Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 92: The Gamble

Chapter 92: The Gamble

Viviana cleared her throat as if that would give her time to think. But Lionel’s round eyes were focused on her observing every twitch of her facial muscles and the little flicker of her eyes.

She knew... Lionel knows something.

Rather than getting stressed, she took in a deep breath to calm herself down. She cannot out her birthplace, but if it is out, she needs to know the intent of Lionel asking her about it. She cannot conclude that Lionel is out to get her.

But before she asked Lionel what he knew about her, with a slap on his thigh, Lionel laughed. And on his impeccably handsome face, kindness returned.

"I don’t know if you’ve been to Abenney. I just was there some years ago. In fact, at first, we were planning on shooting "Eternal Promise" at Abenney. But the fountain and a coastal town... somehow our producer didn’t like the idea, and so we had to change locations. You should visit Abenney, Bellissima. It’s so nice," Lionel leaned forward, resting his clasped hands on his knees.

Viviana’s heart skipped a beat. Lionel was smiling but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. He did not look menacing but more like he was deeply pondering something. And he was giving her an out from the topic by saying that she should visit there.

He means it deeply, she knew. But she didn’t have the guts to ask him what he knows anymore. She decided to take the choice for an out.

"Maybe I should," she smiled, putting her hands in her pockets. Her hands had gone cold. "By your description of Abenney, it does seem an apt location for this story."

She leaned at the back of her chair. She had lost her train of thoughts and she didn’t even remember where she left the story at. She did have a thought about whether she should continue the story or not. What if Lionel Waldorf has some nefarious reason behind his curiosity?

She bowed her head and wetted her lips.

What will happen?

Lionel could be spying on behalf of Leander. It is a bit surprising that Leander allows her to talk to Lionel alone.

But...

Doesn’t it seem like Lionel is the one who wants to be alone with her? He should be acting alone.

In that case, Lionel might want to get incriminating details about the Kastello family. His friendship might be all for show.

That thought made her sad. She placed her hand on her heart.

But then she shook her head allowing her mind to take the rein. She does not have to feel pity for the Kastello family. If the Waldorf family and Kastello family fight among themselves, that would weaken both families. That would fasten the train of destruction the Kastello family is currently riding on.

And the details she knew of the Kastello family that was well buried for a decade, must surface. The land they took by force should be returned to the rightful owners. Abenney needs a home for the homeless rather than a luxury resort for those who have homes for each season.

"Where was I?" Viviana cleared her throat and sat comfortably in the chair having reached a decision.

"Caves," Lionel took a sip of the whiskey. "You were talking about the caves that connected the Church to various places..."

Lionel could see the change in her expression. He knew that she has found him odd. He didn’t mind. She is odd too. It’s better she wants to continue.

"Yes," Viviana smiled, but she couldn’t smile from her heart anymore. Lionel is smart and she could see that he is decrypting her using her body language. He’s good, she has to agree. So, what’s the point of hiding it?

She just has to gamble and lay her cards on the table hoping that he will do the same.

What else can she do? Fight? She’s not strong enough and she does not have anyone who would fight in her corner. The best she can do is to play the gamble hoping for the best outcome.

"Little Darcia and Leona would explore those tunnels, one each day. Leona had a curfew. She has to be back at her home before sunset. Every day, they will explore the tunnels after school, or just go straight to the beach where they played pretend. They pretended as angels..."

Viviana smiled as her heart bloomed with happiness remembering those days.

Lionel raised his brows, but he did not look that surprised. He didn’t have the same curiosity as when she started the story. It was as if, he knew the story and it lost the wow factor...?

Viviana was not planning on giving up the story midway. Because the best and the worst part of the story is yet to come. She continued,

"Leona, the biggest and strongest among the two, would be St. Michael and Darcia became..." Viviana clenched her jaws. She didn’t know if she should reveal too much of it.

Lionel must know about Leander’s tattoo.

But then her desire to learn more about Leander that she cannot contain, blew the lid, once more. She thought if she brought up the angel Jophiel, Lionel might tell her about Leander’s tattoo.

She so wanted to know about that tattoo on Leander’s chest.

"Jophiel," she said. "I just thought of that angel just now," she laughed.

Fake as it may be, she knew Lionel caught on to it. She didn’t mind though. She knows he knows something, and he knows that she knows that he knows something. They are playing this game of circling around the obvious elephant in the room. But both had some reason to be still there.

She gave the nudge to Lionel to talk about it by mentioning it. If he can lie to her that he knows Abenney because he wanted to shoot his movie there, she can lie to him too. Two can play this game.

"Because of Leander’s tattoo?" Lionel asked. "Do you want to know about Leander’s tattoo?" he raised his brows rather playfully.

"Mmm..." Viviana leaned forward (not on her own accord but her heart pushed her forward) toward Lionel. "Why though? Why that angel?" she asked. "He’s not even religious and Jophiel is not a well-known angel as I recall..."

"Hmm...It has an interesting story behind it," Lionel smirked.

There were some noises of movement heard from downstairs and Lionel gestured for her to get closer.

Like a curious puppy, she sat on the edge of her seat and leaned forward. Of course, he cannot shout about Leander’s secrets here...