Breaking Free from Gilded Chains

Chapter 1

Alden Windsor had always been the one who followed the rules, a pretty but naive sweetheart who believed Edric Blackwood could do no wrong. He’d spent most of his life listening to Edric, waiting for him to return home, and living under the weight of his indifference. It didn’t occur to Alden that the more he obeyed, the more he lost himself—until the day he was left alone, waiting by a hospital bed, pregnant and abandoned.

But fate had a twist in store. Alden found himself staring back at the calendar, a year before all the heartache began. This time, he wouldn’t be a passive bystander. He was determined to break free from the gilded cage Edric had built around him, to carve out his own identity beyond the shadows of Blackwood Manor.

He moved into a bright, modern apartment, the walls echoing with newfound independence. Alden embraced the challenges of adult life head-on, from grocery shopping to managing his bills. He started to dream of a life without Edric, one where he wasn’t tethered to the whims of a man who barely acknowledged his existence.

But the universe often has a strange sense of humor. Just as Alden was beginning to settle into his new routine, disaster struck. A fire broke out one night, flames licking up the walls of his building, smoke clawing at his throat. In a panic, he gathered what little he could find—a box of keepsakes, his phone—and escaped, singed hair the only evidence of the chaos.

What he didn’t expect was Edric's presence amidst the chaos. He had always thought of Edric as a cold, unfeeling fortress. But there he was, a mess of soot and determination, searching through the throngs of people gathering outside. Panic washed over Alden as their eyes met.

Edric kneeled before him, breathless and disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual composed self. “Is this what you wanted?” he rasped, voice strained from smoke and fear. “You wanted me to care? Because it feels like you’re asking for my life, and I’m ready to give it to you.”

Alden’s heart raced, caught between the irritation of Edric's futile rescue and the undeniable gravity of his words. He had wanted to escape this man, to flourish outside the shadows. But in that moment, amidst the ashes and embers, Alden felt a flicker of something he didn’t expect—an echo of a bond that tied them together, one that refused to be severed even by fire.

The rebirth was complicated, the desire for independence clashing with an emotional pull that felt all too familiar. Maybe this time, Alden would be the one to rewrite their story, not as a victim waiting by a bed, but as a partner ready to confront the flames together.

The rebirth would not be easy. But Alden was ready. He just hoped Edric was, too.

Chapter 2

“You think he likes you? If it weren't for the bond being broken, you’d probably have left this place ages ago. I’m telling you, I’m pregnant—it's a boy, an alpha that’ll be born the heir to Blackwood, destined to run the Alliance Consortium one day. You’d better get the hell away from him while you can. He’s going to marry me.”

The lavish parlor at Blackwood Manor was fit for royalty, adorned with exquisite furniture and artwork. A sharply dressed young man stood there, his voice trembling with agitation.

The boy in front of him, Alden, didn’t respond or even lift his gaze. He sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, seemingly lost in his own world, oblivious to the drama unfolding before him.

Just when the young man could no longer contain himself, ready to hurl a string of insults, Alden spoke.

“He’ll die.”

“What?” The young man's brow furrowed in disbelief.

“Omega pregnancy with an alpha child can be fatal.”

Alden’s voice was eerily monotone, lacking any inflection, like a soulless reproduction of facts—chillingly robotic.

A shiver coursed through the young man. He had come to assert dominance over Edric Blackwood’s supposed “official” partner, but here was this boy, appearing youthfully fragile, likely still in high school, making the confrontation seem utterly futile.

To make matters worse, Alden looked downright off, unsettling.

As fate would have it, Alden's doctor arrived just in time to witness the young man storming out, leaving behind a parting shot: “There’s not a single sane person associated with the Blackwoods.”

The doctor stepped inside with a smile, gently closing the door behind him.

Alden remained focused on the carpet, staring at the soft fibers until the doctor squatted beside him, drawing his attention to a spot on the floor.

“Hey there.”

Those were the words Edric had taught him: to be polite, to greet others.

Years had passed, and he had mastered that one phrase—“Hey there”—even if he repeated it to the same person countless times. If Edric himself showed up, Alden would stick to just saying “Hey there.”

Alden’s autism was congenital. He had endured three surgeries. The first two were performed by the Order of Healers, using advanced technology that obliterated parts of his DNA, halting his self-repair capabilities to splice in healthier genes. The final surgery was a minimally invasive procedure on his brain.

