267

267


Leo, a vibrant and curious three-year-old, longed deeply for the presence of a father in his life. Yet, his father, Alpha Xavier, seemed absent not only from his son’s world but also from his mother’s. In Leo’s innocent understanding, his father might as well have been banished from existence. To him, Alpha Xavier was not only distant but also unworthy—an unfaithful alpha who had hurt his mother. In Leo’s young heart, resentment burned brightly, and he despised the man he had never truly known.

"Leo, I didn’t abandon you or your mother by choice," Alpha Xavier said in a plea, his voice filled with regret.

Leo looked up at him, confusion flickering in his wide, innocent eyes. "What do you mean you had no choice?" he asked, his tone both curious and accusatory.

Bella, sensing the tension in the room, gently stepped in and tried to ease her son’s mind. "There’s an explanation behind what your father did," she said softly. "There were reasons for the decisions he made—like his engagement to that woman."

Leo frowned, the memory of Alpha Xavier’s engagement ceremony with Samantha replaying vividly in his mind. "So it wasn’t because he wanted to marry another woman?" Leo asked, struggling to reconcile what he had seen with the words his mother was now saying.

"No, it wasn’t like that," Bella reassured him, her voice calm but firm. "The engagement wasn’t real. It was just for show."

Leo, however, was unconvinced. "But I saw it with my own eyes, Mom. Don’t lie to me," he pressed, his stubbornness showing.

Bella sighed, trying to find the right words to explain the situation in a way Leo could understand. "I’m not lying to you, sweetheart," she said gently. "The woman your father was engaged to was unwell. He only agreed to the engagement so he could take care of her."

Though Bella spoke with confidence, she knew her explanation wasn’t entirely truthful. She remembered Alpha Xavier once telling her that Samantha couldn’t have children, which was one of the reasons behind the engagement. She used this as a way to justify his actions to Leo.

"But why couldn’t Daddy take care of us instead of her?" Leo asked, his young mind unable to grasp why his father would prioritize someone else over their family.

"Your father felt responsible for her," Bella replied, her voice trembling slightly. "He believed he owed her something. And it’s not that he didn’t love you, Leo—it’s that he didn’t even know you existed."

Leo’s confusion deepened. "Why didn’t he know about me?" he asked, his tone tinged with frustration.

Bella hesitated before admitting the truth. "Because I didn’t tell him," she said softly. "I didn’t even realize I was pregnant with you at first. And when I did, I didn’t want him to know."

"Was it because Dad hurt you?" Leo asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and concern.

Bella nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes," she said. "Your father broke my heart back then. That’s why I didn’t tell him about you. By the time you were born, your father and I were no longer together. He had no idea that you existed."

Leo listened carefully, the pieces of the story finally starting to come together in his mind. Yet, the bitterness he felt toward his father remained. "Even so, Dad is a bad person," he said firmly. "He hurt you, Mom. I can’t forgive him for that."

Bella sighed, realizing how deeply hurt her son was. "Leo, it’s not entirely your father’s fault," she said gently. "Sometimes, adults make mistakes. You’ll understand when you’re older. For now, just remember that both your father and I love you very much."

But Leo shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "I don’t believe Dad loves me," he said stubbornly. "If he did, he wouldn’t have left you or gotten engaged to someone else."

Bella felt a pang in her chest. Changing Leo’s perspective on Alpha Xavier would be no easy task. "Your father has already ended the engagement," she said, trying to reassure him. "He’s not with anyone now."

Leo looked at her intently. "Mom, have you forgiven him?" he asked, searching her face for an answer.

Bella nodded slowly, her voice carrying a sense of resignation. "Yes, I’ve forgiven your father," she said. "And you should forgive him too. Holding onto anger will only make you unhappy. Love is the only way to heal and move forward."

Her words hung in the air, and as she spoke them, Bella couldn’t help but reflect on her own life. She had spent years harboring resentment toward Beta Craig, and all it had brought her was pain. She knew it was unrealistic to expect Leo to let go of his anger immediately, but she hoped he would find peace in time.

Meanwhile, in another part of the house, Elinor called out for Alpha Xavier, but he ignored her. He couldn’t hide his growing disappointment in his mother. The respect and love he had once felt for her had been eroded by her constant scheming. If he had the choice, he thought bitterly, he would have preferred not to have such a mother at all.

After spending some time alone in his study, Alpha Xavier rose from his desk and made his way to the door. Elinor spotted him as he stepped into the hallway. "Xavier, what were you doing in there?" she asked sharply. "You’ve been in there for so long, and you haven’t even eaten. Do you know what time it is?" Turning to Riya, she barked, "Hurry up and set the table!"

Riya quickly prepared the meal and laid the food out. But Alpha Xavier, still consumed by his thoughts, found he had no appetite. Even so, he invited Mark to join him, knowing his loyal companion must be hungry after standing by his side all day.

The two men sat in silence, the food tasteless in Xavier’s mouth. When Mark finally put down his chopsticks, Xavier followed suit, his mind far from the dining table. Seated nearby in her wheelchair, Elinor watched her son closely, noting how much weight he had lost recently. But when Xavier caught her gaze, he gave her a sarcastic smile before abruptly standing and walking out the door.

"Xavier, where are you going?" Elinor called after him.

"I’m going out for some air," he replied curtly, his tone making it clear he didn’t want to be followed. Mark trailed behind him, but Xavier stopped and turned to him. "Go home," he said firmly. "You don’t need to stay with me."

Mark hesitated, unwilling to leave Xavier alone, but Xavier insisted. "I need some time to think. Go home and rest. You’ll be more useful to me after you’ve had a good night’s sleep."

Once Mark finally left, Xavier wandered into the garden, seeking solitude. The cool night air did little to calm his turbulent thoughts. He had spent hours in the study trying to process everything, but his anger continued to simmer. He knew that arguing with his mother would solve nothing—this was a problem that required more than heated words.

Lighting a cigarette, Xavier let the smoke swirl around him as he pondered his next move. In another part of the city, Itzel was already setting new plans in motion. Upon leaving the Xavier estate, she immediately contacted Pamela to inform her of Bella’s pregnancy. Pamela, hearing the news, grew anxious. "This complicates things," she said. "We need to take action. Why don’t we get rid of the baby?"

Itzel frowned. "That’s not a good idea," she cautioned. "The child Bella is carrying is essential to saving Leo. If you harm the baby, they’ll just try again. They won’t stop until they succeed."

As their conversation continued, neither woman realized the challenges and consequences their schemes would soon face. Darkness loomed on the horizon, with both sides preparing for the battles ahead.