Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 231: Outed Secret

Chapter 231: Outed Secret

Leander placed her on the bed. Viviana tried to roll down the bed. She did not want to be there. Leander pinned her down on the bed.

"You will sleep here with me as long as I am alive," Leander hissed in her ear. Resting his head on her shoulder he let out a deep breath. "Mousy, what’s wrong? Why are you like this?" he asked sounding so despondent.

Viviana stopped struggling. She cannot handle it if he talks to her in this tone.

"I am fine. You are right. I won’t talk to you about anything again," she said softly.

Leander let go of her hands and looked at her. She was turning to the side.

"Look at me," he said.

Viviana’s eyes clouded.

"Not this!" he sighed. "Why are you crying?" he asked holding her cheek. "Are you hurting somewhere? Does your stomach hurt? Look at me..."

"I’m fine," Viviana wiped the corner of her eyes. "Just leave me alone..."

"You won’t even look at me?" he asked rolling to the side. "Minnie..." he held her cheek.

Viviana sniffed and rolled to her side of the bed leaving his warmth. Leander stayed on the bed for some time watching her. He then walked out.

Viviana flinched as he banged the door shut. She couldn’t fall asleep. Leander returned after some time. She could only fall asleep after that. And still, she couldn’t have a deep sleep.

The next morning, she woke up. Leander was already up and, in the gym, working out. She prepared his smoothie and breakfast although she didn’t think he would eat any of her cooking.

She understood she was reacting very badly to something she doesn’t even recognize. Even she didn’t know what she was doing. She was not even angry at him and was ashamed of herself but at the same time, she didn’t want to look at his face.

He came downstairs after freshening up. He didn’t call her up for dressing him. She served him breakfast. She thought he would leave. But he sat at the table and without saying anything, finished everything.

He kept on staring at her though.

She went into hiding in the kitchen. After playing with his cats for some time he left. Viviana took a walk in the garden. Her carrot patch was safe. The gardener told her that he stayed by the patch guarding it the whole night.

Viviana thanked him and told him that he didn’t have to stay awake the whole night for a carrot patch. But he smiled and said nothing.

She went to have a look at the puppies. Watching the puppies sleeping while hugging their mother, her heart filled with joy. She sat by the fence and watched the puppies and the new mother for some time.

And before she knew it, she started crying. It was then she realized that her recent bad mood is because she started to mind her infertility once again. She used to ignore her parents back then when she couldn’t accept her infertility. She can never deal with it entirely. That depression comes back in waves.

Leander never addresses her concerns even if she talks to him openly about them. She does not know what he is planning on doing. He must want an heir. But she cannot give him an heir. How can he not worry about it?

He must have some plans for the future. What are they? Is she in them?

After sitting in the shade of the trees for some time, she returned to the house. She was not in the mood to cook. Leander didn’t come home for lunch. She thought that he must be busy dealing with the kidnapping of Nadia. She went upstairs and fell asleep as she was not in the mood to eat.

When she woke up, it was dark outside. She still didn’t want to wake up. She rolled over to sleep some more. By the corner of her eyes, she saw a shadowy figure standing at the corner of the bed. She almost screamed.

"Pack your stuff. We are leaving," Leander said in a blank tone.

"Where?" she asked. That was out of nowhere. "How long were you standing there?" she sat up. Her head started spinning as blood rushed to her head. She moaned rubbing her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Leander sat beside her. "You didn’t eat lunch and now..." he pulled her to his chest.

She closed her eyes and before she knew it, her breathing went deep. Leander placed her on the bed and covered her with the duvet.

He placed his hand over her forehead to check for her temperature. She was slightly warmer to the touch. He sighed.

"What is wrong with you?" he mumbled.

He wondered if he should call the doctor. He didn’t want to cancel the travel plans. But if she is unwell, then he will have to cancel his plans.

But he wanted to celebrate her birthday!

"Prepare something simple," he told the chef.

