Chapter 4

Kaida Pov

“What do you want, Audrey?”

I swirled to address the person behind me.

Who else would it be if it's not the one true love of my husband—Audrey Stanley?

She stood in front of me proudly as if she had won, or maybe she had.

Her eyes that glared at me contained the usual mockery which I had gotten used to. Audrey was beautiful, and this is something I can't deny. She has this gentle and pitiful appearance that all men fall for, including Ken.

I had always felt guilty whenever I remembered that I had ruined the relationship between Ken and his lover and for years, I silently blamed myself but that was until I met Audrey and realised she was not as gentle as she presented herself.

“What do I want?” she asked sweetly, though her tone carried thorns. “I just want to know why you keep forcing things. You and I both know Ken doesn’t love you. He’s only with you because his father forced him.”

She stepped closer.

I didn’t move.

Then she leaned near my ear.

“Even if you fake your bastard son’s illness, he will never love you.”

My fingers curled tightly.

“What did you just call my child?” I asked quietly.

Audrey lifted a brow.

“Isn’t that what he is? The son of a home wrecker.”

Her words went straight to my brain. My mind exploded and without thinking, I raised my hand, but—

Leo…

My lips trembled as I remembered what today meant for Leo.

“Calm down, Kaida. Just endure it.. For Leo.” I muttered.

I lowered my hand slowly.

“You can think whatever you want,” I said calmly. “But don’t call Leo a bastard. He is innocent. Ken and I are fated mates. Whether he admits it or not, that truth remains. Leo was born while I was married to him.”

Her jaw tightened.

Before she could reply, a sharp cry cut through the air.

She froze.

“Samantha?!” she screamed and ran.

My heart dropped.

“Darn it! Where is Leo?”

Without waiting, I rushed after her.

A small crowd had gathered.

Samantha sat on the ground crying, her princess gown dusty. A boy stood in front of her, pale.

My face turned blue as I recognised who it was—Leo.

I ran towards him immediately and pulled him to my side.

“Baby, what's going on? Are you hurt anywhere?” I asked nervously as I checked his body.

“Mama, she—”

“Kaida! How could your son push Samantha?” Audrey’s voice pierced through. “Does he hate her that much?”

I pulled Leo into my arms and hugged him tightly, then turned to Audrey who raged as she hugged her daughter who wouldn't stop crying.

Though I didn't know what had happened, I wouldn't let anyone blame my son that way.

“We don’t even know what happened,” I said firmly.

“What?! Samantha said he pushed her!” Audrey cried.

My lips tightened but before I could respond—

“What is going on here?!”

The air shifted instantly.

Leo’s body stiffened against mine so I had to pat his back to calm him down as his body had begun to tremble.

I pursed my lips as I watched Ken walk closer to us, but before I could say anything, Audrey rushed into his arms, holding Samantha tightly.

“Alpha, please can you check on Samantha? She was pushed.”

Ken’s gaze fell on the bruise on Samantha’s leg.

His jaw tightened.

“Who did this?”

“Daddy… Leo pushed me,” I heard Samantha sobbed.

I felt all eyes focused on us immediately. I swallowed nervously, but stared straight at Ken.

“Leo wouldn't do that,” I said. “You know he has always been obedient.”

But, has Ken ever listened to me? The answer was obvious.

He didn't even look at me, instead, he stared straight at the trembling Leo in my arms, and before I could stop him, he had pulled him away from me and dropped him in the middle of the crowd.

My eyes widened in shock as I looked at my son who stood like he was about to be interrogated.

I watched nervously as Ken bent in front of him.

“Leo, why did you push Samantha to the ground?” his cold voice asked.

My fingers curled tightly as all eyes focused on my son.

Leo shook his head quickly. “I didn’t.”

“Liar!” Samantha cried.

Leo looked at his father, eyes wide.

“Papa… I didn’t. Samantha lies. She called me a bastard. Papa…” His voice broke.

“That’s not true!” Audrey snapped.

“Papa… believe Leo. I didn’t.”

Tears slid down his face, but he didn’t look away from Ken.

My heart tightened as I watched him.

I turned to Ken and watched as his brows furrowed. I held my breath as I waited.

“Apologise to Samantha.”

The whole place was silent, and even my brain experienced shock.

Leo and I stared at Ken in disbelief.

“How could he— he… he didn't even listen to the explanation Leo gave.”

My heart shook and without wanting to endure this, I rushed forward immediately.

“How could you be so biased?! Didn't you hear him?! She called our son a bastard!” I cried out.

I could already hear the heartbreaking whimpers of Leo.

Ken gave me an indifferent glare, then focused on Leo again.

“Leo.” He called, “Apologise right now!”

I turned to look at my son with so much distress.

He stood there stubbornly, fist clenched tightly to his side. He didn't look at anyone and only his trembling body showed his reaction. I saw the pearls of tears that fell from his eyes, and as I watched his lips tremble stubbornly, my heart broke into pieces.

“Leo!” Ken snapped and my heart couldn't help but jump in fear.

Leo couldn't be triggered!

Finally, I couldn't help it. I pulled Leo into my arms and glared at every one of them.

“Enough!” I yelled. “He hasn't done anything wrong so why should he apologise?! You should be the one apologising to him!” I shouted then focused on Ken.

“Did you forget what you promised?! Is this the way you show him fatherly love?! How could you be biased?!”

“Kaida!” He roared but I didn't back down but glared back.

Ken suddenly sneered, “You asked me to spend time with him as he was sick. But can a sick child have the strength to push another?”

My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at the man in front of me.

“Is this the way you trained him? To be disobedient and he wouldn't apologise when he does wrong. He had pushed Samantha to the ground and injured her and he wouldn't admit to his wrongdoing. Is this supposed to be the upbringing of the son of a pack Alpha?!”

I felt Leo’s body tremble on mine and my eyes stung until my tears fell uncontrollably.

“He is just like you.”

My heart thumped as I stared at the person in front of me.

“Until you have learned to apologise, you should think about what you did wrong.”

And with these words, Ken carried Samantha carefully, and Audrey walked beside him. No one looked back at us.

“Mama… Leo really didn’t mean to push her.”

I snapped back to my senses and looked down.

Leo’s face was pale. Tears covered his cheeks.

“I believe you,” I whispered, wiping his face. “Mama believes you.”

“But Papa didn’t…” His voice trembled. “I didn’t do it, Mama.”

I held him tightly.

“I know,” I murmured, stroking his back. “Just breathe, Leo. Breathe.”

He clutched my clothes.

“Leo is not a bastard… but why does Papa not want Leo?”

My heart broke into many pieces but my arms tightened around him.

L