Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 240: The Deep Pain

Chapter 240: The Deep Pain

"Happy Birthday!"

Leander walked into the bedroom. But she was already stepping out of the room covering herself with a robe. Leander smiled seeing her gently holding the stalk of rose in her hand like a baby.

She had a skip in her steps as she ran down the stairs. Leander watched her taking advice from Katerina on keeping the rose preserved for a long time.

He noticed the change in Katerina’s demeanor after they left the orchid gardens. She has become her jovial self after they left Orchid Gardens.

Steve might be right that Barnabas is the reason behind all these.

Apparently, after his wedding with Minerva, Katerina is getting contacted by Barnabas often to be briefed about the situation in Orchid Gardens. Katerina does not want to be abused by Barnabas but she has no way out as she was hired by his grandfather. She has to "adjust" with Barnabas otherwise, her fate would be worse.

Now that he forbade phones for the maids and the other staff except for Steve and the guards, Katerina might be relieved.

Leander’s eyes glinted with murderous intent. Barnabas must be handled before he touches his woman.

Surely, he will try. Barnabas is the hyena that got fat eating the lion’s share. He thinks he is the lion and is entitled to everything of the lion. He should be reminded that he is a hyena and never will be a lion.

He dialed Steve. "Get our men to find out everything related to Barnabas. His account details, his mistresses, his children, his connections, and everything. Also... find out about Vito Vitale’s health. If Vito’s DNA is hard to access, get Leonardo’s DNA. I need it yesterday," he ended the call.

Leander has learned that Leonardo was being kept on house arrest in their mansion in Sirona Isles. It made Leander doubt whether Vito wants Leonardo’s meeting with Evander to happen.

Nadia is still a prisoner of Leonardo. Leander couldn’t get any more details about her. But Evander would be out of the hospital today. He will sneak out to meet Leonardo Vitale.

It would be wise for Evander to not meet Leonardo. It’s not going to end well for him. He has received news that Leonardo is very angry at the Kastello family—angry at Leander, to be precise—and he would take it on Evander.

Leander was sure because he sent a bouquet of red roses to Leonardo with a card taunting him to touch his brother if he had the guts.

Leonardo will do something after the last stunt. Leander threw Evander to Leonardo to learn more about the interest of Vito Vitale in Minerva.

He tried to find out from Tabitha Bruno but she went into hiding. It will take time to locate her. He decided to use other means.

He had a gut feeling that Vito Vitale might be her father. After looking into Vito Vitale closely, he found that Vito Vitale had a nickname that he hated so much and killed everyone who ever called him by that name—The Devil Eyes!

Apparently, Vito Vitale’s eyes were dark like an eastern kingsnake. Men tremble at his eyes and some mock him for his eyes of a demon. Vito Vitale is said to be so conscious about that name, he started wearing contact lenses of normal brown color.

What kind of don doesn’t accept him for who he is, Leander couldn’t say.

But...

He does know one person with the same dark eyes—his wife. Could it be genetic?

Another thing that solidified his doubt is how Vito Vitale reacted to Leonardo’s efforts to get Minerva. Vito wouldn’t have stopped his son because coveting another man’s wife is wrong. It’s something his family does for fun.

He would have stopped his son because he was going for his sister though. Incest is deplorable even for a Vitale family member.

"I’m pressing it!"

Viviana’s chirpy voice brought Leander out of his thoughts. Seeing her bright face, his face lit up too.

What a woman!

"Come here," he pulled her to a hug. "Stay..."

Viviana leaned on his chest. "Thank you, Leander. I loved your gift..." She slipped her finger to his chest through the gap between his shirt buttons.

"The rose?" Leander asked. Does she seriously think that he gave her a rose for her birthday? Just a rose?

What an idiot!

"Yeah," Viviana kissed his chest. "I always got jealous when women received flowers, especially roses... You got me a rose!"

Leander kissed her head. If it makes her happy then it’s fine. Marrying an idiot is not so bad.

"Happy birthday," he said.

Viviana hummed. "Thank you. I am glad you made this day special, Leander. I love you."

It’s not her real birthday but he made her love this day more than her real birthday.

"The day is not over yet," Leander rubbed her back.

"What?" Viviana looked at him with her eyes wide. She couldn’t believe him.

He smirked. "You’re happy like a child on your birthday...." He spoke with a smile. "It’s good...." But his smile reduced and his lips pressed into a line as his eyes ended up on her chest.

With a pout, she covered her chest clutching the lapel of the robe. She didn’t want to do it again.

"No, wait..." Leander held her hand and trailed his finger along her sternum. His finger then rested. "This birthmark... do you have it from birth?" he asked.

"Yes," Viviana nodded. He still looked somber. "What?" she asked.

"Will you tell me more about yourself, Lemon?" he asked. "I want to know."

Viviana nodded. She knew this was coming ever since she told him her real name. She sat on the bed and he joined her.

"Ask away..." she said.

"Were you an..." he cleared his throat. "Did you grow up in Abenney with Brie?" he asked.

"I was..." Viviana chuckled wryly. She didn’t know her parents then and now her parents are dead. But she was touched to see Leander hesitating to call her an orphan. He’s so soft-hearted.

"I am an orphan. And~"

"You are not. You have a husband. Married people are not orphans," Leander interjected her.

Viviana laughed. That is not the definition of the word orphan. But whatever. If it makes him uncomfortable, she will not say it again. "Yes, Gabby and I grew up in the Abenney orphanage. My parents adopted me after the fire... twenty-two years ago today..."

"Is today not your real birthday?" Leander asked. He wanted to hear her say it.

"...No," Viviana said after a short pause. It was hard for her to tell him the truth. "I was left on the stairs of the St. Michael’s Church in Abenney on September 29th. My mother left me there to die... I was very weak, had bad lungs and heart, and had a very low chance of survival... She..."

Viviana bowed her head and wiped the corner of her eyes. She didn’t know why she was crying recalling that.

"I’m sorry..."

Leander pulled her to his chest. He was truly apologetic. She was rejoicing like a child and now he has turned her mood sour just to satisfy his curiosity,

Who is the idiot now?

"No, don’t. It’s not that..." Viviana didn’t want him to think that he made her mood bad. "It’s... I’ve accepted it. I don’t know why I am crying though... I...sometimes wonder how hard it must have been for her to leave me there..."

Leander hugged her close. Is she crying for her mother?

"You never looked for her?" he asked. He wondered if she’d ask him to find her mother for her.

"No," Viviana said. "She must have been very poor and she probably thinks that I was dead. What good will finding her do...? And it’s not like anyone can track someone from twenty-nine years ago..."

Leander caressed her cheek gently. It appeared that she does not want to know who her mother was.

"And even if I found her... What will I do if she has other kids?" Viviana continued. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "She threw me away..."

Leander pressed his lips to her forehead unable to bear her tears.

"...she didn’t want the useless me...