Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 315: Tearful Meeting

Chapter 315: Tearful Meeting

"This one or this one?" Viviana showed Leander two of the dresses she shortlisted. "Come on, quick! I have to dress up Ziya too!"

"Is it important what you wear?" Leander asked. "You’d look good in anything you wear."

He didn’t find the purpose of her confusion. She was meeting her father. Why is she getting this worked up about what she wears? It’s not like Vito would care about what she was wearing.

"It’s not just about looking good. What I wear and how I present myself is a reflection of how happy I am in this house. I do not want him to think that you do not respect me enough," Viviana said.

Leander leaned on the wall with a smile. He never thinks about these things. He didn’t care much about what others said about him. But she does, doesn’t she? And she wants to make sure that people only think of him the best. ’

"The yellow one would suit you more," he said. Golden shades suit her better and she’d look like a goddess.

"Yellow, it is," Viviana said and slipped inside the dress.

Leander helped her with the zipper and she helped him with the jewelry.

"You are not wearing your jewelry much these days, Leander," she said trying to pin the collar chain.

"Should I?" Leander asked.

He never liked wearing jewelry except for watches. He saw the old pictures of "him" and learned that his mother used to dress him up with a lot of jewelry. He started wearing jewelry again thinking that it would make his mother love him again.

He’s been thinking about it a lot. Should he continue living this way?

Viviana laughed. "What a silly question! You are Leander. You should be wearing jewels. I still remember all those clinking and clacking little Leander’s jewels made back when we..."

Viviana stopped seeing his lips turn down with a frown.

"If you do not want to, you don’t have to," she said.

Leander placed the collar chain in her hand. "Throw them all away."

Viviana stared at her hand with a pout. She felt sad thinking of Leander.

"What?" Leander asked.

"You’re weird lately, Leander. You’re not telling me anything and... I am scared..."

"Silly," Leander held her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "Don’t think too much. It’s nothing. Maybe I am having a midlife crisis. That’s all..."

He wanted to tell her that he was not Leander but Leona. But something stopped him. He didn’t have the guts to look at her face and tell her that he was the friend she loved when she was young.

But how will she react when she learns that the Leona, she knew turned out to be him? Not so long ago, she wanted to see him burn.

Until recently, he didn’t even realize that he was not proud of who he was. It came as a shock to him as he hit the realization.

"How do you even love me?" he asked. He’s been thinking about that a lot.

It was not about the money. And he is the opposite of who she is. What made her fall for him?

"How will I not?" Viviana asked. "You’re so pretty," she smiled holding his cheeks. "And... I love how you love me and protect me and how you make love to me," she winked.

"I’m pretty?" he asked.

She was smiling so brightly. Looking at her takes out all his confusion. He would do anything for her.

"Yes. Have you looked at your lashes? I wish I had those pretty lashes..." she giggled.

"Silly woman! Don’t ever call me pretty. I am not a girl," he slapped her butt.

"Pretty, pretty Leo," Viviana said as she ran away.

-----

Viviana stood by the door rubbing her hands as she waited for her father. Her puppies were in the garden playing with Leander. He looked pretty calm and collected unlike her.

She asked him to wear his suit but he refused. He was just wearing his black shirt and trousers. He looked stylish with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. The diamonds in his watch glittered in the sun.

Without his usual accessories, he looked casual.

She didn’t care about what he wore. But she didn’t want her father to bully Leander.

Do fathers bully their sons-in-law? Eh, but Leander can handle it.

The candy-red Bentley car entered the driveway. Viviana held her breath. She expected at least a couple of black SUVs following the car, but there were none.

The driver-side door opened and out came a dapper man. She recognized him.

My father!

She didn’t think that he would drive here alone. No matter what, for a man of his position, this seemed a little...

She wanted to wait until Vito Vitale reached her but before she knew it, she was running toward him.

"Leo! My father’s here!" she shouted although Leander was already walking at them.

"Principessa!"

Vito held out his hands with a wide grin.

Viviana stood covering her mouth. He looked so endearing. He was not well-built like Leander but he looked strong with broad shoulders. As he smiled, his eyes curved and she couldn’t take her eyes off his eyes.

I have his eyes!

She turned to look at Leander as he placed his hand on her lower back. "Leo... he’s my..."

She couldn’t finish her sentence as she choked. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I know," Leander pushed her to the front.

Viviana leaned on his arm. "He came for me..."

"I did, Principessa," Vito said.

Viviana smiled looking at him.

"Won’t you give a hug for your father?" he asked.

"Yes!" Viviana stepped forward.

"But before that..." Vito patted her shoulder. "You haven’t called me dad yet," he said.

"Dad," Viviana said, and the next moment tears started rolling from her eyes.

"My child," Vito reached her and hugged her.

Viviana clung around his shoulders and started sobbing.

What a baby!

Leander thought watching her. But then, this is who she is—extreme. Her love is extreme and so is her hate. He has first-hand knowledge. It would be weird if she reacted any other way.

He had the familiar feeling bubbling in his heart.

I should protect her at all costs.

He observed Vito. Viviana was short and he could see Vito closing his eyes and he saw something glittering at the corners of his eyes.

He was surprised.

Is Vito really happy to see her?

Men of Vito’s stature wouldn’t be caught crying even if they were pretending. So, it must be his true feelings.