Adrian’s POV

I held my gaze on the young child, noticing animosity in his eyes. It should have been I glaring at him. He was someone else's child, the product of a one-night stand. What gave this boy the strength to look at me like that?

I shifted my gaze to Natalia. Had she said something to him about me? Brainwashed him?

My assumption proved wrong when she rushed to him, scolding him.

"Noah, don't talk like that. He's our guest."

"Mommy, I don't like this man."

I glared at Noah, scoffing when his mother hid him behind her. He peeked out.

"Uncle."

Small fingers wrapped around my finger. I lowered my head and saw Aria. Hesitantly, I looked at her, realizing my mistake: I'd believed she was my child. I recalled spending the day with her, thinking she was my daughter.

"Aria, go back to your room with Noah," Natalia said.

I looked away from Aria. I wanted to hold her again, but the report in my mind made me snatch my finger away. She was shocked, her eyes teary.

"Uncle, what happened? Are you mad at me?"

Tears in her eyes tightened my fists. Fuck! I made her cry! I cursed internally, bending to pick her up.

"What are you doing?" Natalia asked, her voice sharp.

"Can't you see?" I replied coldly.

I'd come for an alliance, but hadn't expected to learn she was eager to marry Beta Eric. Knowing that, I never would have come.

I focused on Aria, who avoided my eyes. From behind his mother, Noah blurted out, "Aria, come here. Stay away from him."

I glared, but he didn't care. Who gave him the audacity to look at me without fear? Even his mother feared me.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" I asked Aria.

Natalia seemed surprised by my soft tone. Why did I always see fear in her eyes? What was she afraid of?

"Uncle, you scolded me," Aria whispered.

I patted her head. "How can I apologize? Do you want to go for ice cream?" I asked, remembering the day I'd taken her.

Her eyes brightened. She wiped her tears and nodded.

"No way. Aria, get down," Natalia said, approaching. Noah followed.

She tried to take Aria away, but I shifted to prevent her.

"Mommy, I want ice cream," Aria said, smiling.

"I'll buy you ice cream. Get down. Didn't I tell you not to touch strangers?"

My blood boiled. Why did she think I had bad intentions toward her daughter? She was just a child, and I… adored her.

"No, Mommy."

"ARIA!"

Natalia's shout made Aria flinch, her body jerking in fear. She cried, clearly unused to such harshness.

"How can you shout at her like that?" I asked furiously.

Natalia grabbed Aria's arms and pulled her away.

"Keep your distance from my children," she warned, leaving the living room.

I remained expressionless until she was gone. Her brother refusing to let me stay in his pack house was humiliating, but her snatching Aria away was worse. Did I look like a child thief?

"Stay away from my mommy."

Noah's angry voice. He was still there.

I rolled my eyes. "What's your problem? Why do you behave like this?"

"Because you deserve it. You're a bad man."

He was just like his mother. Their words were identical.

"And this bad man can do many bad things too. Have you forgotten?"

His eyes widened. The fear on his face made me chuckle. He might be scared of me now.

"Don't hurt my mommy."

I was taken aback. He wasn't afraid for himself, but for his mother.

An idea struck me. "Your mommy's going to marry Eric. Do you know that?"

"Really?" he asked, smiling brightly.

I narrowed my eyes. Why was he so happy? I wanted to provoke him, to break the relationship, but he seemed pleased. I didn't like this. The thought of her with someone else was maddening.

"He's not a good man."

"You're lying. Uncle Eric's a good person. I want him to be my dad."

"How dare you call just anyone your dad?" I didn't like him calling Eric "dad."

"He takes care of Mommy. He's not like you."

His words surprised me. "What do you mean?"

Something was clearly going on in his head. Why did he say that? Why would I take care of his mother? Why the comparison?

I thought about arguing, but his silence stopped me. I turned to leave, but before reaching the door, I heard him mumbling, "You hurt my mommy a lot. I hate you."

The final sentence is incomplete and likely contains a typo. The promotional text at the end should be removed as it's irrelevant to the passage itself.