Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 297: Not Hate But Love

Chapter 297: Not Hate But Love

Viviana saw the deep furrow line between his eyes. His hand was on his chest and he stooped his head while rubbing his forehead.

"Leander," she walked to him. "Are you okay?" she asked.

He didn’t appear to have heard her. She walked to him. He was obviously not fine.

"Do not touch me!" he shouted.

Viviana yelped and jumped back. She didn’t expect him to shout at her. He held out his hand at her. She took a step forward. He stormed off the room.

Viviana watched him running up the stairs. He almost slipped down the stairs and her heart skipped a beat. But he managed to balance himself. She saw Steve following him and was relieved. Steve will take care of him.

She placed her hand over her heart. It hurt to see him suffering. She didn’t even know whether he wants her or not. If he wants her gone, why did he bring a baby to the house?

Ah... he thought I would get mad seeing the baby and leave him. He doesn’t know me at all...

Before she knew it, tears rolled down her cheeks. She squatted on the floor and hugging her knees, she stifled the loud wail she felt rising from her gut.

"Signora," Mary placed her hand on Viviana’s shoulder that was jerking.

"Yes," Viviana took a deep breath and wiped her face. "I am fine. Go, prepare dinner," she waved her hand not meeting anyone’s eyes. She rushed back into the room. She didn’t want anyone to pity her.

------

Leander saw Steve looking downstairs with a sorry expression.

He got a glimpse of his mother thanks to Melanie. She is the bright light who shows him the way. He hoped he would remember every single second he spent with her in Abenney. Especially the memories of the day before he supposedly "died".

"Do you think I am being cruel to her, Steve?" Leander asked.

He knew it was true. He was cruel to her.

"Uh?" Steve came out of his trance and looked at Leander. "Capo... Signora is smart. You can include her in your plans..."

Leander sighed. Everyone thinks that he is being cruel. But he cannot tell her the truth yet. Not until "it" happens.

She said that she will wait for his return even if she leaves. He always imagined that to be the case. He could only think of his mother Victoria. Maybe that’s exactly what she was thinking too. His father returned to her only to give her a son. Maybe she was satisfied she got someone to remember him by, she left him for real.

His heart skipped a beat.

He will not let her listen. Now that he knows that she can get pregnant, he didn’t want to take a chance..

He walked to the office and Steve followed him.

"Everyone thinks the baby is yours and is pitying Signora. I found some laughing behind her back. They think you’ve turned your back on her." Steve said.

"Turned my back?" Leander smiled. He did turn his back on her but for a reason. Everyone will see it pretty soon. "So, this news would have traveled to the Rose Gardens?"

"Yes, Capo," Steve said. "This and your visits to Signora Palatini..."

"About that woman, make sure today’s incident is kept a secret," Leander said.

"Capo, if I can ask something... Do you think she told the truth? Is the baby really your brother’s?" Steve asked. He did not trust that woman at all. But Leander, with no questions asked, brought the baby home. Even he was surprised to see his boss looking at the baby in a tender way. He wondered if his boss fell for her crocodile tears.

After all, they say first love is special.

Leander scoffed. Disgust ruled his face. "She lied to her husband about the gender of the baby and found a way to dispose of it. Her mother probably showed her the way," he said.

Leander then thought about it. Helena found it very easy to trick her husband to meet him. It was as if she was used to sneaking behind her husband.

How many other men did she meet this way?

"Do a secret DNA test just in case," Leander said. "And Steve, it’s better if my grandfather doubts that child is Evander’s..." he added.

He needs to advance his plans. He cannot keep on hurting his dear Lemon any longer. He has a lot to say to her.

What will she do when he tells her that he is Leona?

He couldn’t even imagine the bright smile on her face. It’s been a while since he saw that smile on her face. But this distance he cleft between them is only temporary. Once everything is over, he will bring her to his side and they will rule the world.

She thinks of Leona as the perfect version of a human. She almost deified Leona. But she thinks of him as a normal human with flaws.

Will she be able to accept the truth?

He thought about it a lot. That was the reason he is bringing a lot of changes around him. He’s going to pull the rug underneath her feet pretty soon, and after that... everything is going to change for the better.

He will tell her that he is Leona proudly then.

Leander looked at Steve. He was still standing there. He looked like he wanted to know more. He’s found getting closer to Steve these days. Only Steve knows the plans he has for the future. Steve didn’t approve, of course. But he had to agree.

Their relationship had leveled up to being friends. Steve will never accept that, but that doesn’t change his feelings.

Leander nodded his head giving permission to ask his doubt.

"Why did you bring the baby here?’ Steve asked.

Leander shrugged. He couldn’t understand that completely either.

When he saw Helena not even bothering to look at the crying baby that was just pushed out on the dirty floor of the warehouse, he felt something from the pit of his stomach.

When he held the baby, he remembered holding his dead baby. The little girl baby that came to the world unwanted by her mother cried her throat out knowing her fate. The wound of losing his daughter was still fresh in his heart. That must be why the watery dark irises in the puffy, wrinkled face, reminded him of his daughter.

Their daughter might have looked the same if she managed to grow in her mother’s tummy longer...

He couldn’t part the baby.

Yeah, he could have arranged for someone else to take care of the baby. But he brought the baby with him.

Ah... I don’t want her to leave me...

She was supposed to leave him for him to enact his plans. And he was tying her to him with a baby. He still doesn’t want to correct her for the same reason after knowing that she loves the baby more because she thinks that it is his baby.

She is wonderful... An enigma. Maybe he will never figure her out. She’s just like the deep sea she loves.

"I don’t want her to leave me, Steve," he confessed. "And when my plans are complete, I want her to have something to hold on to her life..."

Leander’s eyes turned somber. He was scared thinking of that. He was not worried for him but for her. He thought if he makes her hate him, she will be able to live without breaking apart.

He saw how hatred and thoughts of vengeance kept her alive.

He thought she would retort to hate him. He thought her hatred for him, and her puppies would keep her sane and alive.

But no... His sweet Lemon still loves him. She is not pushed by hatred anymore. She is filled with love. Only for him.

Her puppies won’t tether her to the mortal world.

But this baby would.

"About that plan, Capo... Must you..." Steve voiced his disapproval once more.

Leander smiled. "Steve, what would your wife do if you bring home a baby... your baby from another woman?" Leander asked.

Steve scratched the back of his head with a grimace. "Certainly she would not have reacted like Signora...you probably would have been informed of my death by this time..." he chuckled.

He has a spirited wife.

Leander smiled. "You know what my wife thinks? She sees that baby as a part of me and her love for me extends to that baby... I will do anything for her..."

Steve bowed his head.

So, Capo is not going to change his plans.