Chapter 397: A Kid Blinded To Emotions

Aiden had already fired the gun, but his small body couldn’t handle the pressure from the recoil. He was thrown several feet back, along with Aaron, who had been about to stop him.

The bullet didn’t reach Aeldric, but it hit the arm of one of the guards standing behind him.

It left the bystanders, the guards, baffled that this little boy truly dared shot the gun, and at the person whom the entire mafia world was scared of.

Serena rushed to the two kids and hugged them tightly. "Are you two alright?"

Aaron nodded, while Aiden looked toward Aeldric over his mother’s shoulder. The old man he wanted to kill was still sitting there, entirely unharmed. His small face darkened with displeasure of failure.

He probably failed to understand he was just a little boy.

"He didn’t die," Aiden mumbled.

Serena immediately looked at him and shook her head. "You’re not supposed to do that."

"But I want him to die," Aiden said resolutely.

Serena simply hugged him tighter, trying to divert his mind from the killing instinct and stop him from talking further.

Alexander came over and gently lifted Aiden into his arms to take him away.

"Where are you taking him?" Aeldric asked.

"I need to check if my son is alright—"

"He’s perfectly fine. Just now he was glaring at me to see if I was still alive," Aeldric said. "Put him down. Let me talk to him."

"My son needs rest," Alexander retorted, meeting his father’s gaze coldly. "You already got your wish of having one of my sons."

The old man smirked. "Very well. From tomorrow, he’s mine."

Alexander walked away with Aiden in his arms, while Serena held Aaron’s hand and followed him after making sure Aaron was okay.

"I can walk," Aiden said to Alexander—his tone as if he were speaking to a stranger.

"I know. Stay put," Alexander said in a warning tone.

Since Alexander had never been consistently present in their lives—only visiting a few times a year—Aiden wasn’t close to him. He was much closer to his mother.

On the other hand, Aaron, though close to his mother as well, respected Alexander. If his brother didn’t show any affection toward their father, Aaron felt it was his responsibility to do so.

This was the reason Aiden called Aaron "Daddy’s boy" and referred to himself as a "Mama’s boy."

Aiden didn’t argue with his father and allowed him to carry him. Though he didn’t show Alexander any affection as a son, he didn’t hate him either.

Both kids accepted him in their own ways—only because Alexander was the man their mother loved.

Inside the room, Serena looked at her younger son, who seemed completely unaware of what he had done wrong.

"Aiden, I’ve been trying to be patient with you. We’ve talked about how to behave while you’re here, but... you’ve truly disappointed me now..." she said.

He kept his gaze fixed on the toy in his hands and said, "That man makes you worry, Mom. Once he’s dead, you won’t have to worry anymore."

"That’s for me to handle. You don’t have to meddle in," Serena said, her temper on the verge of breaking. But Aiden sat there as if he felt nothing at all.

This boy was blind to any emotions.

She wanted to scold him, but Alexander held her hand. There was never any use in scolding Aiden—he would listen to everything she said, but none of it seemed to sink in. She had tried everything: punishing, scolding, being soft and reasoning with him. Nothing ever worked.

She sighed and looked at Alexander, her voice low and helpless. "I’m scared. I see myself in him, Alex. I don’t want him to be like me."

"There’s nothing wrong with you. Aren’t you doing well?" he said. "He’ll be fine as he grows up. He just needs time."

"I don’t know anymore. I just want to leave this place as soon as possible—before it spoils Aiden even more. Today he even held the gun in his hand without any fear, not sure what would he do next," she said in a panicked voice. "I don’t want our kids to have the same childhood as us. I don’t want them involved in any of this. I want an ordinary life for them."

"Tomorrow morning, you’re leaving. I promised you," he assured her, pulling her into a hug to comfort her.

During dinner, the Riverdale family was finally peaceful, as Aeldric was pleased with what his grandson had shown he was capable of. He enjoyed his meal heartily and couldn’t wait for the next day to arrive—when Serena would leave and Aiden would finally fall into his hands.

That night, after putting the kids to sleep in Alexander’s bed, Serena sat beside Aaron, knowing she would be leaving him behind. Her eyes wouldn’t leave his innocent face—this boy who always showed maturity when it was most needed. He constantly tried to fulfill what Aiden lacked, becoming a truly responsible older brother at such a young age.

Alexander stood by the window of the grand bedroom, speaking quietly on the phone. Once he ended the call, he walked over to Serena.

"All the arrangements have been made just as we planned. Tomorrow, all you have to do is follow through until next month," he said.

Serena stood up and faced him. "I have to leave Aaron here for an entire month. I don’t like it."

"Next month, Father has to attend an important summit with all the Mafia leaders. That’s our only chance—when his attention will be fully diverted from Aaron. I’ll leave with him then, just as we decided, and come to you. Once we’re gone, he won’t be able to find us again."

"That’s the only hope that keeps me going."

Alexander hummed softly in agreement while Serena studied his face. He had been quiet the entire day, enduring his father’s relentless behavior for the sake of his family, bottling up his frustration and keeping his calm. She felt sorry for him—but there was nothing she could do.

It was a burden they both had to bear.