Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 55: [Bonus - ]Hurt And Confusion

Chapter 55: [Bonus Chapter]Hurt And Confusion

"I still think you should wait, Evan..." Viola affectionately rubbed his arm. "If you think he would give up the crown for her... He wants the don seat more than anything. Will your grandfather give you~"

"You think I don’t know that? That’s not what I am planning..." Evander looked in the distance.

Viola looked in that direction and saw Leander walking inside the hall with Viviana. She didn’t know what Evander was planning, but she decided to do something about it.

-----

Viviana stood with her hands clasped together and looked around. The hall was full, and she wondered if Leander brought her in for dinner. She was a little hungry.

But where is Lionel?

She looked behind her. But it appeared that Lionel didn’t follow them here. Brief as their meeting was, she did have a good time with Lionel. She felt bad for leaving the conversation without excusing herself. That was not good manners.

When she turned to the front, she had to once again meet the angry glare of Leander. She bowed her head with a pout not knowing what provoked him this time.

She then conveniently stood at Leander’s blind spot. Steve walked to them and handed him a piece of paper. Viviana, the curious cat she is, read the little note.

[Meet me near the women’s room- XO Helena XO]

Viviana’s eyes widened with interest as she observed Leander’s fingers gently caressing Helena’s signature.

So, Leander’s first love is here.

Viviana looked around to see if she can recognize Helena. It didn’t take much effort as she found her in just a glance following Steve’s eyes.

Viviana couldn’t guess why Helena was looking at her like that though. It’s not like she stole her husband.

Well, wait...

Viviana shrugged. That’s what everyone’s thinking. But that’s not the truth.

Viviana recognized the man sitting beside Helena. Nicholai Palatini.

Wow! So, his lover married his enemy? That’s got to be a big blow for Leander. No wonder he couldn’t heal still.

Viviana observed Helena further. She was very pretty and everything about her—even the way she glared at her—screamed elegance. She’s heard the idiom "graceful as a swan". Helena was just that—a swan—pretty and calming. She was glowing although her eyes were tired.

"She’s pregnant... Mrs. Palatini," Viviana voiced her thoughts out loud. Her face bloomed with a smile.

As someone who can never get pregnant, she had the skill of knowing when a woman is pregnant. One could only yearn for the thing they can never get. Women who are pregnant have a characteristic glow that they cannot hide. And their body changes a lot.

Good for her, Viviana thought. Of course, she gets jealous of women who are pregnant, but she would wish for them to birth the child safely. It’s an amazing thing that needs to be celebrated.

Both Leander and Steve looked at Viviana with their eyes wide as both of them heard her. Steve immediately averted his eyes to not intrude and Leander kept on staring at her.

Viviana looked at Leander and her smile vanished seeing his angry glare. Only then she realized that it would hurt Leander to learn that the woman he loves is having another man’s baby for the third time.

"Uh-I’m~"

Before she could apologize, Leander’s sneer interjected her.

"What’s with that smile when you can’t even carry a child?" he said.

Steve turned swiftly to look Leander. That was a shock for him. He didn’t know that the woman was infertile, and he was more surprised that Leander just rubbed it in her face like that.

Leander never mistreats women. He never calls them names and he doesn’t torture them needlessly. He just gives quick death to women compared to men.

But then, he does act differently with this woman. He still couldn’t understand if Leander likes this woman or hates her. He looked at Viviana.

Viviana felt like she was hit in the head with a hammer. She heard what Leander said. And he was not all wrong. He spoke the truth.

But...

She was never confronted with that truth to her face, in that tone. Her parents and Father Flannagan are only people who knew that truth and they never talked to her about it in that tone.

Leander was mocking her for being infertile. It was his family who caused her infertility and Leander plays with that open nerve of hers, each chance he gets.

Bitterness rose in her throat, and she blinked her eyes to stop herself from crying. But maybe it was the wine, she couldn’t control her emotions well. She bowed her head and rubbed her nose as if that would stop the tears that were collected in her eyes from falling down.

Leander knitted his brows not knowing why she got sad. He tried joking with her because she wanted to hear her laugh. She was the one who said that she doesn’t know how to carry a child. So, he was joking that she cannot hold that baby even if she gives birth and there was no reason for her to smile like that.

Seeing her sad face, he turned sad too. He wanted to make her laugh, but she is crying. It’s not the first time his efforts are wasted. His mother does not like his jokes either. Maybe he should just shut up.

Leander noticed that his grandfather is calling for him and went to him. Steve remained by Viviana’s side silently.

Viviana took in deep breaths to compose herself. It’s just words. She cannot break down for some words no matter how hurtful they might be. And he was not even wrong.

Who is she to get happy for other pregnant women? It’s not like her wishes would mean anything to them!

Hugging herself she looked up. She cannot lose her concentration now. She observed Peter Kastello saying something to Leander. She tried to lip-read but she couldn’t read much.

She could read that Peter was telling Leander that he loved him and trusted him so much. But she couldn’t get why Leander’s face looked pale like that.

Leander’s eyes met with hers and she couldn’t look away because his eyes were filled with pain. Peter patted Leander’s back and Leander walked to the exit of the hall.

Peter Kastello gestured for Viviana to get to him. Viviana’s first instinct was to look for Leander. But he had already disappeared.

Having been left alone with no choice, Viviana walked to Peter. She did not have a good feeling about this at all.

Peter asked her to sit beside him, and she obliged. Evander was sitting opposite her at that round table, and he smiled at her. Viviana’s heart pounded.

She looked around and everyone was chatting as they waited for dinner to be served. After some time, she saw Leander entering the hall with a big book in his hand.

Peter stood up and tapped a spoon on his wine glass to call attention. Leander placed the think book in front of her with a thud.

Viviana gulped.

What is going on?