While the last operation was successful, Alden, an Omega, still had a frail body. His aftercare hadn’t kept pace, and he missed opportunities for the ideal growth environment. Improvements in his condition allowed for some independence, yet he still showed serious social and cognitive hurdles.

The doctor asked, “So, Alden, do you know who that person was that just left?”

Alden, speaking deliberately, named the character of a homewrecker from a drama he had recently watched.

The doctor chuckled and lightly ruffled Alden’s hair. “Good job, Alden! But don’t worry, Gerard Blackwood isn’t looking to take anyone else’s man. That guy is a fraud—he’s already been marked by someone else, so he can’t be pregnant.”

Alden fell silent again.

This wasn’t ideal. The doctor noted in his daily medical report for Edric that he and Edric were the only two Alden typically engaged with. Today, though, Alden seemed especially withdrawn.

The doctor shifted gears. “So, Alden, how do you know that an Omega carrying an alpha baby is in danger? Was that in the show you watched?”

“It’s not a show,” Alden interjected suddenly, his bright eyes locking onto the doctor’s. His tone became urgent, almost frantic. “The patient’s family didn’t show up, the patient has mental health issues, can’t even recount their medical history or allergies. And now, months along, the Omega hasn’t had a checkup! A nineteen-year-old Omega, carrying an alpha? They haven't had desensitization treatment; now the child’s pheromones are clashing with the father’s. No one’s safe! Who’s the bio-dad? What kind of jerk alpha doesn’t care about his Omega’s life?”

His speech was vivid, as though he were a panicked doctor in an operating room.

Even seasoned health professionals could be startled, but this time the doctor was taken aback by the coherence of Alden's words. They painted such a realistic picture, and yet the environment around Alden didn’t seem to evoke this kind of outburst.

Once he finished speaking, he resumed staring at the carpet.

The doctor kept his tone gentle, “It’s not true that an Omega with an alpha baby will die. There are ways to detect these issues early, routine check-ups with pheromone desensitization can prevent danger. Alden, what did you watch today?”

Again, Alden lapsed into silence.

“Patient is uncooperative,” the doctor noted, tapping away on his device.

“Aldens's mood might’ve shifted due to nightmares or something in the weather. He’s close to a state of fear and a bit unstable. This is the first time in months we’ve seen him like this.”

Another potential trigger could be the animation he had just started watching, “Bear Adventures.” The first episode might’ve sparked the change in Alden, but he had thrown a fit when the doctor tried to change the channel, leaving a lot to unpack.

The report was sent to “Edric.”

Within seconds, a message popped up.

【Edric: Just to confirm, he only watched the animated part where the bear drowns and revives?】

It was unprecedented for the silent guardian to respond in such depth. The doctor rushed to type back: “Yes, you were aware? Has Alden shown this kind of behavior before?”

No reply this time.

Spring melted away into summer on May 8, 1921, at Alliance Starhaven.

The delicate child slipped on a milky white long-sleeve T-shirt, exposing his pale, slender neck. After the doctor left, the sound of the fingerprint lock echoed again at the door.

Inside, the camera caught the silhouette of an imposing, indifferent figure—a handsome man with deep-set eyes.

He seemed to awaken like a cat at the arrival of its owner.

This was the first day of Alden Windsor’s rebirth, back to a year before.

On this day, a year from now, he would die on the operating table, carrying a child born of the kind of raw aggression found in Edric Blackwood—an alpha named Gavin.

He was a child who had grown up isolated, dulled to pain, always lagging a beat behind. Yet today, the sharpness of reality pierced through—he’d developed an immunity to anesthesia, and the world would soon tear him apart during the agony of childbirth. He trembled, cold and in pain, stifling tears he couldn’t summon. The heat fluttered around him where only a female doctor’s soft words reached him.

“I’m so sorry… what a young kid… only nineteen. You’d think with all their money, there’d at least be someone to send them off.”

Chapter 3

Edric Blackwood pushed the door open and stepped inside, his gaze dropping to the boy on the floor. There was a tension in the air, palpable and heavy. Alden Windsor looked up, his posture unnaturally stiff, a flicker of alarm flashing in his eyes.

For once, he didn’t leap up and bolt at the sight of him. Recognition washed over Alden’s face, surprise widening his eyes as his lips pressed into a thin line—a telltale sign of his brewing anxiety.

The animated show had just wrapped up, the finale's catchy jingle fading into silence. The screen dimmed, leaving a cozy gloom in the room, the light casting soft highlights on Alden’s delicate features. He seemed almost ethereal, a boy wedged uncomfortably between two worlds, painfully aware that he didn’t quite fit in. But the real world had other plans for him.

