Chapter 11
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting scattered patterns of light and shadow on the ground and the breakfast laid out on the stone table.
Emily had just brought out the last plate of breakfast when she noticed "Oscar" sticking close to her side, his little hand clutching tightly at the corner of her clothes.
Those peach-blossom eyes were looking at her with complete dependence. "Mommy, I want to eat with you."
Emily's heart skipped a beat, and her movements paused for half a second.
Usually at this time, Oscar would be the first to sit at the table, either looking down at his tablet or quietly eating breakfast. He was always so quiet and composed, never this clingy.
Was this really her Oscar?
But the face in front of her, identical to Oscar's, couldn't be fake.
Doubt rising in her heart, Emily suppressed her unease, her voice slightly tight.
"Okay, but my breakfast has cheese, and you always complain that cheese is too sweet and rich. Are you sure you want to eat with me?"
"Oscar" heard this, and a flash of panic crossed his eyes. Then he put on an obedient smile, his little hand scratching his cheek. "I think cheese tastes good now, and besides, Mommy, everything you make is delicious."
While flattering her, he picked up his fork and took small bites, though the way he held the fork looked a bit awkward.
Emily didn't ask further questions. She lowered her head to peel eggs for Oscar and Nina, but her peripheral vision remained on the child beside her.
Although Aiden looked exactly like Oscar, wearing Oscar's usual blue hoodie, and even deliberately imitating Oscar's cool tone when speaking, the clingy nature in his bones couldn't be hidden.
Oscar used to be attached to her, but he wouldn't constantly act cute.
Moreover, Oscar was extremely alert. When facing William, his eyes would unconsciously show some wariness and scrutiny.
But this child would instinctively lower his head every time he caught William looking over, as if deliberately avoiding him.
But William clearly couldn't see.
Oscar knew that.
William sat in his wheelchair, warm milk by his side, listening carefully to the conversation between mother and son.
Not just Emily—even he vaguely sensed something was off.
Although his vision was still blurry, this child's behavior didn't seem like Oscar's.
Instead...
If it really was as he suspected, then where was Oscar?
His fingertips lightly tapped the wheelchair armrest, his mind racing with speculation.
After breakfast, Emily collected the dishes and went into the kitchen. "Oscar" immediately followed, standing on tiptoe to help her pass the plates.
Emily took them, water droplets wetting her fingertips. As she dried her hands, she asked casually, "Where did you put the client information you said you organized for me yesterday? I need it this morning."
At these words, "Oscar's" small body stiffened.
He wasn't the real Oscar!
The moment this thought was confirmed, Emily broke out in a cold sweat!
Oscar was always meticulous, storing Emily's funeral orders and client contact information in his tablet, organized by category.
When Emily needed it, she just had to open the tablet and click on the folder named "Mommy" to find everything.
But the fake Oscar obviously didn't know this.
But could there really be an identical child in the world?
So similar that even she, his own mother, couldn't tell them apart at first?
After all, Emily had never asked Oscar for the information before—she always looked it up herself.
Emily's thoughts raced, but her hands kept moving, her peripheral vision still on Aiden.
Aiden bit his lip, and after a long pause, said vaguely, "I put it... on my desk in my room, I think it's under the tablet."
Emily's eyes darkened, but her face showed no sign of anything unusual. She just smiled and nodded.
After all, this "imposter" in front of her was still a child. She didn't want to alert him.
Oscar was a careful child—he wouldn't put himself in danger.
Emily decided to take her time and investigate Oscar's whereabouts.
"Okay, I'll get it later."
Seeing she didn't press further, Aiden quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, Nina ran over and leaned in front of him, her little face full of doubt as she examined him carefully.
"You're not my brother."
Her sudden statement scared Aiden so much that his face went pale, and his heart seemed to stop.
Fortunately, he still had his wits about him and quickly put on a stern face. "If I'm not your brother, then who is?"
Seeing him show the exact same expression as Oscar, Nina looked confused.
She felt that today's Oscar was strange, but she couldn't say exactly what was different.
A child's ability to express herself was limited after all, but she still stubbornly believed this wasn't Oscar.
"You're not." Nina made a face at him and ran off.
"Mommy..."
Aiden's mind was in chaos now. He couldn't be bothered to chase Nina. Instead, he reached out to tug at Emily's clothes, his eyes showing a hint of barely noticeable anxiety.
He had finally gotten a mommy—he didn't want to be discovered.
But this behavior only further proved he wasn't Oscar.
"What's wrong?" Emily's voice was gentle, and the smile on her face showed no difference.
Seeing she didn't seem to suspect him, Aiden's heart finally settled a bit.
"Nothing, I just think you're really nice," Aiden said seriously, his face full of adoration that was about to overflow.
"Go rest now." Emily dried her hands and patted his head.
"Okay." Aiden understood that his behavior, so different from Oscar's, had already raised some suspicion, so he didn't dare stay by Emily's side any longer, afraid of giving himself away again.
At the same time, William was in his room, fumbling to answer the phone. "Mr. Brown, Aiden seems a bit off today."
The subordinate in charge of taking care of Aiden had secretly called William when Oscar wasn't paying attention.
"What happened to him?" William lowered his voice, with a hint of urgency in his tone.
He had raised that child himself—if something happened to him, William would be the first to worry.
"Nothing serious, it's just that he's being a bit too studious today."
After thinking for a long time, the subordinate finally found a suitable description.
"Hm?" William was startled, puzzled.
"Although Aiden usually studies seriously, today he asked to add a programming course on his own, and he's been very focused in every class." The subordinate said, the doubt in his eyes still not cleared.
He was specifically responsible for taking care of Aiden and was most familiar with Aiden's habits.
William had hired tutors in various subjects for Aiden early on to cultivate him, and Aiden hadn't disappointed him—he studied hard and always had good grades.
But for him to voluntarily add another course was almost impossible.
William fell silent, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the wheelchair armrest.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, "I understand. Keep an eye on him and don't let anything happen to him."
"Yes."
The call ended, and William called for Nina. "Hello, what do you need from me?"