Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 219: A Crown That Won’t Wither

Chapter 219: A Crown That Won’t Wither

"Her husband does not want her Iggy. He just stood there...he does not appreciate her!" Leonardo continued not minding Ignazio’s bewildered look. "He allowed her to talk to me and didn’t even interfere. He would have allowed her to leave if she wanted to. She is trapped there, being in love with a heartless man..."

Ignazio got lost for words. What happened to this guy?

Not every woman needs to be "allowed" by her husband to talk to other men. Why would a man like Leander expect his wife who obviously loves him to death, to run away with a man with a questionable reputation just because she talked to him?

That would be the stupidest thing he has heard all his life.

It’s public knowledge that Leander married her even though she was chosen to get married to his brother. Leonardo is not the only one who sees "something" in her. Obviously, Leander saw it first and took her. It is apparent that he got her heart too.

Everyone heard him scream in agony holding her. He must be busy finding treatment for her. Otherwise, they won’t be...

Ignazio’s eyebrows furrowed.

"How long is that Volvo following us?" Ignazio asked the driver.

"For a good long time," the driver answered.

"Keep moving. Don’t stop until we reach the piers," Ignazio said and called someone on the phone.

"Have a speedboat and the Albatross ready. Keep the security tight."

On the other end, their man informed him that the port was getting unusually crowded. "It appears to be Waldorf men," he said.

"Waldorf?" Ignazio rubbed his forehead. "I’ll take care of them. Just make sure the dock is clear for the boss."

Ignazio sighed seeing the car still following them. In the distance, he could see a couple of cop cars following. Things are getting needlessly dangerous. The sole heir of the Vitale family cannot die because he shot a woman.

He hoped that they can safely reach the seaplane and leave the country. This is getting dangerous.

"Let’s check on her, Iggy. I want to see if she’s okay. I want to apologize to her," Leonardo said.

"I’m talking to the Don, Leonardo. You are leaving this country tonight," Ignazio said controlling his anger.

He didn’t want to waste time and called his boss immediately. Leonardo has lost his mind. This issue needs support from the higher-ups.

Don Vitale was mad to hear what Leonardo did. Even Ignazio was surprised when his boss was not happy that Leonardo didn’t keep the peace.

Peace? Since when the Vitale family cared about peace?

Don Vitale commanded Leonardo to return to his home immediately. It’s been years since he returned home. He needed to learn some lessons before taking the mantle from his father.

In a few moments, Ignazio saw the cop cars disappearing from their tail. The other car that followed them got hit by a truck that came out of nowhere.

When they reached the pier, everything was ready. Leonardo protested. Ignazio had to "force" him to get on the plane. Just as he threw the limp body of his knocked-out young boss, he received a call from his boss.

"Stay there and inform me of her health. She will not die that easily by a handgun if the results are right," Vito Vitale said and ended the call.

Ignazio was stunned. It is not hard for him to stay hidden in a hostile country. But the faith his boss has in that woman is so odd.

Is he missing something?

-----

Viviana was sitting on a calm beach. She didn’t know how she got there. And she wasn’t caring much about that. Because she could not feel anything.

She looked around; everything looked familiar even the distinct rocks in the sea. She was on the beach of Abenney, just under the cliff where the Church was.

The waves were crashing, she could see her hair fluttering, and yet she couldn’t feel anything. She felt numb as if she was frozen in a photograph. She couldn’t even take in the scent of the sea.

She smelled something else so familiar. But she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

It started to get eerie being in that big place alone. And yet, when she tried to leave, she couldn’t move.

That all changed when something warm landed on her forehead.

She heard the waves crashing, she felt the salty wind, and she felt the grainy sand on her feet. She felt alive again.

She turned to her side hearing lively chatter. It was Leona. With a bright smile on her face, she tried to get up. Her legs had gone numb after sitting for a long time and she supported her hand on the grainy beach sand to help her up.

Her hands were small, but that didn’t stop her from getting up. It was that boy—Leander Kastello.

Leander was chasing Leona trying to throw the crab he caught at Leona. Leona was laughing out loud while running around on the beach escaping the deadly claws of the crab and the impudent boy.

She didn’t know why she got the same feeling she got when she learned from Helena that Leander still has her birthday as his password.

But who was she jealous of? She couldn’t pinpoint. Was she jealous of Leona or of Leander? What she knew was that she didn’t want those two to be together. They looked so happy together.

She didn’t get up and with a pout stared at the horizon. She saw the seagulls and other birds flying around. And then it hit her.

It’s not a dream. It’s a memory.

With a gasp, she turned to her side to take a peek at Leona. This was the last time they were together on the beach. The day before Leona died.

Without knowing her eyes filled with tears.

"Don’t cry, Lemon..."

Leona’s fingers were warm as she wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Lemon?" Viviana asked. Leona never called her Lemon. Is she mixing up something?

"Yes, silly!" Leona poked her forehead with her forefinger. "You made that name up; did you forget? I’m Leo; you’re Melon...So, we are Lemon, together..."

"We are?" Viviana blinked. Why is this very familiar? She only got more confused.

Her eyes ended up on the boy playing in the distance. Although she should not be hearing the jingles made by the trinket hanging on his brooch, she heard it. Leander was picking up a seaweed that was washed up to the shore. He tried to smell it and he threw it away after retching from the smell.

He looked goofy as he pretended that it didn’t happen and looked around to make sure no one saw it.

"Do not smile at him. Look at me, Melanie," Leona said holding her chin. She turned her face to look at her.

"I am..." Viviana focused on Leona’s eyes. Those mesmerizing eyes invoked a strong feeling in her heart.

Why is it so similar to~

Her thoughts were interrupted by the scent of wildflowers that were in front of her face. Leona was holding a flower crown with yellow and white wildflowers that grow along the beaches. She didn’t know when Leona made that crown for her. She was moved.

Leona placed that crown on Viviana’s head. Leona then leaned to her face. "You’re pretty, Melanie... Like an angel... My beautiful Jophiel..."

Viviana wouldn’t lie. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Accept these wildflowers now, Melanie. I will one day give you a crown that won’t wither," Leona said and leaned back.

Viviana was confused as she couldn’t understand what she meant.

"It’s okay if you can’t get it in your little head, Melanie. You’re very young to understand this. But Melanie..." Leona held her shoulders. "I have a lot to say to you. I don’t even know where to start...," Leona smiled to the extent her eyes disappeared.

She looked very happy and that brought a smile to Viviana’s face.

"But it’s fine. I’ll tell you later when you’re ready. We will have all the time in the world to talk about everything..." Leona’s smile went wider as she said that. She then placed her hand on her heart.

"It’s enough that I’ve etched the promise in my heart...I’ll leave you for a short while. But I will be back. On that day, I’m going to reach out for you, Melanie..." Leona held out her hand with a smile. "And when you end up in my arms, you’ll be mine forever. No one can stop me then."

"What do you mean?" Viviana asked.

*Blare*

A blaring bright light almost blinded Viviana and she closed her eyes.

Viviana couldn’t discern what was real and what was not real anymore. Did it really happen? Or was she dreaming? But she did remember Leona talking to her about something. She meant she had something to say. And she did give her a flower crown that she kept safe under her pillow.

But it burned the next day in the fire, along with Leona.

Did Leona say all those things? Or... what was that?

Everything went dead silent once again. She didn’t want to think anymore. She was so tired. She fell asleep. Or was she trapped somewhere dark; she didn’t know.

But she liked the quiet.