Edric stepped forward, shutting the door quietly behind him.

In that brief moment, Alden slipped away. He sprang to his feet and dashed out of the living room, his heart racing.

A few seconds later, a loud “bang” echoed through the house as Alden slammed his bedroom door shut, sending a shockwave of fear and defiance through the air, shattering the warm, sweet scent that lingered.

Edric had marked Alden when he was just fifteen—a temporary mark. Alden's health was fragile; even the season of heat that all Omegas dreaded felt benign for him. To endure his heat, Edric merely bit into the tender skin on the nape of Alden’s neck.

The first couple of years, Edric had been diligent about marking him. But after that, it was all medical protocols. Doctors extracted his pheromones and injected them into Alden regularly. By now, Alden had become accustomed to the needles, and he couldn’t even remember what medications he was on.

Because of that fleeting mark, they could sense each other’s presence, attuned to the subtle nuances of their scents, always aware of where the other was.

After a pause, Edric moved closer, stopping at Alden’s bedroom door.

Inside, Alden had hidden away in the small bathtub, his safe haven.

He filled the tub with hot water, stripping down to nothing, submerging himself so only his head peeked above the water's surface. Occasionally, he set up a makeshift bed there, the lavish king-size bed in the other room having been graced by no one but Edric.

Alden sought refuge in any tiny, confined space he could find—a locked bathroom, under the bed, or the cramped confines beneath the desk.

Initially, Edric would surprise him, pulling him from these hiding spots. Alden was always caught off guard, convinced no one could track him down. Over time, he learned that Edric was relentless, capable of finding him, and he accepted that inevitability. The doctors might also extract him from his corners, but only Edric held that unnerving power.

“Alden, I’m coming in,” Edric called, rapping gently at the door.

Silence.

He nudged the door open, sidestepping the sumptuous bed, and discovered Alden, completely bare, curled up in the tiny bathroom.

Alden tightened his arms around himself, glaring defiantly. “Get out.”

Since his strange rebirth in a cartoon world, he had linked Edric to a cycle of personal death. Like a small bear that feared the water after nearly drowning, Alden now dreaded the man who had raised him.

Two months into that lifetime, Edric had come back, marking him again, deeper this time. Alden struggled to recall the whole ordeal—only the pain remained etched in his memory. Edric had pressed down on him, heavy and consuming; it felt like he couldn't breathe. After the agony came an unexpected, intoxicating pleasure, a feeling that soon spiraled into the reality of pregnancy. His body changed, day by day.

During that time, Edric’s demeanor shifted. He became a ghost, vanishing from Alden’s life.

Alden knew he was pregnant; the doctors confirmed it. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back to you," one had said.

But Edric never returned. Soon, even the doctor disappeared.

A multifunctional robot kept him company, cleaning, cooking, and even shopping for snacks. The door remained locked until the day he went into labor. In an absentminded moment, Alden felt a dampness in his pants and understood he needed to go to the hospital—the place all Omegas went to give birth, as he had seen on TV.

Once again, the robot called for help, and he was taken away, marking his first venture outside.

Edric positioned himself at the entrance of the bathroom, imposing and steady, watching Alden with an intensity that made him want to squirm. “Come out, I’ll stay with you tonight.”

Alden shook his head vehemently, pressing his hands over his torso, glaring back with deep-set, frightened eyes. “I don’t want you here. Get out.”

“Still being stubborn, huh? Just be good. I’m here to see you,” Edric replied, his tone calm yet unyielding.

He crouched down, reaching for Alden to pull him out. The doctors had warned him—never invade his safe spaces. That was a hard line, and crossing it could lead to disastrous consequences.

As he got closer, Alden snapped. “Get away! Leave!” He shouted, his voice raw with panic, lashing out with whatever he could find—a rubber duck, soap, and body wash bottles, everything light and meaningless.

When that failed, he resorted to splashing water at Edric, an utterly futile offensive. The man merely pinned him down, lifting him with ease as if he were weightless, and tossed him onto the other side of the bed.

Alden kicked and struggled, but to Edric, his resistance was nothing more than playful squirming.

Having trained in combat, Edric quickly subjugated him, pressing him down with a practiced ease that felt brutally forceful. He bit down hard on Alden’s neck, injecting pheromones that had Alden trembling uncontrollably. He might have found comfort in those pheromones, but they only ignited Alden's desperation.

