Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 97: The Real Reason

Chapter 97: The Real Reason

"The Corleone family," Viviana added.

"Really?" Lionel rolled his eyes.

"Come on, they are the famous mafia family. Or if you want, I can call them the Waldorf family..." she asked.

"No, Corleone is fine..." Lionel compromised.

"Have you heard of the phrase" Money talks and wealth whispers"?" Viviana raised her brows. Lionel shrugged. "Yeah, the boy Darcia met... his wealth jingled," she pressed her lips trying to control her mirth.

She was so full of herself as she described Leander and his jewelry. Lionel widened his eyes. She could see that he was surprised. He might have already figured out what she is going to talk about. The fire became a national news. And the Waldorf family had some stakes in the resort built by the Kastello family.

He might bring danger to her if she talks about it. But as she already knew, it was a game of chance—a gamble. She wanted to take the gamble and know where Lionel stands in this.

Lionel was surprised. But for another reason.

Leander? She’s talking about Leander? Or was it Evander?

But he always wanted to know what happened to cause that fire. That fire caused a lot of damage; something more personal to him. For Leander too, that fire meant something.

But if she is who he thinks he is, then...

If she’s not dead, then...

A lot changes!

"But that week after her meeting with the Principal, Darcia could see that the adults were not looking so good. Father Patrick appeared to be sad most of the time. She asked him about it, but he told her not to worry about anything. She was sad that she might be the reason why he was sad. And together with the separation from Leona, she was not doing well mentally. She tried to make her presence as little as possible so as not to be a bother to anyone. Maybe the principal felt sad for her, she was allowed to meet Leona that day under the condition that they cannot go in the tunnels anymore."

Viviana clenched her hands together. She was getting closer to the day she lost Leona forever.

"Meeting after a week, Darcia’s heart was pounding with excitement. She ran and hugged Leona, her tears uncontrollably falling. She could hear Leona’s heart pounding too although Leona said nothing. Usually, Leona does not like it if Darcia hugs her. But that day, Leona allowed her to hug her...And they were interrupted by the sound of jingles."

Viviana smiled.

"The boy was almost the same height as Leona and the same age. Darcia was not someone who knows the cost of stuff, but everything about that boy screamed luxury. He was wearing a lot of gold chains that jingled foreboding his arrival. Darcia was intrigued by that boy and at that time she didn’t know that boy was ringing the death bells for her brothers and sisters..."

Lionel cleared his throat. He wanted her to jump into the fire. He didn’t care about her meeting with Leander Kastello. But he didn’t want to seem too eager lest he scares her to silence.

He wanted to know the secret the Kastello family is hiding. His father is involved in it in some way too. He needed to know the truth. It’s for the sake of his future. He didn’t want to lose his future just like he lost his past.

Viviana’s heart hurt so much. She didn’t want to talk about it, but she knew she needed to. Leander will return from meeting his grandfather. He probably told his grandfather about her medical issue. She does not have much time.

This might be her last day.

"Lorenzo Corleone... that was the boy’s name. He for some reason was very attached to Leona. Leona, to Darcia’s surprise, didn’t push that boy away. Darcia was just seven then and she thought that Leona and that boy Lorenzo shared some secret and they’d met before. That’s why when Lorenzo asked to join them in playing angels, Darcia threw a tantrum to not let him join. But Leona won... She even brought Lorenzo to the secret cave."

"You think Lea-uh-Leona and Lorenzo had a secret?" Lionel asked.

Viviana folded her hands over her chest. She nodded. "Lorenzo looked at Leona with starry eyes, and Leona for some reason didn’t push that boy away. It was...weird to say the least."

"Hmm..." Lionel sank into his deep thoughts.

"Darcia was not happy at all to share the precious time she had with Leona with a snotty rich boy who threw tantrums to get what he wanted. She did not like to see Leona patronizing that boy. She left for the orphanage with a pout. She did not want to be the third wheel. Leona tried to stop her, but Darcia ran like the wind to her orphanage. Leona couldn’t get in. When Darcia looked out from her window, she saw Leona standing there at the gates. But the other boy was there too and, she...closed the curtains, not knowing that she won’t have the chance to..."

Viviana’s throat closed as she couldn’t finish her sentence. She had to harden her heart to accept that day. If only she knew that she would lose Leona the next day, she would have spent more time with her and not let her leave with a sad face. And if she didn’t fight with Leona that day, maybe Leona wouldn’t have come to the principal’s office only to get burned.

No... she would have come no matter what.

It took a lot of time for Viviana to accept the fact that Leona would have come for her because she was in danger. She knew it. And that’s why she couldn’t take responsibility for Leona’s death. Leona made that choice. She knew the danger and yet she came for her because...

She loved her that much!

It was the fault of the one who started the fire—the Kastello family.

Her eyes turned stern as hatred bubbled in her heart. She heard footsteps on the stairs.

It was Leander.

Her heart was heavy thinking about Leona’s death. His family killed her best friend! His family did!

Lionel closed his eyes as he saw the change in her expression. From happiness to sorrow, and then back to hatred. He saw the woman he met on the balcony that night.

He recognized Leander’s footsteps. That is his friend. He knew how much he liked this woman. And he could see how much she hates him.

He should be feeling bad for his friend.

But he was jealous of him still.

At least, he has a chance!