Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 210: The Now

Chapter 210: The Now

Viviana did not like the burning sensation in her heart. She didn’t know she could feel such deep jealousy that would affect her physically.

She shifted in her seat rather uncomfortably. It hurt.

"He loved that date for some reason... Close to his heart, he’d say... just like how important his tattoo was..." Helena added.

"The angel tattoo?" Viviana asked.

For a moment, she thought that Helena was freezing. She was astonished for a second. "Uh-yes, the...angel tattoo," she said. "He was very..." she bowed her head and fiddled with her fingers.

Viviana might be biased toward Helena after this short interaction, but she had a feeling that Helena didn’t even know about the details of Leander’s tattoo.

And Helena looked... a bit defensive...for no apparent reason?

Again, it might be her bias. But, she could pretty much guess what others are actually thinking. And Gabriella is a smart woman too. And she warned her against Helena. She might look graceful like a swan, but her looks can be deceiving.

Viviana observed her closely. Although Helena was fidgeting as if she was uncomfortable, her eyes were sharp as if she was enacting some play that she had already rehearsed in her mind.

"I’m sorry..." Helena waved her hand as she looked at Viviana. Her eyelashes were fluttering and her lips were trembling. She was twisting the skirt of her dress nervously.

"It’s rude of me to talk about your husband and I...It is common knowledge and you must have already heard about it. Some are even saying that he chose you because you resemble me. It-it can or can’t be... It was...Leander and I..." she chuckled awkwardly. "It was a very long time ago. So you shouldn’t worry about it," she placed her hand over Viviana’s hand as if she was assuring her.

"Yes," Viviana spoke with a crisp voice. She slipped her hand out and placed it over Helena’s hand. "It was a very long time ago. It is unnecessary to talk about it now. He is my husband now."

Viviana had doubts earlier. But she had her proof just then. Helena might pretend to be caring for her feelings, but she was trying to instigate something. She wouldn’t have seen through it if she didn’t analyze her words carefully.

No woman who wants to assure another one will willingly bring up a past that definitely would hurt the other. Helena might have been subtle about it. But Viviana could see the façade behind the fake concern Helena showed her.

The reason—jealousy!

Why would Helena be jealous of her? It’s because...Leander says it often. And that is the reason behind Helena’s jealousy.

She is Leander’s wife! She is the one sharing his bed. Leander belongs to her NOW! The past doesn’t matter, because right now, Leander is hers.

She does not have to get jealous of Helena for some relationship he had decades ago. That guy tells her that she’s his wife with his every breath. How can she still not understand his feelings?

And the way he treats Helena’s mother and even Helena, Viviana could guess that Leander does not hold those past feelings much in his heart. So, why should she be needlessly jealous?

And that thought gave her the confidence to retort Helena rather boldly.

Helena gulped and her eyes turned misty. She looked like she was offended. But she was too graceful to let Viviana know that she touched her nerve.

"Yes, he is your..." Helena couldn’t even say that word. She wetted her lips. "You’re married!" she added with an unenthusiastic smile.

"And you’re pregnant!" Viviana looked at Helena’s belly.

She can be possessive of Leander all she wants to. But this is something she can never have—pregnancy!

"Yes, I am six months now... They said it’s a boy," Helena nodded. "So, that’s a relief," she patted her chest. She still was a little shaky though.

"Oh, that’s great!" Viviana smiled.

She might not know the whole details, but it appears that the Palatini family needed a male heir and Helena is about to give it to them. Good for her!

"Do you feel him?" Viviana pointed at her belly with curiosity. "The baby kicking inside?" she asked.

The joys of motherhood... the wonders... Magnificent!

"Not much," Helena placed her hand on her belly. But retracted her hand almost immediately. "It doesn’t move much, I guess? Lazy bones," she chuckled. "Oftentimes it scares me..."

Viviana was surprised Helena mentioned the baby as "it" after knowing the gender of the baby. It struck her as odd. But maybe she just talks that way.

"Now that you..." Helena squinted her eyes and placed her hand on her belly. "I can feel it now."

"Really?" Viviana was intrigued. "Wow! That must be the most amazing feeling in the world!"