Katerina was standing by the side. She looked like she wanted to say something. Leander looked at Katerina. "Did she tell you something?" he asked.

"No, Signora said nothing," Katerina bowed her head. "But, I think..." she looked at Leander. As he looked calm, Katerina continued. "I think Signora is pregnant."

"Mind your business," Leander scoffed and walked away. Katerina apologized and retracted.

Leander fisted his hands and looked upstairs.

Pregnant?

He sighed and went to the living room. The news channel was blasting news about the missing daughter of Donatello close to the election. Hosea was blaming the ruling party for not putting the effort to find his daughter. He accused the ruling party of a conspiracy to make him retract his nomination because they are scared that he will win.

"I will not back off! I will fight for the people even if the opposition wants me silenced..."

Hosea gave a brave speech standing in front of the journalists.

Leander turned off the television. As expected, Hosea is using his daughter’s disappearance for his political gain. He poured him a glass of whiskey and gulped it all down. He poured another glass.

"Nothing interesting, huh?"

Leander turned to the side hearing Gabriella with a grunt. She was standing there with an odd smile.

"Where is she? I haven’t seen her yet today," Gabriella said. She stood by the side to be prepared to leave at the slightest turn of Leander’s mood.

"She’s sick... I think... I was thinking on bringing her somewhere for her birthday but..." Leander gulped the next glass.

"Whoa, easy there, tiger..." Gabriella grimaced seeing Leander pouring another glass.

Leander gulped down glass after glass. Gabriella felt bad for him.

"Is she hard to handle?" she asked kneeling beside his hand. Leander didn’t answer her. "She has fallen so deeply for you if she tried to protect you," Gabriella added. She saw Leander’s pace slowing down. He placed the glass on the table.

"She’s insecure... it’s not easy to overcome."

Leander scoffed. He didn’t know what more he could do for her to overcome her insecurities. He allowed her to hit his brother with her own hands. What more proof does she need?

After making sure no one was around, Gabriella scooted closer to Leander.

"Her infertility..." Gabriella paused to observe Leander’s reaction. He picked up the glass once again and gulped the remaining alcohol.

"I am not God to cure her. I never asked her for a child. I do not want a child. Why would she..." He scoffed and poured another glass.

Why would she try to push him to another woman?

"You do not want a child?" Gabriella asked. "Does your grandfather know that?"

Leander pressed his lips. He looked at the distance in deep thoughts. Gabriella didn’t want to speak more about that. She could see that Leander is uncomfortable talking about it to her.

"If you should know, Leo," Gabriella whispered in Leander’s ears. "Her birthday is not on Feast of the Epiphany. Your wife and Helena share the same birthday—The Feast Day of the Archangels. They are also of the same age..."

Leander gripped his glass hard and turned to look at Gabriella. "What?" he furrowed his brows.

Gabriella nodded and took a step back. "I thought you should know. She’s adamant and is scared of your family. She’ll never let you know... Mel-Minerva was left at the stairs of St. Michaels Church in Abenney the day she was born. She does not know who her parents are. Years later... You too can see the resemblance, don’t you?"

Leander’s brows flinched. "Mel? You mean, her real name is Melanie?" Leander asked.

That is the question that’s been bothering him for long. He wanted to know the answer.

"You should find out from her," Gabriella said and walked away. She’s given him all the answers. She even broke the promise she made to Melanie. But she didn’t think it was wrong.

Leander’s head buzzed with all the alcohol. He remembered that Tabitha Bruno was investigating his wife to know if she had a birthmark.

In that case, is Minerva the daughter of Tabitha Bruno and the sister of Helena Palatini?

The picture of Tabitha with Vito Vitale and the unusual interest of Vitale over Minerva....

Could there be more to it?

If Minerva is Melanie, then the girl I am seeing in my dreams is her. Why is she not telling me everything?

Is it regarding the fire?

Leander leaned back on the couch in deep thoughts.