Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 289: An Open Heart

Chapter 289: An Open Heart

Viviana brought her puppies to their scheduled appointment. She talked to the groomer—a very cute woman by the name Sara.

Viviana wanted to stay with her puppies throughout the entire grooming session, but the groomer insisted that it was not allowed and it would be better for the puppies to be left alone to get along with the groomer.

Viviana was not very pleased. But Sara knew dogs and she decided to trust her. After telling the groomer for the umptieth time that she can call her if she needed her, Viviana left the grooming salon.

The crowd around had dissipated by then, and Viviana walked around. The concierge Beulah was walking by her side. Danielle, the seamstress Viviana met the last time she came here with Leander was standing by her shop door. Seeing Viviana, she waved her in.

Viviana decided to get into the shop. She wasn’t particularly interested in shopping and she didn’t want to leave and come back to pick up her puppies. She decided to spend time with Danielle.

"That was an impressive scene. You were like Hades taking his dog—the three-headed one—for a walk. You are a bad b*itch, Signora Kastello!" Danielle laughed.

"My puppies are cute. They are not like Cerberus," Viviana shrugged. How do her puppies look in any way closer to the guardian dogs of the underworld? No way! Her puppies are the cutest.

Daniella shook her head with a smile. "Why are all dog owners the same?" She then picked a cigarette. "Want one?" she asked Viviana.

"No," Viviana refused. "I quit."

It was a bad habit and she wanted to quit. She is trying her best to quit.

Daniella shrugged. "You wouldn’t mind if I smoke, right?"

"Not at all," Viviana smiled.

Danielle lit up her cigarette and Viviana couldn’t help but admire the feminine way she moved. Her hair was also perfect. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Danielle.

"I wanted to get you fitted for the golden dress the young lion commissioned for you," Danielle walked to the accompanying room.

"Golden dress?" Viviana raised her brows. Her heart skipped a beat. Is he now? He’s not even talking to her but he is going around commissioning dresses for her?

"Yeah. He commissioned it the first time you came here. I haven’t delivered it yet because the intricate embellishment works needed so much care. You should see it. It’s mesmerizing. No one in the world will wear the dress made for you. You’re the only one..."

Danielle went on. Viviana hid her disappointment. So, it was a dress from the past. Because Danielle was so excited, she tried on the dress. The dress was heavily embellished; not what she would prefer.

But...

Heavens! I look like a goddess! Is this really me? Am I really this pretty?

Viviana couldn’t believe the reflection in the mirror. With a slight adjustment to her hairstyle and makeup, she looked like a movie star walking on the red carpet.

"You’re so fine, Signora," Danielle walked around her as she pinned the dress where the adjustments had to be made.

"Did he tell you where I am going to wear this?" Viviana asked.

As awesome as the dress was, she didn’t think she could wear this dress just about anywhere.

Danielle shrugged. "Why would he tell me?"

Viviana nodded in acknowledgment. Yeah, why would he tell her?

"Maybe he wants to surprise you by taking you to the Oscars or...a movie premiere, or an award ceremony..." Danielle said.

"Maybe..." Viviana shrugged. Who knows what he is thinking?

As she changed back, Viviana heard Daniella talking on the phone. She was complaining about the lack of competent staff. When Viviana finished changing, Danielle opened up to her.

"I am planning on opening an atelier in Paris. But I can’t find proper staff. These days everyone thinks they are competent just because they have a fashion degree. But having a degree does not make one better. The talent I am looking for is only present in those with innate passion. Not to mention, I need investments if I want to get a proper location. Paris is expensive..." Danielle complained.

"Maya!" Viviana said.

"What?" Danielle was confused.

"You see the embroidery on my dress? And the fitting... It’s a store-bought dress. But it looks couture, do you agree?" Viviana asked.

"Are you kidding me?" Danielle asked. "It’s from a high street brand?"

"Yeah. Maya—she works for us. But her passion is fashion. She did the embroidery and tailored the dress to my measurements. Have a look at her skills," Viviana showed the stitching proudly.

"She is good. She is a little unrefined, I can see. But she is good..." Danielle was impressed.

"She learned herself. That’s why her stitching looks unrefined. But she is very talented. How about taking her as your apprentice?" Viviana asked.

Maya is wasted as a staff doing household work. She is born to achieve greatness.

