Alpha 83

I was at a loss to understand whether or not

I should believe this little child’s words. It seemed to me that she was not aware of the truth. On the other hand, how could Natalia even hide the truth fro

After heaving a sigh, I shook my head. “Didn’t Eric go to your parents‘ meeting?”

As a response, she gave me a slight nod. “But that was because Mommy had an exam that day. Uncle Eric told her not to worry, and he then accompan

“She had an exam? She is studying?”

“Mommy has just finished her studies. Don’t you know that?”

I was not aware of it. Did Natalia continue her studies? She had even completed her graduation?

It was then that I recalled how she had given up her schooling in order to marry

me. At that time, her adoptive father told me that she had decided not to continue her education. I thought she was not a good student, so I did

not ask her about it.

While I was thinking about it, Aria’s mumble reached my ears.

“Uncle Eric once told us to call him dad. But Mommy hushed

us and told us that we should not refer to another man as our dad. He just loves us a lot, so that’s why he said that to us; we should not

take it seriously.”

I was stunned by her words. I lowered my head to look at her face and asked,

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“Then who is your dad?”

Her eyes were filled with tears as she gazed at me. “He is not with us. He is no more.”

I was shocked. “What?”

“Mommy said our dad is no more. She said not to talk about him in our lives. So Noah and I never talk about him.”

“He is no more?” I muttered while repeating her words.

I straightened my back and sat up as my thoughts began to

mess up. Her words blew my mind. If Eric were really their father, Natalia would not have said that to her children. It was

impossible for her to destroy an image of their father when he was still in their lives.

Somewhere, I felt a heaviness move from my chest. Despite the fact that I was unaware of the reason behind it, the news that their father was not alive l

“Tell me something more about your dad,” I told her.

She shook her head. “No. Mommy said not to talk about him.”

I rubbed my forehead as everything was stirring up my senses. Aria looked sad once again.

I got out of the car and went to open the door on her side. I bent down and carried her.

“Let’s go get some ice cream. Don’t be sad.”

She hugged my neck tightly. She was frightened that she would be lost again. I made her feel secure by holding her tightly in my

arms.

Everyone looked at us as soon as I walked into the ice cream parlor.

I went straight to the counter, paying no attention to the other people there.

“Order wherever you want.‘

She chose the vanilla and chocolate flavors and grabbed the ice cream when the staff placed it on the counter.

“Do you want to eat here or inside the car?”

She took a peek around and replied,

“It’s beautiful. I want to eat here.‘

As I made my way to the last table, I made her take a seat in one of the chairs, and then I got into the chair that was directly across from her.

The expression on her face was one of pure joy as she began to consume ice cream. I found her cute. She reminded me of her

mother.

While I was looking at her, I couldn’t help but wonder if her mother had been just as childish when she was younger.

It came to my mind that she had to live the life of an orphan. Was she forced to live a life of poverty, or did she have the

opportunity to live a life of luxury? As far as I can remember, Gamma Jeremy did not adopt Natalia at this young age.

“How is mom?” I asked her out of nowhere.

She looked at me and replied,

“She is the best mom in the world.”

“And?”

“She wants us to be happy. So Noah and I want her to be happy too.”

“How?”

As if someone else were going to pay attention to what she had to say, she leaned a little bit closer to me.

“I heard my grandma saying to my grandpa that my mommy is alone, so she needs a husband who can protect her.”

I was caught off guard. I averted my gaze from her and inquired,

“What more does your grandma say?”

“She said my mommy always cried alone. But she never showed her pain to us.”

My heart froze when I heard her. Why did that woman cry? Wasn’t she happy with her boyfriend?

“Is your Uncle Eric her boyfriend?”

Her eyes widened. “Is he?”

“I’m asking you.”

I had lost my mind. What was I even asking a child? Why am I so desperate to know about her mother’s life?

“Leave it,” I muttered.

“Uncle Eric is my uncle Jason’s friend. He is very caring. Noah and I like him a lot.”

I got furious at hearing praise about Eric from her mouth.

“Are you done?” I asked as I got to my feet.

She glanced at her ice cream and shook her head.

After letting out a sigh, I sat down once more. I did not inquire about anything and instead allowed her to eat her ice cream peacefully.

At that time, I got a call from a familiar number.

Unexpectedly, my mood lightened up. I glanced at Aria and received the call.

“Where is my daughter?”

Natalia’s voice reached my ears. I did not speak but only heard the sounds of her frantic breathing.

“Why are you not speaking? Where is she?” she shouted from the other end of the phone.

“She is with me,” I replied with a cold tone.

“Give my daughter back to me. Why did you kidnap her? She is just a child. How can you stoop so low, Adrian? Do you have any shame?”

Her words did not make me angry. I listened to her with serenity.

I wondered what Patric had told her. Did he say I kidnapped her daughter? Did I have no other work left in my life?

“Do you want me to return your projects? Tell me, Adrian. What do you want?”

“Truth.”

“W–What?”

I looked at Aria, who grinned at me. Though I gave her a small smile in return, my voice did not change a little bit when I replied to her mother.

“I want to know the truth about your children’s father. I’m sending you

an address. Come and pick up your daughter. But today, you will not be able to leave without disclosing the truth to me.”

D