Helena glanced at Viviana for a moment with astonishment. She then chuckled. "It is... It is..." she said. "Oww! It’s not stopping..." she twisted her torso. "Here, you can feel it if you want. I’ve never felt it so strong before..."

"I can?" Viviana almost jumped up. She would never get tired of feeling the kicks of a baby. She’s very interested in that to the point of being creepy about it. She once made her pregnant colleague uncomfortable by being too creepy about it.

It is something she can never feel herself, after all!

Viviana’s hand trembled a bit as she gently placed her hand on Helena’s belly. She knew at this point of pregnancy she won’t feel much except for flutters.

"Hey there, baby... I’m Minerva..." she talked to the baby.

But this baby was strong. Viviana could feel the baby’s feet as he kicked. She almost cried feeling the baby.

Helena’s smile reduced as she looked at the door. Nadia peeked through the door. Her face twisted seeing Viviana bent over. Helena nodded with a meaningful smile. With an evil glint in her eyes, Nadia disappeared behind the closed door.

-----

"Finally! There he is!" Nicholai swallowed the last gulp of the tequila and threw the glass on the floor for it to shatter into pieces. "Nellie Yannis, the gigolo!"

Leander didn’t mind him and raised his glass for Lionel. "My man! Happy birthday!" Lionel walked straight to Leander and hugged him.

Leander hugged him back. A bit stronger than he usually would. He hid a lot of emotions behind that hug.

"Let’s not get sappy, damn it! Mind the others...lover!" Lionel patted his back and got out of the hug. With his hands on his shoulder, Lionel observed Leander. He didn’t look well.

Lionel was about to get panicked thinking that something might be wrong with Brie. But he remembered Viviana’s assurance. He patted Leander and took his seat.

Nicholai was not very happy Lionel ignored him. But he was not going to beg those young people for acknowledgment. That’s so beneath him. He will get back at them by other means.

"Your old men don’t care about the Vitale family... Or is it they didn’t want to sit with me as equals? I know they don’t respect me. Is that why they sent their kids? The pussy and the gigolo," Nicholai walked to his seat with a sneer.

"I’ll leave you to discuss," Evander said. "My job as the organizer is finished!" he walked out of the room.

Leander stared at Evander’s back. It was very unusual for Evander to leave without assuming the position of the leader. Lionel had the same doubt.

Nicholai got madder that no one was even listening to him. "Hey, pussy!" he sneered to grab Leander’s attention. "Why don’t you share your wife with me before the Vitale men have a taste of her?"

Leander fisted his hands so hard. Lionel watched Leander like a hawk. Leander’s knuckles were white and the armrest of the chair was on the verge of breaking.

Even Lionel was enraged by the vulgarity of Nicholai. It is understandable that Leander got angry.

"You are right," Leander smirked looking at Nicholai. "My old man doesn’t care about the Vitale family. What’s your deal with them?"

"Come on," Nicholai leaned forward. "Let’s not change the topic. I am only asking for a fair transaction. You took my wife. It’s only fair to~"

"Can we discuss the topic?" Lionel interfered. He didn’t think that Leander would keep his hands off his weapon for long.

A gang war now is the last thing they would want.

"I never touched your wife. But if you are insisting that she wasn’t a virgin on your wedding night... Guess she was playing me too!" Leander shrugged. "Let’s make a support group with all the men Helena Bruno screwed..." Leander sneered.

Lionel was shocked. Leander is not someone who would denigrate women. He never would have imagined Leander would throw Helena to the wolves like this.

Lionel smirked. So, he knows!

Well, well... finally! Finally, my man is growing up! Being polite with a Palatini would lead us nowhere.

Nicholai’s face twitched with anger. He raised his fists and lunged at Leander. You f*cking~"

"Do not talk about my wife," Leander said crossing his legs. His eyes were focused on Nicholai. He was emitting a murderous aura that made Nicholai retreat.

"What? Are we just going to talk about our women here?" Leander raised his voice. "I am not going to hear you talking about my wife. So, let’s talk about your wife all day long. Or, should we talk about your mother-in-law?"