Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 180: Confusing Behavior

Chapter 180: Confusing Behavior

Leander opted to eat in the bedroom. Viviana brought the breakfast upstairs after asking Mary to bring breakfast for Gabriella.

She served breakfast with hot coffee. Leander was looking at her in deep thought.

"What?" Viviana asked. "Do I have something on my face?" she wiped her face. He was staring at her without blinking his eyes.

"Why do you trust me?" he asked. "I can send you to the Vitale family as a peace offering."

He still couldn’t believe the trust she has in him. Even his grandfather didn’t trust him and took matters into his own hand regarding the Heberden Blowout. There could be other instances where his grandfather didn’t trust his judgment too.

Why? Why her? Why is she the one who takes his side?

She’s the one who cares for him more than his mother who birthed him and she trusts him more than the grandfather he respects.

Of all the people he knows and loves... why her? He doesn’t even love her. Or does he?

She should be lying, he thought. A part of her manipulation. Because, why else would she trust him? For real...

He scratched his chest. He felt weird.

Viviana took a sip of her coffee. He looked confused. But she was not confused.

"Yes, I trust you. You’re the lion, Leander. I am your wife. A Lion doesn’t share. You’re not the type of lowly man who would share his wife for what benefits him. I know I’ll be dead before ending up in the hands of those goons," she sat crossing her legs.

She looked out through the window. She didn’t say it openly, but she gave him a sign that she is expecting death in his hands. His family will ask that of him and then the ball will be in his court.

And she was not scared. She was a little sad, though. It could have lasted long—her happiness, her life with him...But, hey! It is what it is.

Leander looked at her. Her eyes were unwavering. For the first time, he saw something different in her eyes. He couldn’t discern what that was.

But one thing he was sure of—she did trust him. She knew him better. Yeah, he is not going to share her. No one can touch her other than him.

And she is wrong too.

"You’re not going to die, Mou..." he paused. No, she is not some scared mouse, is she? Maybe it’s the name he gave her—Minerva, the roman goddess of war.

Oh, the perfect name he gave her... That’s what he is thinking of her, doesn’t he? Even he didn’t realize it. She’s not the violent type like him, but the strategic goddess that leads to victory. She is smart, and she had the bravery to do what she wanted to do.

She’s not some helpless mouse he needs to protect. He always knew that. He knew that, didn’t he?

She is not scared of death and searches for it. She’s docile because she has no will to live. If she wants to live...that would be different.

He has to give her a reason to live. He has to give her a chance.

Viviana looked at him. She was a little shocked that he was sure that she was not going to live.

"You are right, Minerva." He held her hand. "I won’t share you. And you’re not going to die. And I know for sure you don’t want to end up in the hands of other men."

"No, I don’t," Viviana furrowed her brows. She didn’t understand what he was saying.

"Then stay safe, wifey," he pulled her and she ended up on his lap. "You’ll be safe in my shadow. When my shadow leaves..." he pulled her closer. "I know your pretty little hands can defend yourself enough."

He kissed her.

Viviana didn’t understand him still.

Is he saying that he will protect me or not? By saying that I should protect myself, is he saying that he is going to push me on the battlefront?

"I don’t want to leave your shadow," she said. That seemed ominous. She did not like that phrase at all.

Leander smirked. She pulls his heartstrings by saying cute stuff like that. He could smell the pleasant morning breeze outside although he could only see the trees waving to the tune of the wind.

"And I will never kill you," he said. "Never."

Viviana’s face paled.

"Do not be scared, my wife," he hugged her. "You’ll be safe as long as you want to live."

"You’re scaring me, Leander. What do you mean?" she asked wrapping her arms around his neck. She truly was scared.

"Do you not understand?" he chuckled. "Think about it..."

He tried to stand up but Viviana didn’t want to let go of him and clung to his shoulder.

"Silly mouse," he whispered and carried her to the bed and placed her on the bed. "I don’t want to eat Brie’s cooking today. Go on. I know you want to check on her," he said kneeling in front of her.

Viviana pressed her lips and her hold on his shoulder loosened.

"I won’t hurt you...I never will and I never can. But I give you time. I want to know everything about you, Viviana. Viviana... Is that your real name?" he said holding her cheeks. But then he shook his head closing his eyes. "No, not now... " he then opened his eyes and looked at her.

Viviana gulped seeing the seriousness of the golden eyes she can’t take easily. Wetting his lips, he continued. "After this issue gets settled, I am taking you somewhere. I want to tell you something... something about the tattoo on my chest and the girl in my dreams."

He held her hands sensing they were shaking. Her eyes were wide and the rims of her eyes were getting red. "Please," he bowed and kissed her hand. "Don’t be scared of me. I want to eat your cooking. I want to share a bed with you. I want to introduce you as my wife to everyone. Nothing has changed, except for my wish to know more about you..."

Still kneeling, he looked at her. "I’m getting greedier."

Viviana felt like all her strength has left her body. The beast that invokes the fear of death in the hearts of everyone who stands against him, is kneeling in front of her.

And what is he saying?

"Di-did you... fall in love with me, Kastello?" she asked.

Her eyebrows twitched and her lips trembled. She was too shocked to cry, but her chest felt so heavy that she couldn’t even breathe.