Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 167: Not Giving Up

Chapter 167: Not Giving Up

During lunch, Viviana noticed that Leander was not eating much. He would usually eat two servings, but he only ate one serving that day.

"Are you feeling sick?" she asked him. "You are not eating much."

He looked at her like she was speaking French. And so, she shrugged and let go. Had she pushed him, he might have told her the real reason he couldn’t eat more. He likes her cooking and something was missing in other people’s cooking.

Leander asked Martin to bring food to Lionel and to wake him up. It was already an hour past noon. Viviana wanted to settle in the living room for her daytime soap operas, but Leander was lingering. Mary and Martha won’t join her in watching if Leander was around.

The fun part of watching those dramatic soap operas is watching with others. Without them, Viviana didn’t want to watch the shows alone, even though she was curious to know if Bella managed to hide her pregnancy from Alexander.

She just stared at the magazines on the table. Lionel came out and both of them went to Leander’s office. Viviana wandered out.

She’s been playing with Juno the dog every chance she gets. Some good soul had groomed her, and she looked stronger, and her stomach was growing fuller. The dog was so accustomed to her, it would let her touch her belly. She figured that there were at least four puppies in her belly.

Viviana couldn’t wait to see the puppies. The prospect of a new life always excited her.

In the office, Leander poured a glass of scotch for Lionel.

"What did she say?" Lionel asked getting the glass.

Leander sat on the couch without saying anything. Thinking about his interaction with Brie only made him angry.

"She didn’t ask about me," Lionel nodded with a wry smile.

Leander didn’t have to tell him anything to know what happened there. He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand to hide the deep sadness he felt.

"She must have been happy to see..." ’you’...He tried to speak sarcastically to hide his pain, but he couldn’t.

Leander stared at him silently. The more he saw Lionel trying to act normal and failing miserably, the more his murderous aura intensified.

"I made an offer to her," he said.

Lionel pressed his lips and thought for a moment. "You asked her to leave?" he asked. He knew Leander only would have made such an offer.

Leander nodded. "Don’t blame me if she didn’t listen."

Lionel sighed. Leander is a good guy and for his friends and family, he is a pretty agreeable guy. But certain things would become non-negotiable once Leander decides with his heart.

Lionel knew this is one such thing and he knew Leander won’t change his mind.

That doesn’t mean that he would sit, and watch Leander kill his beloved. He is that pathetic.

"Move on, pathetic pig!" Leander said gritting his teeth. He could read Lionel’s thoughts on his face. "You’re not the lead of your f*cking drama! She’s no damsel in distress and you’re no hero! You’re never going to be her hero. She does what she wants and goes with whoever she chooses."

Lionel furrowed his brows. He could see that Leander is mad. He would have understood that Leander could be angry on his behalf. But he was mad. He knew there was more to it.

"What else did she say?" Lionel asked.

"Hmm?" Leander shrugged and sipped the scotch.

Lionel observed Leander for some time. Leander was fidgeting with his fingers in deep thought, and he saw the murderous rage in his eyes. Something she said had provoked him to this extent.

It hit him suddenly. He remembered Brie getting curious about Leander’s wife.

"Did she ask about Bellissima?" Lionel raised his brows.

Leander scoffed and placed his glass on the table with a thud. Lionel knew that was the reason Leander was mad. That stupid girl!

"What did she say?" Lionel probed. Leander is feeling threatened. What did she say to provoke him?

Leander looked at Lionel. His curious eyes were looking at him. "Why didn’t you tell me that Leonardo Vitale is coming here?" he asked.

"He is?" Lionel sat straight and placed his glass on the table. It was news to him.

Leander saw that Lionel heard this news from him and sighed. "She told me that he is coming for Mou-" he cleared his throat. No one can know about his nickname for her. "...for Minerva. She- Brie wanted to meet Minerva in exchange for information about Vitale."

Lionel let out a sigh. Covering his face with his hands, he contemplated. Everything is getting more and more contemplated.

Suddenly, he sprang up. "Leo," he grabbed his shoulder. "Leonardo doesn’t go for escorts! He likes influencers," he said.

Leander gulped. In that case, Leonardo didn’t book Brie because she was a popular escort. He went for her because he knew of her connection with Lionel Waldorf, probably, and with him.

This is not good.

"I saw Helena Palatini today. She said the Vitale family is after her," Leander said. He wanted to bring Lionel into the loop.

"Palatini family too? What is the Vitale family planning going after the three families of the South?" Lionel asked.

Leander shook his head. He would want to know the answer to that question too. But right now, it does not feel good.

"Vitale family wants to take over our businesses, it seems," Lionel said.

Leander nodded. That seemed to be obvious.

"I’ll inform my grandpa. We might have to arrange a meeting between the heads of the three families of the South," Leander said.

Lionel sighed. "I’ll talk to my dad too. We cannot sit and watch that foreigner take control of our land," he said and turned to leave.

Leander grabbed his air. "You’re going to talk to your dad about this matter?" Leander asked furrowing his brows.

"Yeah. No matter how powerful, the Vitale family cannot come to our land to threaten our women. It’s~" he stopped seeing Leander’s frown.

"You are going to your father with your tails tucked between your legs?" he asked.

Leander glared at Lionel. He’s been keeping away from his family’s business all these years and made a name for himself on his own effort. He knew how much Lionel struggled to be where he is now.

And just because one woman is threatened, he is willing to throw everything away and is willing to go to his father. His father wants him in the business, but he won’t go easy on Lionel if he wants back in the family. He will have to pay a price.

Lionel hurt his father very much when he left the family. He was considered a traitor for not choosing his family. His stepmother does not want him there and will try and sow division. The only way he will be accepted back into the fold is by going through trials.

And he doesn’t know what they are going to be.

Lionel knew this. "She’s in danger!" he said. Right now, that’s all he cared about. Brie might be thinking that Leonardo is one of the clients, but he is not. She is in danger.

"I want to slap some sense into you, Nellie," Leander gritted his teeth. "With me becoming the heir to my family, I would be the first person to celebrate if you take on your role. That is if I don’t consider you as my friend and if am being an opportunist. But you are my true friend. I know you, Nellie. I know how much you wanted out. Do you really want to go back in? For her? For the one who threw you out?"

Lionel sighed and circled back to the seat. Sitting on the couch, he rubbed his forehead.

Leander is right. He worked hard to be as far away from his family, as much as he can. He’s succeeded. He’s gotten a name for himself without any support from his family.

One thing even Leander doesn’t know... he struggled hard to get away from his family, for her! Now, he cannot go back to that swamp for her.

But she is in danger and Leander does not care for her enough to protect her. He cannot let her get hurt.

"Fine. I won’t involve myself with my family again. Do what you do," he stood up and held Leander’s hand. "Can I ask you for a favor, Leo? As a friend?" he kissed his hand.

Leander sighed. He already knew what his friend is going to ask. If that’s going to keep him from making a decision he will regret later, he decided to listen to him.

Leander patted his shoulder. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Let her stay here until everything is settled," Lionel said. "Please..."

"Here?" Leander raised his brows. He understood that with Mousy in danger too, keeping them together would be easy to protect the both of them. But...

"I don’t find Brie’s intention good. And Minnie is sanctimonious. I cannot house them together."

Leander found that request absurd.

"Trust me, Leo. They will get along."

Lionel said with his eyes shining. Leander blinked as he couldn’t understand how Lionel was so sure. Those two are polar opposites. How would they get along?