53. Forced Vacation

Dante's POV

I found her knitting in front of a mirror, with the boy playing with a toy train on the floor.

I locked the door when I entered. She stood up frightfully, the woolen cloth dropped to the floor.

I hit her on the face,

"How dare you try to ruin my family?" I gritted.

She gasped, sobbing quietly.

"Don't beat my mother," the boy shouted, running towards her and holding on to her dress.

I looked down at him.

It was hard for me to accept him as my son, though he looked so much like my younger self.

"Next time I find you both lurking around, I'll make sure I feed you to prisoners," I spat angrily.

"and you..." I dragged the boy toward me, "I don't want you playing outside. Is that clear?"

His eyes began to water. I stepped away from him and resumed my full height.

"Now, listen carefully. Some important guests would be coming tomorrow and I need you to act your best self, including him."

I mind-linked the maid expected to dress them up.

A knock came the same moment.

It was a ma