Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 360: Fighting Spirit

Chapter 360: Fighting Spirit

Viviana saw the smile on Ziya’s face as she scrolled down the phone. Viviana didn’t give her the phone often. But she only has Leander’s pictures in her phone and she wants Ziya to know her father.

"Daddy," Ziya smiled pointing at Leander.

It was a sneaky picture she took of him when they were in the garden. There were others in the picture and Leander was standing far away and yet, Ziya could recognize Leander.

"Yes! That is daddy. Good girl!" Viviana kissed her cheek.

The next one was a short video of Leander talking. It was nothing much but ten seconds of Leander talking to her about the hydrangea in their garden. That was probably the only recording of his voice she had in her phone. Most of the videos and pictures of him were lost after the cops "accidentally" corrupted her data when she was investigated after Leander’s "death".

She was mad at those cops but then she was grateful she was left with something. Also, her husband is not dead. If he was dead, she would have asked her dad to kill those cops for destroying her pictures.

"Daddy..." Ziya held the phone and kissed the screen. She was at a stage where she wanted to kiss everyone she loved. She loves her daddy and she would kiss him.

Viviana leaned on the pillow and saw the smile on Leander’s face. That smile was rare. No one else probably saw that smile on his face. Now Ziya sees that smile. She hoped Leander would smile at Ziya the same way too once he returns. Otherwise, Ziya’s little heart would be broken.

Thinking about him, a smile bloomed on her face.

Before lunch, Angelina gave away the gifts she bought for everyone. Viviana sensed that Angelina was a little down but she was trying to hold on. Leonardo got the shirt she bought and kept it aside.

"She’s the best of the best. She knows what I love!"

Leonardo couldn’t hide his pride when he said that to Viviana. It was as if he was claiming ownership over her friendship and telling her that he would be Angelina’s first priority.

Is that fair for Angelina though?

"So, you should know what the best of your best likes, right? What gift did you get for her?" she asked.

Leonardo’s haughty smile wavered a bit. "I haven’t- I didn’t..." he cleared his throat and looked at the floor. When he looked back at her, his haughty smile had returned to his face. "I don’t have to buy her any gifts. We are that close."

Viviana wanted to sigh but she was distracted by Angelina. Her eyes looked misty and she excused herself and walked away. Viviana could see that she was suffering. Something must have happened last night.

"Eh," Viviana shrugged. "Maybe..."

"What do you mean "Maybe"?" Leonardo asked. He wanted to ignore her odd expression but it appeared that she resented him for something. He wanted to know why.

"I mean... Maybe you are close now. It’s not going to be that way forever, you know..."

Leonardo’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? Why wouldn’t we- Are you cursing us for~"

"Idiot!" Viviana interjected him. "She’s preparing herself for marriage. Which man would be comfortable with his wife having a guy "best friend"? She would gradually leave you."

It might be hard for Leonardo, but it is the truth. Leonardo definitely wouldn’t get along with any man Angelina chooses. This guy is so stupid not to see his true feelings for her. He can either accept her love or lose her friendship. That’s the only choice he has.

"Which century are you from? You have that movie director friend. Why~"

"Nellie is my husband’s friend and the man my friend likes. It’s different... Leonardo, answer me honestly. Will you let your wife have a male friend like the kind of friend you are to Angelina?" Viviana asked.

"Why not?" Leonardo shrugged. "We are childhood friends and~"

"You are keeping yourself from getting into her pants," Viviana finished his sentence. "I don’t think you’d want your wife to have such a friend around her."

She was just running her mouth off. She noticed Leonardo’s eyes ending up on Angelina’s chest unintentionally, and he was careful not to touch her the whole day. She thought that there was something to it. He was all over her the day she returned. Something had changed.

Leonardo gritted his teeth as he got angry. Viviana took it as a cue and rushed out. She didn’t want to get in a fight with him. She rushed to the garden as Angelina went there.

Angelina was sitting in the corner of the patio hugging her knees. Viviana sat beside her. Angelina quickly wiped the corner of her eyes and Viviana pretended to not notice that she was crying. She didn’t want to embarrass her.

"It hit me... Your words hit me..." Angelina said.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you," Viviana said. She wanted to make Leonardo realize how one-sided their relationship was. Hurting Angelina was never her intention.

"I know," Angelina nodded and patted Viviana’s hand. "It gave me a new perspective. I realized that it was so glaringly one-sided. I tried to be there for him any way I could while he... I don’t even know why I fell for him. It’s not like he’s the best of the men I know..."

Viviana held her hand. "I am not going to blame you for falling in love, Angelina. One thing I learned from my love is that you don’t have to have a reason to fall in love. My husband had no reason to fall for me and yet he did. So, I understand."

"Thank you," Angelina chuckled and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Are you giving up?" Viviana asked.

She liked Angelina for Leonardo. But if Angelina is only getting hurt, she doesn’t have to hold on to her love anymore. She can try and move on.

Angelina looked at Viviana without answering. She was pondering. "I don’t think I can, Minerva... It’s... Being in love with him has become my habit. It’s hard to come out of an addiction of fifteen years..."

"Oh, dear..." Viviana hugged her.

Viviana then told her the conversation she just had with Leonardo. Again, she was biased. She wanted this relationship to succeed. Getting the love of someone after waiting for years is so going to be worth it.

"He told me that he loved the purity in our relationship and that I spoiled it by confessing..." Angelina’s voice cracked as she was choking on her emotions. "He considers my love ugly, Minerva..."

"That idiot!" Viviana patted her back.

Why is he making it complicated? It is obvious that the way he looks at her has changed. Is he trying to will himself to become her friend again? Was I right? Is that why he got that mad?

"But..." Angelina sat up straight and wiped her tears off. "You are right. I’ve made myself so available to him. My disappearing act has done something to him. I now have a plan."

"Your plan does not involve fake dating someone else, does it?" Viviana asked.

That might work wonders, but she didn’t think it would be right.

"No, that’s stupid," Angelina waved her hand. "I am going to make him come to me. I am going to be in his face and make myself less available to him. He should know that I can do well without him, in front of him. I am not going to run anymore. I am the woman. I need to be wooed. It should not be the other way around!"

"Okay..." Viviana didn’t understand everything but Angelina made sense.

Which woman wouldn’t want to be courted?

"I wish you all the best in your endeavors, Angelina..." Viviana hugged her. "If you need to include me in any of your plans, I’ll be glad to help."

Angelina nodded with excitement.

Viviana had a feeling that Angelina could handle it alone and she just said that to be supportive. She was amazed to see the fighting spirit in Angelina. She is an amazing woman.