Chapter 31: My Child

Mary frowned. She knew that they were looking down on her because they thought she was poor but why? She was wearing expensive clothes and even had a set of jewelry. Why were they so sure that she was not a trustworthy woman?

"What do you mean? Why could he not be here? Even if we can not pay, should you be so cold towards a child?" she chided as she did not like the arrogant woman whose face was full of disdain.

"Did you not understand?" Sibley tilted her head as she gave the child the most disgusting look she had ever seen.

"It is not about money anymore. We just could not stand the presence of a filthy woman like you and a bastard child like him." she snorted as she tried to walk past stunned Mary who only returned to her senses a second later.

"What did you say?" When Mary was about to scold the woman for imagining too much, she heard the cold voice of the man. It was so dangerous that she shivered. Cassian stood at the door.

His face was so dark and cold as he looked at them that Mary flinched for a second but then glared back. It was all because of him.

On the other side, Lady Sibley, who had only seen Cassian's cold face from a distance, was surprised to see the Duke there. His son was lost long ago? Did he still collect toys for the child? How caring! Her face brightened instantly as she smiled and walked toward the man.

"Your highness!" she bowed her head followed by Amelia, the shop owner.

"I have never thought I would meet you here, your highness." She smiled and raised her head.

"Are you here to buy a toy? Shall I suggest you one?" That would be an excellent chance to connect with the man. Her husband would be ecstatic when she would brag about this fateful meeting.

"What did you call that child?" Cassian tilted his head and looked at the woman with cold eyes. His voice was grim but devoid of emotion, so Sibley could not understand what he was thinking.

She looked back at Alec and her face was twisted with anger.

"Ah! I apologize for presenting an unsightly look to you but I just could not stand a woman like her! They had no shame at all. She even called her lover with that child and asked me to give my daughter's toy to her son. They just did not know their place." She shook her head as if ashamed for Mary.

"Her lover must be following soon so we should not pay her much attention. Though I wanted to throw her and her bastard child out of the shop but at the same time I did not want to create a scene. After all, the child is not committing a mistake. It is a pity that he was born out of this kind of relationship and such a man was his father." She sighed as she waved her hands as if she was feeling hot because of her surging emotions.

She must look kind and thoughtful in that way. Right? Would the Duke be impressed with her? What if she leaves a deep impression on him as a benevolent woman? She could not help but suppress her glee as the thought crossed her mind.

"A bastard child? Did you mean his father is…" He could not speak further as his body shook with rage. He had never beaten a woman but that did not mean he had sworn not to do that.

"Of course, his father was a jerk who had an affair with that woman! Who knows if he was even married or maybe he had many lovers like her?" She gave a cold and disgusted stare to the woman but was surprised to see that the woman was laughing with joy. Such a shameless woman! She scoffed and looked back at Cassian.

But her heart thudded as their eyes met. For some reason, she felt that Cassian seemed even colder and fiercer at the same time.

"Ah! I mean I did not want to put someone in a bad light but it is still about blood, your highness." she cleared her throat and then glanced around at the owner as if asking when were you asking that filthy woman to leave.

She turned to stare at his soulful, deep eyes that swirled with darkness, as if he had been taken by a demon from the underworld.

"He is not a filthy child. He is my child." The words came out through his grounded teeth as he glared at the woman with such a dark face that she unconsciously took a step back.

"You…rr child?" she tried her utmost to comprehend but it was still beyond her understanding.

"Is he still filthy in your eyes?" she nodded but then shook her head and her face turned ashen.

"He is your child? Did you find the princess and the prince?" she asked when her mind started working again.

Cassian paused. The report that the culprits were still unknown stopped him from speaking the truth.

"No! She is the mother." he pointed blatantly at Mary who was smirking at lady Sibley. Mary paused and stared hard at Cassian with her widened eyes and her jaw touching the ground.

Even Lady Sibley was shocked beyond comprehension.

"Pardon! Did you say…." she gasped with shock and stared at the child again.

He was definitely five. The time when the princess ended up missing. If the boy was truly the Duke's child with another woman. It only meant that he was having an affair with the woman when he was married to the princess.

He was cheating on the princess?!!! The shock hit her so hard that she covered her mouth with her hands and gasped again when the man nodded without any shame,

"You heard right. So you better take good care of my child."