Trapped beneath him, Alden's struggle deepened, his body responding against his will, instincts tearing him in two.

Edric seemed unmoved by Alden’s turmoil, fixated instead on the tender flesh of his neck, intent on further marking him.

“I’m going to take care of you,” he murmured, his voice low, heavy with something that was more than mere desire. “How old are you now, Alden?”

Alden's eyes shimmered with tears as he stared back, wordless.

“You're nineteen, right?” Edric leaned closer, his tone deceptively gentle. “The doctors think you’re eighteen, but they don’t know about your little secret. You’re back like a baby bear reborn, and we’ll keep that between us. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

He laid it out like a benevolent caregiver. “Just like the bear kept its secret from its mom and dad. We’ll say you’re still eighteen.”

How did he know this? That knowledge flooded Alden with disorientation and confusion.

“You’re lying,” Alden managed to choke out.

“It’s not a lie. Alden, this is what I call a kind lie. I’ve taught you this before; it’s possible,” Edric replied, unflinching.

Alden met his gaze, defiance simmering. “You’re lying. You can’t protect me; you want to hurt me.”

Edric paused, assessing. “How am I hurting you?”

Alden finally broke down, tears cascading down his cheeks as he squirmed, desperate for Edric to relent. “You can’t come in! Please, don’t… it hurts. I could die.”

“I won’t hurt you. All I want to do is hold you, Alden. Just sleep with you tonight. Is that okay?” Edric’s voice was a husky whisper. “See? I won’t come in too hard. I’ll just hold you.”

He gathered Alden in his arms, tucking him under the covers. Alden sobbed, digging his nails into Edric's skin, clawing for release, leaving tiny crimson trails in his wake. But Edric remained unyielding, waiting patiently until Alden’s fight faded into exhaustion.

After a moment, he relaxed his grip, gently stroking Alden’s back, comforting him.

Alden wept at the threat of death, yet somehow, it didn’t come. Edric only held him close. Eventually, the boy fell silent.

Edric leaned down, checking on him.

Alden had succumbed to sleep.

Chapter 4

Yun Qiu was barely a blip on the radar when he was thrust into the world, effectively a pawn in a power play between two rival families. The Xiao family, hungry for supremacy, snatched him away just moments after he was born, using him as leverage against the Yun family, their primary adversary.

Eighteen years ago, the Yun family towered over the landscape—a looming threat. So when Yun Qiu made his grand entrance, it was a game of chess, and the Xiao family had made their first strategic move.

Xiao Wen Shui, the eldest of the Xiao clan, was five then, and his brother, Xiao Xun Qiu, was just a year younger. To them, the new baby was just that—a baby. They hardly cared about the heavy implications of Yun Qiu's arrival. They were caught up in their own lives. Xiao Wen Shui was the serious type while Xiao Xun Qiu was all about fun, and amid their rigorous training to become the family heirs, little Yun Qiu became a rare source of joy.

It was Xiao Xun Qiu who first realized that their new brother was different. He noticed that Yun Qiu didn’t cry or laugh.

By the time Yun Qiu turned three, it became painfully evident: he wasn’t communicating, not with anyone. Their parents had died in a car crash, but the situation hardly registered for Xiao Father, who had no clue and even less interest in what his sons were up to. So Xiao Wen Shui and Xiao Xun Qiu took it upon themselves to investigate, ultimately learning that Yun Qiu was diagnosed with autism.

“Bro, our little brother’s actually high-functioning autistic,” Xiao Xun Qiu announced with a sort of pride, “He’s got a good head on him. I asked him how many little horses are in three and two. He lined up five toy horses in response.”

There was something satisfying about thisSmall victory, a strange sense of achievement.

In typical Xiao family fashion, Xiao Wen Shui and Xiao Xun Qiu launched a comprehensive treatment plan for Yun Qiu. They carved out time each day for teaching him how to speak, write, and even play games. They both bore strong resemblances, often causing confusion for Yun Qiu, but they didn’t really mind.

When Yun Qiu turned five, the brothers debated what to name him. It turned into a heated discussion, almost a brawl—Xiao Xun Qiu was adamant about the right characters for the name, unwilling to compromise with his brother.

They split a set of cards, one labeled “Shui” and the other “Qiu.” Xiao Xun Qiu cheated, whispering to Yun Qiu, “Pick the left one. I’ll save you three juicy gummy bears later.”

With a trusting nod, Yun Qiu went for “Qiu.”

