Love and Debt
Chapter 100: Give Her Everything

Chapter 100: Give Her Everything

Nina was shocked by what Andrew revealed. She didn’t expect that it would happen after leaving Flousia.

She couldn’t say a word, and tears started falling from her eyes. She hurt Peggy’s family, and she didn’t know if Peggy could still forgive her.

"Hey." Andrew murmured while wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I cause Peggy pain. I hurt Jayden and Caden. I hurt you and Brie. I hurt everyone. I-I don’t deserve forgiveness." She stammered.

Andrew’s mom held her hands again and smiled.

"You already know that you hurt them. It would be more painful for them if you would not apologize. Even if they don’t accept your apology, you should keep trying. Show them you are sincere. They are your friends, and I know everything will be okay in the end."

Nina nodded and smiled while wiping her tears.

"Thank you. I’ll meet them. I really wanted to apologize to Peggy. I know it wouldn’t change the fact that I betrayed them, but I want to see my friends." Nina said.

Andrew let Nina chat with his mother, so he went to the garden to think about what to do with his relationship with Nina.

"Did mom ask you to marry your ex-wife again?" It was Seira.

He sighed. "You know it’s been four years, but I just realized that I’ve been mad at her for no good reason. She left me, but it was to save mom. She married another man, but she never slept with him. She took Brie away from me, but she did a good job raising her without me. Now, I blamed myself and I regret that I stopped looking for her."

"Well, you both made a mistake. She made a decision without even telling you about the Santelmo’s. She betrayed and broke the trust of everyone. She left you without an explanation and gave you just a divorce paper. I don’t think you’re wrong to get mad at her. But now that she’s here and you know what happened to her, I think you have to start forgiving her." Seira said.

"I’m scared. We were separated for four years. I’m not sure if we could still become a happy family."

"Do you still love her?"

"A-A lot had happened, Seira. What if she suddenly realized that she was in love with James? The guy never mistreated her. What if Brie suddenly missed him and decided to stay with James? He’s been her father for four years. I wasn’t there when she was born. I wasn’t the first one who held Brie."

"I’m asking you if you still love her?"

"Y-Yes. I do. I never stopped loving her. Being with her and seeing our daughter made me love her even more."

Seira looked at her brother directly into his eyes. She couldn’t believe that he would be head over heels in love with a woman. He was this playboy who would date anyone who approached him. No one expected him to be loyal and faithful to someone.

"You’ve grown. I’m glad you found your true love. You don’t need to compare yourself to James Santelmo. You met her first, and you are her first. If she fell in love with James, I don’t think she would be here. Just be yourself. Nina loved you, and I know she still does."

"She confessed that she still loves me. I believed her because I felt it. I wanted to tell her my true feelings, but I wanted her to fix her relationship with Peggy and the rest of our friends first."

Seira nodded and smiled. Her brother became miserable and broken when Nina left. She was mad at her, but after learning about the reason Nina left, she felt sad. She admired her sister-in-law for sacrificing her happiness for the sake of her husband’s mother. Nina was a selfless woman, and Seira loved her for that.

"Daddy!" Brie called their attention.

Andrew smiled when he saw Brie running towards him. He carried her when she got closer to him.

"What is it baby?" He asked.

"Can I get a new laptop?"

Andrew chuckled. He didn’t expect a four-year-old girl to ask her daddy for a laptop. She was supposed to ask for dolls like barbie or a tea set, but he knew Brie was an intelligent kid.

When she came to his apartment, he looked inside her bag and saw a laptop and a pair of pajamas. Brie said she found his friends’ social media accounts and found him through them.

"How about the one you have right now?" He asked.

"It’s an old model. It’s too slow."

"Okay. We’ll buy a new one, but promise me to use it only if need it. Never use it past bedtime, or else your mom will get mad at me." He said with a huge smile on his face.

"Yes, daddy! Thank you! Can we buy it now?"

"Sure. Let’s go shopping."

"Really? I have never experienced shopping!"

Seira listened to the father and daughter talking. She felt sad when Brie said she had never done shopping before. The kid was kept inside a mansion for years and never stepped outside until Paolo Santelmo died.

They went back inside the house and saw Nina talking with Mrs.Cross in the living room.

"Mommy! Mommy! We’re going to the mall! Daddy will buy me a new laptop!" Brie excitedly told Nina.

Nina frowned, looked at Brie, then glanced at Andrew.

"Let’s go. Dinner is at seven, so we have time. Mom and Seira can come with us." Andrew said.

"Oh no, no, no. It’s your family time, so we don’t want to bother you." Seira replied.

The three left and went to Northbay City Mall. Nina was with her friends when she first and last stepped foot in this mall. A lot had changed in Northbay City. The area where her family’s ramen shop was located had been demolished, and five-star restaurants now stood there.

Brie looked so happy with her mom and dad. They shopped around the mall, and Andrew bought anything for Brie. He bought her the newest model of Macbook and an iPad as well.

"You shouldn’t buy her expensive gadgets. Her old one is enough." Nina said.

"It’s fine. I want to give Brie everything. Besides, she’s a smart kid. She definitely would use it to study and learn important things." Andrew explained.

Nina smiled. "Thank you. She looked so happy."

"Daddy! You’re rich, right?" Brie suddenly asked.

Andrew laughed.

"Brie! Why would you ask your father something like that? It’s not nice." Nina scolded her daughter.

"Hey. It’s fine. But I also want to know the reason." Andrew said while looking at Brie.

"Because I want to bring Nana home. She’s alone and has no home." Brie murmured.

Andrew frowned. "Who’s Nana?"

"She’s Brie’s nanny. The Santelmo’s didn’t bring all their servants and offered them freedom if they wanted to. James couldn’t afford to pay all of them anymore. But most of them were already forgotten by their families since they were under a Mafia Clan." Nina explained.

"So, is Nana the only one who lost a job?" Andrew asked.

Nina knew why Andrew asked about it, and she wouldn’t want him to hire the people that used to work for James Santelmo.

"Andrew, you don’t need to do this. I will appreciate it if you will accept Nana, but that’s just it."

"It’s fine. I’ll do it for Brie." Andrew simply answered.

Then he turned to Brie again.

"So, are there others who need a place to stay?"

Brie nodded.

"Nana, Arthur, Dexter, Lea, and Katie. They stayed because of me and mom."

"Where are they?" Andrew asked.

"They were staying at the mansion, but they need to leave that place soon because it was already sold." Brie answered sadly.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Andrew asked, but he was looking at Nina.

Nina bit her lips. She didn’t tell Andrew because she didn’t want to burden him.

"A-Andrew I-I"

"If you continue to keep a secret from me, this will never work. If you want our relationship to work, start by putting your trust in me and stop lying." Andrew whispered with gritted teeth.

Nina nodded. She made a mistake again and hurt Andrew once more.

Andrew crouched in front of Brie and tilted her chin to level his face.

"We’ll take them in. The house is big, but I will have to do a background check on them first. Okay, baby?"

"Thank you, daddy." Brie said and hugged Andrew tightly.

"Let’s go. It’s almost seven. Luke and the others are waiting." Andrew said in a serious tone.