Danielle looked a little pensive. Viviana knew that this would be a great opportunity for Maya. Maya would work hard if she gets a chance.

She could see an opportunity for herself too. In case Leander throws her out, she needed a way to sustain herself.

"Danielle, when you talked about investments, how much are you talking about?" Viviana asked.

"For my Atelier in France?" Danielle asked to clarify. Viviana nodded. "About five to six million..." she said. But then her face brightened up. "Will you get the investment from your husband?" she asked.

Viviana shook her head. "I can do the investment myself," she smiled. "If you make me a partner."

"Wow! Partner?" Danielle was astonished. She probably never expected Viviana to be this forthright.

"Yes. Partner," Viviana didn’t waver. She didn’t want to lend money. She wanted to invest her money and have her name in the business. She has the money.

Danielle was contemplating. Viviana knew it would be tough for Danielle to reach a decision. She is not just anybody. She is from the Kastello family. With a commission already investigating the Kastello family, forming a partnership with them now wouldn’t be very wise.

But Viviana didn’t think that Danielle is an ordinary person. She is a woman who is having her shops in the most expensive mall, and she has filthy rich customers. She need not get worried about five million dollars. But she was.

There must be more to it.

"Why do you want to start a business? Was the rumor I heard true? Is the young lion straying from you? Is that why you want to get back at him?" Danielle asked.

Viviana smiled. Yeah, it is not allowed for the mafia wives to have their own businesses. But she did not marry any mafia. She married the lion. She can do what she wants.

"Getting back at him? For what? I love him," Viviana smiled. "I don’t think he’ll mind it if I start a business. If you agree with me, have your people send a term sheet. I’ll have my people look at it and we can proceed forward," Viviana stood up.

She didn’t know the origin of the money she had in her bank account, but she wanted to have proper documentation for spending it.

"Are you really not angry at him for going back to his past lover?" Danielle asked. "How can you accept his affairs and pretend that you don’t see it? It’s only fair for you to have your own life. Trusting a man is futile. Men know only to break your heart. Leave him. Have some self-respect," Danielle said.

Viviana bowed her head. Yeah, what she told Helena would appear to be something a woman from yester century would say.

"I don’t think he is having an affair," Viviana said.

Danielle looked at her pitifully. "Do you trust him still even after seeing how she behaved with you?"

Viviana couldn’t answer her. Their relationship is at a rocky place and she wasn’t sure of anything.

"What will it take for you to change your mind? How far should he go for you to give up?" Danielle asked.

Viviana shrugged. "He found me when I was at my lowest. I love him..."

Danielle scoffed. "Women like you are the reason men think they can be scum without any consequences!"

Viviana sighed. It appeared that Danielle was hurt by men in the past and that shaped her to who she is now. But her experience is different. Leander gave her so much happiness.

"Maybe if I see it with my own eyes...Maybe when he brings another woman home...Once that happens, I will walk away and never turn back."

There was determination in her eyes. She loved him more than anything. But maybe she cannot accept him having another woman on the side, whoever that may be. She will not share him with anyone. She will leave him if he could find it in his heart to hold another woman just like he held her.

Danielle still was not impressed. "That is a very long leash. So, you’d be okay as long as he manages to keep it a secret from you?"

Viviana closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. All she could remember were those eyes she saw while on the rooftop.

Can she really leave him? She didn’t think so.

But one thing she cannot do is to share him. She will resent him if she pushed herself to stay with him knowing that he shares his love with another woman.

"But you will get back at him, right?" Danielle asked. She liked Leander but he is a man. He’s just like others. She would take the side of the woman each time. Women should stay together. There are a lot of women who are ruined by men. Men should pay.

Viviana shook her head. She could see that Danielle was hurt by a man before and she wants to take it out on all men. But she couldn’t find that hatred in her heart anymore.

She used to hate Evander in the past. And what happened? She ended up regretting what she did. She will not let hatred rule her heart anymore.

She wanted the business. Danielle had the talent to make the business succeed. And then, her name will be popular too. No matter where she goes, Leander will know.

Even if he pushes her away, even if she didn’t stay with him, she will wait for him.

That day, she left him clues to find her on the rooftop. Similarly, she will leave clues for him to find her wherever she goes.

Her heart will always be open for him.