s time to play and sleep when it’s time to sleep. Besides, even if my baby doesn’t go to class, he’s still the coolest kid in the entire kindergarten."

Christian felt as if something had struck his heart. His eyes grew hot, and he felt the urge to cry as a strange sense of grievance washed over him.

’I’m so jealous of Zachery. So, so jealous.’

’Why has no one ever said these things to me?’

’Daddy is very busy. And for Noelle Lockwood’s sake, he ignored my wishes and handed me over to her and Rose Lowell. Ever since I was little, all I’ve ever received is criticism.’

’If only I could be Mommy’s son forever...’

’Is there some way to make her my real mommy?’

...

In contrast to Christian’s smooth performance, Zachery had been fidgeting nervously in his seat ever since getting in the car, feeling incredibly guilty.

Zane Grant glanced at the fidgeting Christian. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

BEEP BEEP BEEP. Just then, Zane Grant’s phone rang. He glanced down and saw it was a call from Nathaniel Sloan.

"Hello?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s voice was a bit hoarse. "Are you still at Imperial Crest? How is Christian?"

Zane Grant immediately looked at Zachery in the back seat. Consumed by guilt, Zachery slumped in his seat. "..."

’I’m not ready! Why is scum daddy calling now?’

’Am I going to get caught?’