Xiao Xun Qiu had a knack for getting his way, sweet-talking and charming folks while throwing in a bit of mischief. Meanwhile, Xiao Wen Shui rolled his eyes at his brother’s methods. “What’s the point? He can’t even tell us apart.”

In the galaxy governed by the Interstellar Alliance, ten was the age of adulthood, a turning point marking the acquisition of full rights and responsibilities. On the day Xiao Wen Shui turned ten, his first action was to head out and secure an ID card for Yun Qiu. The worker behind the desk was all smiles and bows, eyes gleaming with recognition. “Master Xiao, under these circumstances, he’ll need a guardian. Who’s listed?”

“They say both his parents are dead,” Xiao Wen Shui replied bluntly. “Just put my name down.”

Xiao Xun Qiu sulked over this for days, throwing little fits whenever he spotted his brother. “You’re such a jerk. You should’ve included both our names! What if Qiu only recognizes you later on?”

His protests echoed in the house as Yun Qiu sat nearby, blissfully engaged in spinning a bottle cap. By five or six, Yun Qiu was already a striking child—charming, with porcelain skin that made everyone stop and admire.

“Why would I add you?” Xiao Wen Shui shot back. “Only married folks get to share a guardian line.”

That punchline left Xiao Xun Qiu momentarily speechless.

At that time, they were all still together in the Xiao household. Their father was perpetually busy, more like a regal figure who would make grand entrances to check in on his sons, posing obligatory questions about their achievements—this was his way of “caring.”

Yet, Xiao Father’s heart was set on their futures, anxiously awaiting gender differentiation. Just because modern science could determine characteristics before birth didn’t mean the outcome was guaranteed; many babies determined to be alpha in infancy sometimes fizzled out as beta in their teenage years.

There was a whispered anticipation in the household: if neither Xiao boy blossomed into an alpha, Xiao Father might adopt one just for the sake of appearances.

A year after Xiao Wen Shui matured into an alpha at fifteen—a triumph in his father’s eyes—it was Xiao Xun Qiu who drew the short end, labeled a purely average beta, and subsequently cast out of the family with little fanfare.

Xun Qiu's absence sparked questions about Yun Qiu, especially since Xiao Father eventually caught wind of the situation. While the distinctions between alpha and beta could take time to reveal, omegas were easy to spot by age four or five. Yet curiously, Xiao Father did not meddle with Yun Qiu's fate. He fully endorsed the idea that his eldest son should keep an omega around, recognizing Yun Qiu’s pristine lineage and total lack of ambition or manipulative tendencies—perfect qualities for a silent player in their family game.

Everything unfolded like clockwork, as if the universe was pacing itself. By the time Yun Qiu entered his own phase of adolescence, Xiao Wen Shui ensured that he was marked, a yearly ritual that had taken on a rhythm of its own.

Without his brother around, the dynamic altered. Yun Qiu, always a quiet soul, now found himself in the presence of a single companion. Xiao Wen Shui wasn’t as adept at coaxing joy out of their young sibling, lacking Xiao Xun Qiu’s playful energy. Nevertheless, Yun Qiu remained blissfully unaware of the shift—his sense of reliance grounded in the familiarity of one steadfast face.

Then came the doctor, another presence promising to bridge the gaps between solitude and connection—and for Yun Qiu, who lived in the smooth continuation of experience, it all felt like just another twist in a long game.

Chapter 5

As the year drew to a close in Alden Windsor's eighteenth year, a doctor delivered news that felt like a sledgehammer crashing down on him. “Edric Blackwood, Alden’s hormone levels have been all over the map for the past few years. His immune system is already weak, and this instability is only making things worse. It complicates his autism treatment. We have two options: we can surgically remove Alden’s omega glands and change him into a beta, or we can find him an alpha who can stabilize him through his heat cycles.”

Edric Blackwood chose the surgery.

But before the operation could even take place, Alden had an unexpected flare-up of his heat cycle during one of Edric’s visits. Edric was usually prepared with hormone inhibitors, but this time he had let his guard down. Alden's pheromones flooded the room, overwhelming Edric to the point where he barely recognized himself.

All he remembered was how soft and sweet Alden felt, intoxicatingly sweet, driving him to the edge of reason again and again. Alden squirmed, clearly scared and in pain, yet there was a trust deep in his eyes that told Edric he wouldn’t harm him. He complied, despite his fear, allowing Edric to claim him, their bodies weaving together until Alden was entirely marked, his skin painted with the colors of adulthood.

