Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 213: Resentment And Atonement

Chapter 213: Resentment And Atonement

It took some time for Viviana to compose herself. And it took her a few seconds before she was caught red-handed by Leander beating up his beloved brother.

Leander was walking toward her and she panicked.

With a gasp, she took a step backward. The rod she was holding on to for dear life slipped from her hand and with a plop, it dropped into the water.

She stepped backward until her back hit the counter. The gushing water wetted her back and her neck. She supported herself and observed Leander.

He stopped walking and stood by his brother. With his feet, he lifted Evander’s face. With a slight nudge, he turned Evander’s face up so that he won’t take in the water from the floor. He was drowning in the water.

Evander coughed. Leander looked at Viviana. "It’s not easy to beat a man to death, is it?"

Viviana gulped. By now she understood that Leander was not very mad at her for hurting his brother. Or is she wrong?

She pressed her lips and looked at him, waiting to say something else.

"Steve!" Leander shouted.

Viviana winced. Steve’s head popped in the door. Leander jerked his head. Viviana didn’t know what Leander told him but Steve understood the meaning and he went away immediately.

Leander looked at her and sighed. "Will you get away from the water?" he held out his hand. "And wear your shoes."

Viviana nodded and walked to the shoes. The shoes were dripping wet. And when she held them, she realized the shoes were ruined. She wiped the shoes in her dress and found the outer layer of the shoes was ruined with water. They were soaked and she knew they won’t be the same after drying.

So much for the iconic red soles! How much do these shoes cost anyway? Why are they so fragile? I don’t deserve these shoes. I should have worn crocs!

"Are they ruined?" Leander asked. "Throw them in the bin. Wait..." he walked over to his coughing brother and got her shoes.

"I’ll help..." he threw the shoes one by one at Nadia who was standing in the corner of the bathroom.

Nadia screamed as the sharp heels of the shoes hit her abdomen. Leander then glared at Nadia. Nadia turned and faced the wall as if she was scared to face Leander.

She didn’t dare to say anything to him.

Leander removed his jacket and covered Viviana with it.

"Let’s go," Leander held Viviana’s hand.

But when he saw her bare feet, he carried her and brought her out of the restroom. "Do not let her leave," he said to the men standing by the door.

"My purse," Viviana mumbled. There are no valuables in her purse. Only her makeup products. But she reckoned the purse would be expensive.

Leander said nothing and looked at the guy. The guy nodded and stepped into the restroom.

"Please! Let me go!" Nadia shouted.

*Bam*

Viviana heard the door shut behind her. Leander kept on walking.

Lionel was standing at the far end of the corridor and waved his hand. "Is everything all right?" he shouted. Leander gave the thumbs-up signal and Lionel disappeared into one of the rooms.

Leander took her to another room and there were private bathrooms inside the room.

So, Helena’s end of the deal was to bring her to that particular restroom. And she did that without any hesitation or guilt.

"There are restrooms here! Helena..." Viviana stopped herself.

She wanted to tell Leander that Helena was in on it too. But she remembered the sweet feeling of the baby. She didn’t want Leander to accidentally hurt the baby.

Leander let her down and looked at her. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," Viviana shrugged. "You’re really not mad at me for..." she pointed in the direction they came from with her thumb.

Leander held her cheeks and looked closely at her face. He then turned her face and observed everywhere. He checked her clothes and right to her feet.

"You did not let him touch you, did you?" he asked standing up.

His dark eyes were still like the deep sea. The blood-red shirt contrasted his bronze skin and his lips glistened as he pressed his lips. Although he looked casual with his hand inside his trouser pocket, Viviana could guess that he was holding a storm in his heart.

Viviana shook her head. "No."

"Good girl," Leander hugged her. "I knew you can handle it."

Viviana hugged him back and leaned on his chest. His heartbeat was regular.

"Did you know this would happen?" she asked. It seemed that way.

Leander held her cheeks. "Are you angry this happened to you?" he asked.

Viviana could infer that he knew it. He might have let it happen even after knowing his brother’s plan. Otherwise, how else would he be there at the right moment?

And she saw two of the guys getting killed. And yet Leander didn’t step in. He only got in when she almost killed Evander.

Did he allow me to hit Evander?

"No," she shook her head.

She didn’t want to know the whole details. She’d rather assume that Leander gave up his brother to her. That’s more romantic.

"Sit," Leander said.

Viviana found a seat for her. Leander sat by her side. He kept on staring at her. She didn’t know what he was contemplating.

"Are you going to talk to Lionel about Gabriella?" he asked.

Viviana looked at him. "Yes," she said.

"Do you think that he should know everything?" he asked.

Viviana could see that he was thinking twice before speaking. He was very careful with her. But rather than feeling angry, she felt sorry for him. He looked like he was distressed about it.

"He should," she said.

"Hmm," Leander said and turned his face away.

Viviana could only see a part of his cheek and the tip of his nose. She could see that he didn’t like her answer. She leaned on his shoulder expecting him to push her away.

But he didn’t. Without looking at her, he held her hand and played with his finger.

"Is this an exchange for a favor, Leander?" she asked.

Did he think that by offering up Evander to her, she won’t talk to Lionel about Gabriella?

"I don’t have to do an exchange if I really wanted something," he said.

Viviana let out a deep breath. He is right. What power does she have against him?

"Then, are you going to stop me from talking to Lionel?" she asked.

"Can I request you?" he asked.

Viviana’s eyes filled with tears. He is the man with all the powers. And yet, he is here letting her lean on his shoulder, and telling her that he will request her to not do something that will ruin his friendship.

She was planning on talking to Lionel about Gabby. She thought Lionel needed to know that Gabby loved only him. She was not planning on telling Lionel about what Evander did to her and the existence of that tape.

She didn’t think that Lionel was in the headspace to accept that. He will do something. His friendship with Leander would be just one among them.

Lionel might not take his Waldorf name seriously, but that blood flows in him. And that bloodthirst that is flowing in him will cause a lot of damage in the city.

Innocents will get hurt in the crossfire.

Gabriella does not want that. She does not want that.

"You can tell him about the tape," Leander said after a short silence.

Viviana was surprised by what Leander said.

"Don’t tell him that Brie loved him. He needs to move on..." Leander said.

Viviana was astonished. Leander was being such a good friend to Lionel. He does not want Lionel to pine over Gabby and ruin his future.

Was he this good a man?

’But wouldn’t you lose your friendship if he knows what Evander did?" she asked.

"It is my fault... I was..." Leander sighed. She couldn’t see his face but he sounded lonely.

Viviana hugged him. This lonely man needs a hug. "Were you really in the next room as he said?" she asked.

If that was the case, she couldn’t even imagine how terrible Leander would be feeling right now.

"No!" Leander refused immediately. ’I went out on a job with my father. Evander was home alone..." he cleared his throat.

Evander was with his mother and grandfather. If anyone could have heard Brie, it would have been them. The servants wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

"It’s..." Viviana patted his chest as she leaned on his back. "Gabby is not blaming you," she said.

It was the truth. Gabby didn’t blame Leander for what Evander did. She blames Leander for what happened afterward. Viviana wanted to say that it was not Leander’s fault but she couldn’t.

If he had been a little more mindful of what his brother does, he could have saved Gabriella from such a fate.

Guess she still holds some resentment toward him.

"Consider what happened today as...an atonement," Leander said.

And this is only going to be the first of many.

Viviana didn’t know what to say. Atonement? She is not the one directly affected by it. So why is she the one receiving atonement?

What is he thinking?