Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 49: Change In Position

Chapter 49: Change In Position

"What nonsense are you..." Leander cleared his throat. He hated that Lionel brought up Gabriella. He didn’t want to hear that name ever again. "Are you stupid? I am 33. Why would I still be a..." Leander cleared his throat to conceal his embarrassment. "I’ve been with a lot of women," he added to clarify. Lie as it may be, he needed to convince his friend. No one can know that he was never with a woman.

"Why are you lying? If you were with a woman, I would know" Lionel did not believe him. He waved his hand to spare his friend embarrassment.

Evander looked at his extended hand and glared at his mother as he was ignored by Lionel. Viola patted her arm to soothe him.

Some dealings with the Waldorf family needed persuasion as Barnabas told her. She had to "spend time" with Barnabas to even gather that information. Her son is very disadvantaged as Peter is prioritizing Leander these days. So, she "entertained" Barnabas. He is married, but she is not. Her husband is dead, so, she didn’t think that it was wrong. She does not like that weasel, but she has to do something to level the playing field for her eldest son.

Evander persuading the Waldorf family will help Evander retain his position as the heir to the don seat after Peter. She thought with both of them in the entertainment business, it won’t be hard for Evander to persuade Lionel.

But like now, Leander blocks the way for Evander all the time. He never accepted his place as the youngest no matter how much she tries to make him understand.

Leander wants Evander’s position so badly! But as long as she is alive, she will not let that happen.

"Go, Evander. The Waldorf family head is arriving with his second son. Greet them and bring them to your grandfather. And see what the young boy likes," Viola pushed Evander as his eyes ended up on the balcony that the woman disappeared into. He cannot lose focus now. Women come and go. His position cannot be lost.

Leander can have the heir to the Waldorf family. But she was sure that sissy won’t be the heir for long. Philomena won’t let that happen. Evander should get used to standing as an equal to Peter so he would take on his mantle. He should mingle with the dons, not the possible heirs.

She smirked seeing Leander and Lionel standing close to each other mumbling with each other. They suit well together.

-----

Leander’s attention turned to the balcony. He wanted to see if she had settled in. But he was mad at her. When Evander tried to undress her, she stopped struggling.

She stopped!

Why would she do that?

He wondered if she would have offered herself to Evander if he didn’t step in. That woman knows how to anger him. She could shout all sorts of weird words when he lost his control once. But she was ready to let Evander do whatever.

He did not like that at all.

"I know she is your woman...but does Evander know?" Lionel asked knowing that Leander won’t entertain him.

He has tried to bring Leander’s attention to Evander’s evil deeds regarding women, but this guy just doesn’t listen. He is like a carriage horse with his blinders on that runs laps around the park. He doesn’t look away or try to take another path.

His grandfather trained him well like a loyal lapdog. It is hard to break him from his training.

"What?" Leander pretended not to know what he meant. "She’s just a guest of the family!"

"Guest?" Lionel mumbled and rolled his eyes. Who was talking about kissing her just then?

Leander fisted his hands to balls. He’s heard this and that about his brother. He’s seen what his brother does to corpses. Even after he warned, he dared to touch HER!

But it is his problem. It should be solved within the family as his grandfather advises.

"About this party... Did you get any news?" Leander asked. He was sure it is to announce his engagement, but he hoped that it was not the case.

Before Lionel could answer, Leander was called by Peter. Leander’s eyes ended up once again on the balcony. He couldn’t even get a glimpse of her as she was perfectly hidden.

"Have an eye on her for me," Leander told Lionel.

He noticed that he is not the only one having an eye on the balcony. Evander is too. He had a feeling that Evander might be doubting if she is the one who hurt her.

That birthmark on her chest!

That should be it! Evander tried to undress her to check if she is the same woman.

"Okay, anything for you!" Lionel patted Leander’s shoulder.

Leander glared at him. The enthusiasm on Lionel’s face was just too much. He did not like that.

"Don’t try anything weird. She’s like a feral cat," he whispered to Lionel.

Lionel smirked. "Weird?"

Leander was not listening to him. His mind was occupied otherwise. Fisting his hands, he walked to the balcony to warn her.

"Capo..." Steve reminded Leander. Peter is waiting for him, and his boss is acting very suspiciously.

"Ah, yes..." With a grunt, Leander walked to his grandfather not before sparing a pleading gaze at Lionel.

"Leander, come, stand by me," Peter held Leander’s arm and took a step forward leaving Evander behind.

Steve widened his eyes out of shock. He could hear Evander gnashing his teeth. Viola Kastello who was standing in the distance almost dropped the champagne glass she was holding. Barnabas standing by the bar raised his glass at Peter.

From the onset, the right-hand side of the don belonged to the heir. Leander’s place was a step behind Evander’s.

What is happening now?

Steve gulped seeing Leander walking mindlessly to Peter. As Peter rubbed Leander’s back, he stood there fixing his suit and eyes forward.

Steve rubbed his forehead. Leander could have at least refused it out of courtesy. He makes it appear that he was always waiting for this chance.

Leander would have said something if he was thinking. His mind was where his heart was—on the balcony. He wetted his lips and the lingering taste of the lipstick squeezed his heart.

Will she be safe?

Lionel’s lips curved to a smirk seeing Leander standing to the right of his grandfather. His eyes met with his father’s. He held out his hand but Lionel walked to the balcony avoiding his father.

Viola walked to Barnabas. "What is this?" she asked gritting her teeth. "Why is the youngest there?"

Pressing her lips, she looked at Leander talking to the guests while standing as an equal to Peter. She couldn’t stomach it. She even...with this weasel...

Ugh! She stomped her feet.

"Three, Viola..." Barnabas whispered in her ear. "He killed three women in a week. You couldn’t control him...One more strike, you’ll have to prepare a coffin for your eldest..."

Viola’s eyes filled with tears.