Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 43: The Threat to Protect

Chapter 43: The Threat to Protect

"I can hold a conversation about fishing towns," Viviana said thinking that might calm him down. She wouldn’t want him to have one of his angry episodes.

She used to live in a coastal town in the South. And she had visited fishing towns when she was young. She can make a convincing case that she was from there.

She wouldn’t lie. Leander’s mention of the South made her doubt if he remembered the short meeting they had in the past. She had heard that he too was caught in the fire his family started. He wouldn’t have forgotten about it then, right?

But if Peter Kastello really hears her talk about the Southern coastal towns, what kind of expression will he have? Will there even be a smidgen of guilt?

Her heart sank remembering that fire. The gut-wrenching screams of children, the wails of people as they burned...

She still hears them. And the stench...the pain... the fear and numbness...

She could never escape those harrowing screams.

"Here," Leander shoved his phone in front of her bringing her out of her reverie.

On the phone, the screen was an image of a dead woman with her face bashed in. She looked at him not understanding what he is trying to show her.

Is he telling her that she is going to end up like that woman?

"That was Viviana Mattias," he said.

Viviana took another look. Her eyes widened as she recognized the birthmark on her chest that was similar to hers.

Leander smirked as he swiped his screen.

The next image was another picture of the same woman. But her body was torn apart as if a hungry bear had mauled her.

Her heart pounded. She knew that was not the work of a bear. Someone did that to a corpse. Was it Leander? Or...

But more importantly, who was that woman?

Her breathing got heavy and perspiration formed on her forehead. When he said that Viviana Mattias was dead, she didn’t think that another woman had replaced her. She wanted to know if he found that dead body in a morgue. She hoped that was the case.

Because, if another woman who had her entire life ahead of her was killed in her place, she won’t be able to bear that guilt. It was for that reason; she left enough clues for Leander to find her on that ledge. She wanted him to see her die so that he won’t pursue other innocents.

She winced as she felt a warmth on her cheek. Leander’s face was just an inch away from hers. She tried to take a step back, but he placed his hand on the small of her back and pulled her closer. She tried to have some distance between them by placing her hand on his chest. She struggled to get out of his hold. But his hold only tightened, and she winced in pain.

With eyebrows furrowed in pain, she turned her face. She didn’t want to breathe the air he breathed. She felt his pounding heart on her hands. She had no idea what angered him this much. He whispered in her ear, his deep voice vibrating in her ear.

"I’ve already found nineteen women in your age group with your body type just in this city. Don’t try anything... No one’s going to believe you over me. I will not let you die no matter what methods you use. I will find you if you escape. You will stay with me, either in my bedroom or in the basement..."

His voice was laced with malice, turning her stomach. He continued,

"Each time you try something, one of those nineteen will die. And if you are being a pest and try for the twentieth time... I bet there are a hundred more women like you in this country and more in this entire world. The choice is yours, Minnie," his lips slid over her ear.

He scoffed as her hair stood on edge. "Just like you challenged on the ledge."

Viviana started shaking. He pressed his lips on her cheek firmly before letting her go.

"Why?" she asked with her eyes filled with tears and lips trembling. "What do you want with me?"

Leander pressed his lips. He didn’t know the answer to her question. All he wanted was to keep her safe. It doesn’t matter by what means. He won’t be able to watch if someone tries to lay their hands on her. What else can he do other than scare her when she is her worst enemy?

He clenched his hands into fists. He couldn’t bear to see those beautiful eyes clouded with tears. But he’d rather have her alive and sad than be dead and at peace.

He is that selfish!

"Don’t cry and ruin your makeup, Minnie. You worked hard on it," he said and walked to the front. "Come on. We can’t be late."

Viviana took in a deep breath. She felt so fatigued. She didn’t have the strength to even think about what he thought anymore. There is only one choice in front of her. Either she can stay here as he wishes, or she could put other young women in danger by trying to escape.

I am cursed! I should have never been born! Why did I survive? How more will die in my place? Why is death avoiding me?

"I- A moment... I have to..." she pointed at the bathroom. She needed at least a minute, alone, to compose herself.

After that, she followed him like a blinded horse. Just as she stepped out of the room, she heard the cat’s meow. She stopped right where she was.

Leander picked up the cat and got down the stairs. She followed him. She’s never been this far in his house. His house was designed in a similar fashion to his bedroom.

She saw a lot of people around wearing uniforms. She didn’t know there were these many helpers in his house. Katerina was the only one not wearing a uniform.

She heard another meow and she almost jumped in fright seeing that ginormous cat that resembled a lion. She held her breath as that cat walked toward her.

"Here, Cinnamon... come here, girl..." Leander called the cat.

Can’t he see? That’s a cat! Why would it listen to the one who feeds it? Why does someone like Leander even like cats? Doesn’t he like obedience? Wouldn’t dogs be a better option?

Vivianna momentarily got lost in her thoughts.

Leander hurriedly picked up the big cat along with the white cat and passed them to the staff. Two other staff came to him with lint rollers and Leander stood with his legs apart and arms stretched. The staff rolled the lint roller all over his suit and only after they cleaned every inch of his suit did Leander step out. Viviana realized that’s how he could keep his secret about owning cats.

The car ride was silent. Leander took a glance at her. She was quietly staring out the window. Clenching his fists, he looked forward.