Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 45: The Orphan

Chapter 45: The Orphan

Viviana showed her true emotions on her face when she looked at Peter. But only for a second. She controlled herself and bowed down with an awkward smile. She coughed some before she spoke in a soft voice, dripping with an innocence of a child.

"I had no one to help and I didn’t think I could get an appointment to~"

"Why would a sweet child like you need an appointment to see me? Your father was very loyal to me to the end, and I should look after you. I will look after you." Peter looked at his assistant. "She can come to me any time she wants to. Remember that." His voice was stern as a command.

Viviana laughed in her heart seeing the "affection" Peter Kastello is showing for his loyal man’s daughter. If she was a naïve little girl, she would have been touched by Peter’s kindness. But she could see that Peter is faking it.

As if Peter Kastello cares for anything other than money. Heh!

"Ask me anything you want. Right now," Peter told her with his hand wearing the signet ring in front of her.

Viviana met Peter’s eyes. He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. She understood that it was a test. He expects her to kiss his ring and submit to his authority.

Like she will ever kiss the ring of a wicked man like Peter!

*Cough* *Cough*

Viviana covered her mouth with both her hands and started coughing. Her eyes watered, her legs became unstable, and the hall echoed her coughs.

Peter took an unconscious step back. Leander knew she would not kiss his ring as he wanted. Leander patted her back. The corner of his lips curved up unconsciously. He knew how good she is at faking coughs. He fell for it once. It looked like his grandfather was no exception.

Covering his mouth, Peter retreated.

"She’s still recovering... I should have asked her to wear a mask," Leander told Peter in an apologetic tone.

"If she is sick, ask her to stay away. We don’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable," Peter waved his hand and walked away.

Ah, so much love in his heart... Viviana smirked sarcastically. If he was just an old guy who was happy to meet the only daughter of his late loyal servant, he wouldn’t be this dismissive of her just because of a cough, right?

Hypocrite!

"That’s enough acting..."

Leander’s deep voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Viviana looked up, still coughing. She didn’t want to make it very obvious to Leander that she avoided kissing Peter’s ring. But judging by the tone of his voice, she could see that he had figured her out.

"Go, wet your throat with the wine you hid in the bushes," he winked at her.

Viviana cleared her throat and wetted her lips. She didn’t know if he was being sarcastic or planning something. She wondered if she should say something to him. But then she decided against it. No matter how much she observed, she couldn’t sense anger on his face. Whatever the case is, he asked her to leave and so she left.

Leander put his hands in his pocket and watched her go to the balcony and out of his sight. His lips curved to a smile remembering the way she tried to find words to say.

She is cute as long as she doesn’t look at him with hatred. He was relieved that she handled the meeting with his grandfather with ease.

Peter turned and looked at Leander with a smile on his face. His eyes ended up on the woman leaving the hall to the balcony. Leander called the organizer and ordered him something. Within a minute, an outdoor heater and a cushioned couch were sent to that balcony.

"He’s besotted, isn’t he?" Peter mumbled.

"Don..." the assistant bowed his head knowing Peter’s command will follow. Peter does not look satisfied.

"Find out more about her. See if she is connected in any way to St. Michael’s Church in Abenney," Peter said and walked to the bar holding his hands behind his back.

The assistant nodded accepting Peter’s command.

-----

Viviana looked at the comfortable couch placed on the balcony. They even set the patio heater for her so that she would feel warm outdoors.

"Can I get a book to read?" she asked the staff setting up the place.

It was a sarcastic question. She didn’t know why she had to stay here at all. If she is not needed, shouldn’t they send her back?

"What book do you need?"

Viviana almost rolled her eyes hearing Leander’s voice.

"No...nothing..." she used her most pathetic voice when she answered him.

Leander chuckled and walked to the bush where she stored the wine. "Wait here till my mother arrives. She and her friends wanted to meet you."

"You make me believe that I am the star of this show, Kastello," she held her smile forcefully as Leander took out the wine bottle.

Holding the bottle in his hand, he walked toward her. Viviana observed the style in his walk. He did walk like a lion. Chest out, shoulders spread, chin up, and eyes forward as if he didn’t have any care in the world. The chains in his brooch jingled with each step he took, and the buckle of his belt shimmered in the warm light.

"Maybe you are, Minnie," he leaned to her face. "The star..."

Viviana sighed and looked away. She was not in the mood to chat with him. Meeting Peter brought out her painful memories.

Leander saw "that" expression on her face. He knew she won’t talk to him further. He stuffed the bottle in her hand. "Don’t get too drunk. It will get dangerous," his voice went deep out of sadness.

Viviana gulped. He sounded angry. But she didn’t think that he is mad enough to go attack someone. She sat on the couch and closed her eyes. More than ever, she missed Leo that day.

Leo... Why did you come to look for me that day? Had you stayed with your mother; you wouldn’t have died...

-----

Peter took a sip of the cold scotch. The coldness of the glass in his hand reached his upset heart. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath.

He went back to the day he visited the hospital in Abenney. The little orphan girl who was paralyzed from the waist down looked at him with her dark demon eyes. He never would have expected to see that much hatred in the eyes of a seven-year-old.

He didn’t know why he needed to learn that horrid child’s name. He never learned the names of the people he wanted dead.

Melanie, he was told. That was her name.

Melanie Filia Dei.