In a vast mansion, silence ruled…
until the cries of a newborn 1 month old infant broke through it.
The baby cried—again and again.
But no one came.
James rushed down the hallway, panic in his small steps.
"What are you all doing?!
My little brother is crying… he needs food!"
The butler lowered his head slightly.
"Sir James… Master has ordered us not to assist the child…
until the results of the paternity test arrive."
(A/N)
In most families, the birth of a son is a joyous occasion.
But not here.
The newborn possessed striking features—snow-white hair and piercing blue eyes, deep enough to lose oneself in.
Instead of pride, they brought suspicion.
Marcus—the father—believed either his wife had betrayed him…
or the child had been switched.
A DNA test was ordered immediately.
After all… it had happened before.
Marcus himself was once a switched child, placed into wealth through deception.
In a world ruled by power and benefit, trust was a weakness—even between family.
Marcus glanced at the report, his expression unreadable.
"…So he is mine."
He folded the paper.
"Inform Iris. She may feed him…
or arrange for milk to be brought in."
Iris, cold and distant, didn't even turn.
"I am not feeding that child.
He caused trouble between us the moment he was born."
She paused.
"…Though I suppose he does carry superior genes."
On the other side of the mansion—
James carefully held the baby in his arms, struggling slightly as he fed him milk through a pacifier.
"There you go… slowly…"
The baby—Satoru—gripped James's finger.
For a moment… James froze.
Then smiled.
"Hahaha… don't worry."
In his childish voice, soft but determined—
"Big brother will always be there for you."
A small pause.
"…Even if I wish Mom and Dad were too."
He gently placed Satoru into the crib, rocking it slowly.
The crying stopped.
Silence returned—
but this time… it felt warmer.
Time passed.8 months passed
James now 6 years
: James was now six years old.
He sat beside the crib, leaning in with excitement.
"Say it… big brother.
Big… brother."
Satoru, only eight months old, blinked up at him.
"Baa… guh… brooo…"
James lit up immediately.
"Hey—hey! You almost said it!"
From the side—
Growlethe let out a playful growl.
"Grrruuuff…"
It jumped closer, gently licking Satoru's tiny feet.
Satoru burst into soft giggles.
"Ba—ba—ahh!"
Kicking his legs, trying to grab at Growlethe.
James laughed but tried to act serious.
"Nooo, Growlethe! Don't distract him—
he was learning!"
Satoru turned toward James again, reaching out with tiny hands—
grabbing his finger tightly.
"Buh…"
James froze for a moment…
then smiled softly.
"Yeah… close enough."
Putting him down