So many things happened to him the entire time he was walking around Aleno with Kaige, and he really wanted to take the time to unpack all of it. But he had to push that all aside for now. He was being fussed over by his new family.

“Just one more spoon, Kaige,” Lizia, his new mother said to him. “One more spoon and you’ll take your medicine.”

As Kaige, he was 25 years old. When he was Daniel, he was in his early 30s. It was honestly embarrassing to be spoon-fed by someone—even if that person was your mother. He had tried to protest and say that his arms were well enough to eat soup but all he got was a withering glare.

He could see his new father, Zachary, suppressing his laughter from across the room. He did not have to turn his head to look at Cade to know that the little guy was giving him a judgemental stare. Even Head Butler Sandra looked like she was about to laugh—only the respect she had for the family was stopping her. At least until his father gave her permission to laugh. And laugh she did. Thankfully, there weren’t other staff in the room.

He wondered if this was how other children felt when their parents unintentionally embarrassed them?

It's humiliating…but kind of nice. It was a new feeling for him. He figured it would not be hard for him to adjust to this.

Still, he felt kind of sad for the original Kaige.

He turned his head when Cade climbed onto his bed. He raised a brow when the little guy pouted at him. “When are you going to get better?” he asked.

“Are you that excited to play with me?” Kaige asked. The little kid nodded his head eagerly. “Really? It's not because you want to be the only one being babied by your grandma?”

Cade became even cuter with his puffed-up red cheeks. “Of course not!”

He felt a light slap on an uninjured part of his arm. “Stop teasing your nephew,” his mother said. Kaige only laughed and motioned for the little one to come closer and lean on his side. He could give him the gift the original Kaige brought him. It would keep the little guy entertained until he recovered.

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“Sandra, can you please get the little yellow box I had from my luggage.”

The lady butler soon brought the box from the big walk-in closet. Kaige soon placed it between Cade’s legs. “This is your uncle’s present for you.” He chuckled at how the little golden eyes lit up as the original Kaige's did.

To others, it sounded like he was talking in the third person, the same way some people talked to children. In truth, he was talking about the kid’s real Uncle Kaige. He was Cade’s uncle now, but he figured that guy would be happy if he phrased it like this for the kid. He was not shameless enough to claim that it was from him. Next time, he would buy the kid presents with his own money.

Cade stared at the yellow wrapping for a moment before tearing into it with his little hands. Soon, there were pieces of yellow paper on Kaige’s bed but he didn’t care about the mess. Once the child saw what the present was, confusion set on his face.

Kaige found it so cute. He picked up one red book, leaving the other two in the box set. “You like plants like your uncle, right? Especially, magical ones from Aleno?” He got a nod as an answer. “Uncle got you child versions of the books used for uncle’s studies in Thean.”

Kaige opened the small book to a page showing a deep red strawberry-looking plant. Except it was called a bloodberry plant. Eating one tiny fruit would replenish large amounts of blood loss in an hour. He took Cade’s hand and placed it on top of the picture. “It’s enchanted, so when you touch the picture, it would feel like you are touching the real thing.”

After saying that, the outline of the picture lit up a bit and he could see the growing amazement in Cade’s eyes as he felt the picture. “I love it…” the child muttered. “I love it! I love it! Thank you, Uncle Kaige!” Soon he stood, squealing with glee and bouncing on the bed, never letting go of the little red book.

Kaige was slightly worried about his broken bones, but he was too happy to say anything to the kid. Luckily, his mother intervened. “Careful, baby. Your uncle is still injured.”

The child stopped and looked at his uncle. Kaige smiled. “I request a hug, if possible?”

Cade didn’t even hesitate. He was slow and careful about it, avoiding Kaige’s injuries, and gave him a little hug. “Thank you, Uncle,” he said. “Best present ever!”

“Well, don’t say that just yet because I’m planning on spoiling you with gifts.”

The child only smiled. Kaige saw him squash the little hope in his eyes again. He sighed. He was only five and already dealing with stuff like guilt and “not feeling worthy.” How does this child understand something so complex? When Daniel was five, he was oblivious to it all. So oblivious that he thought it was the norm to be treated that way.

“I promised to take care of you,” he said. “I’m here now.” He rubbed the child’s head and back. No one will hurt you. Not on my watch. He looked at his new parents and Sandra. His father hugged his mother from behind. All three pairs of eyes looked suspiciously shiny like they were about to cry at the sight of him and his nephew. Kaige smiled. No one will touch this family.