By the time he learned that Alden was pregnant with his child, it was too late. Alden was gone.

Sometimes, Edric couldn’t help but think that a child like Alden didn’t truly grasp what it meant to live or die. Like a TV show that could be paused or rewound at will; perhaps Alden thought life worked in the same way—able to stretch or skip ahead whenever he wanted.

But now, it seemed, Alden understood.

*

Edric held Alden throughout the night, the warmth of their connection wrapping around them. Alden slept soundly, engulfed in Edric’s pheromones, a blanket of safety.

But when morning arrived, everything fell apart again. Alden had retreated under the bed, refusing to come out.

“Alden?” Edric crouched down, peering beneath the bed. “If you don’t come out, there’s no small bear to watch.”

“I don’t want to watch! Go away!” came Alden’s muffled protest.

Edric sighed, his tone flat but gentle. “Alright, then. You stay there while I head out.”

He knew well enough that those with autism could be rigid in their routines—bedtime had to be followed, toys had to be in the right place. He was just waiting for Alden to emerge.

Returning to the living room, Edric turned on the TV, blasting “Winnie the Pooh: An Adventure Awaits!” and filling the house with the childish jingle and exaggerated characters.

But even after the first episode rolled by, Alden still didn’t surface.

Patience running thin, Edric played it again. By the time the closing credits rolled for the second time, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He stood up and peeked back into Alden’s room.

Alden remained hidden, glaring at him with grudging defiance.

It wasn’t until the doctor arrived, carrying an oversized teddy bear—just like from the show—that Alden finally crawled out. The little polar bear plush was soft and squishy, perfect for snuggling.

“Let me see the bear!” Alden’s voice brightened instantly.

The doctor chuckled, “Nope, not until you come out. If you do, I’ll let you take care of it.”

Reluctantly, Alden emerged, his body tense but curious. Edric watched as Alden crawled out, peeking at him from behind the doctor.

“Be polite, Alden, Edric is here to stay with you,” the doctor reminded him.

Alden reluctantly raised his gaze but remained apprehensive. Yesterday’s fears of being hurt hadn’t come to pass; Edric hadn’t introduced the scary thing that had made him pregnant. That reassurance eased Alden’s tension a bit. Yet the memory of his own death still nagged at him. Clutching his new bear tightly, he mustered a cautious, “Hello.”

Edric shifted slightly, offering a bit more space by the door.

Seeing his chance, Alden bolted from the room and plopped down cross-legged in front of the coffee table, turning on the TV.

The doctor spoke softly with Edric for a moment before grabbing a notepad to check in on Alden’s condition today.

After settling in to watch another half-episode, the doctor paused the show when the credits began to roll. “Alright, Alden.”

Alden, used to the doctor’s daily routine of questions, looked a bit annoyed but complied nonetheless.

“How did you sleep? Any dreams?” the doctor inquired.

“Good. No dreams,” Alden reported.

“How about food? Did you stick to the half-bag of chips I told you about?”

Immediately, Alden piped up, “I listened! I ate all my meals and only half a bag of chips!”

The doctor scribbled that down. “Fantastic appetite, but too many snacks again.”

Alden sagged a bit, then asked, “When can I have another bag of chips?”

“Let’s see how you behave, Alden. If you do well, I’ll bring you ice cream next time. Your stomach’s better—it can handle it now.”

Alden shook his head stubbornly. “I want chips.”

The doctor relented, “How about I bring chips and ice cream? You should really try the ice cream; it’s made of snow, and it’s better than the candy you’ve been snacking on.”

“I want it tomorrow,” Alden insisted. “I can trade you a secret for it.”

The doctor, seasoned in Alden’s tricks, responded dryly, “Alright, let’s hear your secret, and I’ll see if it’s worth a bag of chips.”

Alden glanced back at Edric before leaning in to whisper something in the doctor’s ear.

The doctor flinched, visibly taken aback.

Edric remained expressionless.

The doctor understood he didn’t need to ask; he’d provide input if he found it necessary. The home’s computer was never online; they safeguarded Alden from outside influences. Everything Alden watched was vetted by the doctor as part of his treatment. Alden was blissfully unaware of their cell phones.

As the doctor typed away, his hands trembled slightly, caught off guard by Alden’s words.

The boy’s bright, innocent voice echoed, gossiping about Edric: “I’ll tell you a secret. He’s a bad person, and I don't like him at all right now.”

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