Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 317: Only Daughter

Chapter 317: Only Daughter

"I brought my wife’s niece home because your daughter threw her away... just like her mother threw Melanie away. I didn’t want history to repeat itself," Leander said.

He could have said a lot but he opted to speak politely. He didn’t want to keep Viviana from her father just by speaking rashly and causing a rift between them.

Vito hummed. "You’re not planning on telling her? Why?"

Leander couldn’t answer his question. He couldn’t find it in his heart to tell Viviana that it was Helena’s baby. He knew it would hurt her. She was already so attached to the baby. She wouldn’t give up that baby but she would feel sad each time looking at the baby misunderstanding why he brought the baby home.

"I heard your kidneys aren’t working properly?" Leander asked.

Vito is not the only one who can ask tough questions.

Vito was initially shocked hearing it from Leander. But then his lips curved. "You really are wet behind the ears, aren’t you?" Vito scoffed. "But I applaud you. Not many have the capacity to gather this intel. How... You know what? I don’t care. If I am here for her kidney, what are you going to do about it?" he asked.

Leander looked at Vito. He looked calm. He observed Vito’s face. It didn’t look like someone who was needing a kidney. He looked fine for his age. As Vito tapped his fingers on the armrest, Leander noticed the slight tremble in his hands. Maybe he was not all well. But he did make a sudden journey. At his age, it would be taxing.

"You don’t need her for your kidney," Leander said.

Vito shrugged. Leander ignored the conceitedness on Vito’s face as he got the answer.

Vito has the whole world open to him. His wife doesn’t have an odd blood type and she didn’t have any genetic issues. If she had a common blood type, it is possible Vito has the same too. He wouldn’t need Viviana for a kidney.

He was relieved. He found it odd that he was getting relieved on her behalf. Maybe this is what marriage is all about. She thinks of him every step and he does the same.

"I do not want her to know that her mother had the means to look after her and yet chose to throw her away to die," Leander said.

Vito paused tapping his fingers. He pondered for a few seconds staring at the floor.

"What does she think of m- her father?" Vito asked.

"... she thinks you didn’t know of her existence..." Leander said.

Vito bowed his head and rubbed his eyes with his thumbs.

"I took her kidney. I would have sold her for spare parts, but..." Vito sounded menacing and his voice broke. Relaxing his fists, he looked up taking in a deep breath. Leander noticed that his eyes had gotten red. "She is my princess," Vito said, this time his voice was clear.

Leander could fill in the details. After Viviana reacted strongly to the death of the stray dog, Vito might have thought she wouldn’t accept her mother’s death. If he wanted to maintain a good relationship with Viviana, he might be right to leave Helena’s mother alive.

Knowing his wife, she would lose her mind if she learns that her mother was murdered by her father even though she threw her away. She does have a warped sense of morality that he finds hard to understand.

Or maybe he’s the one with the warped sense of morality. Who knows?

"You’re going to meet Helena next?" Leander asked. He wanted to know what his plans for Helena were. If the Vitale family is going to support the Palatini household, he will have to make appropriate plans.

Vito looked away. "She’s her mother’s daughter..."

It’s not like he hates Helena. He would have tried to get over his hatred for Tabitha and met with his other daughter. But then he learned that Helena threw away her daughter too, He didn’t want to be in the presence of such a woman. He didn’t want to kill his daughter.

Leander could see Vito’s eyes turning distant. For now, Vito had no plans to support Helena.

Unless... Helena makes an effort.

Vito appears to have the bleeding heart Viviana has. Except, Vito’s heart only bleeds for his family while Viviana considers the whole world as her family.

He needs to be a bit more careful.

"I would have made the commission disappear if I didn’t know of your involvement," Vito said shaking Leander off his thoughts.

He could make the trouble the Kastello family faces with just a little flick of his little finger. That one guy who brings a lot of trouble..? He can make his disappear, literally. If he gives permission there are at least two guys who would drown that guy in acid and make him disappear. But he learned that Leander tuned that guy up leading to everything escalating.

Although everyone believes that Leander lost his cool for a moment, Vito didn’t think so. Leander was planning something. He’s moving a lot of chess pieces around. Everyone sees him as playing checkers but no, he is playing chess.

And the King who is going to lose his head is...

Vito can guess what he might be planning but it looked like a death wish. He didn’t know whether Leander did lose his mind.

"I do not want your involvement in anything," Leander said. It was not a request.

Vito opened his mouth to say something but then he let out a deep breath. "I’m hearing a lot. I do not like hearing that you’re making my daughter cry," Vito said in a warning tone.

He can do whatever with his life. But if he cannot make his wife happy, when his wife is his daughter, then he would take it personally.

"Did you know who I was?" Leander asked. He didn’t like that Vito was threatening him but he was actually showing his love for his daughter. He heard Vito knows every secret every family holds and would use it as leverage against them before using their women as leverage.

What did he have against the Kastello family?

"Is everything about the fire?" Vito asked.

Leander’s plans didn’t make any sense.

"He killed my mother," Leander fisted his hands.

Closing his eyes he remembered the tears on her eyes as she talked about the fire. Maybe it is about the fire. He still couldn’t take those images of the lined-up coffins of children out of his mind. It still haunts him.

How many of them were his friends? And one of them was his mother.

"I would have let it go..." Leander opened his eyes and his eyes were filled with hostility. "But he decided to come for my wife..." He rolled the ring on his finger. "No one can even think of touching my wife."

Vito smiled.

So, this is what it is all about.