Chapter 104

Christian “Wait, so you stormed out?” Marc laughed at Christian’s story. The two had met up, and Christian kept him up to date about what happened with the Orlando’s.

“Marc, I’m not stupid-I know what he’s doing, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to take it any longer!”

Christian spoke.

“So, where’s Serena now?” Marc wondered. “Where do you think?” Christian rolled his eyes. “She’s with those demons, of course.”

Christian was not fond of Serena’s new friends and appreciated her staying true to herself. He never pushed Serena to hang out with them, and if it was up to him, it wouldn’t be that way.

“Can I ask you a question?” Marc asked. It was something he felt the need to address for a long time but only now got the opportunity to do so. “I want you to close your eyes, and I need you to think for a second.”

“Do you really think you have the right to say which guy Serena can and can’t talk to while you cheated on her and still have your assistant working?” Marc furrowed his eyebrows…

“W-what?” Christian stuttered. “I can’t fire her, my dad-”

“Yes, I know. Lucio likes her, and I know he’ll feel guilty.” Marc cut him off. “But that does not excuse your actions, and you can’t just put another ring around Serena’s finger, treat her like a puppet and ignore the situation!”

“I can’t tell her, and it’s not only because of Gina.” Christian spoke as he took a deep breath. “Do you know what will happen? I can’t tell her!”

“She threatened to take Siena and leave because of a little disagreement. I can’t tell her. I can’t!”

Christian explained. “She’ll never let me see her again.”

Mare had a different opinion and was not afraid to let it known.

“Yes, she will most likely leave you, and you deserve it. Marc chuckled. “Your dad will be sad. The Alfonzo’s might kill you. Beau might cut you in half-and guess what? Serena will stop looking like a fool.”

“Serena is not a fool.” Christian defended her. “No, she’s not-but you’re making her look like one.

You claim to hate your assistant, but the two of you seem to be getting along very well for some reason. I mean, you’re visiting her house-

“To drop off papers, stop it.” Christian rolled his eyes. “Papers?” Marc snickered. “And why can’t you let someone else do it, or why can’t she come and get it herself? It’s her job.”

“I don’t like having her in my house.” Christian explained to Marc. He felt terrible for doing this to Serena and felt bothered as Serena, who didn’t have that many true friends, took a liking towards Gina. “I don’t want to break Serena’s heart, and I don’t want Siena to know her daddy as a cheater.”

“So you basically want to live in a lie?” Marc confirmed. “Okay, out of respect, I’m going to stay out of it- but I want you to think, and I want you to think deeply.” Marc tried a last attempt to change his mind.

“Do you really love Serena? Because if you have faith in your relationship and if you really love her, you need to be honest with her, and you need to be honest with yourself.” He ranted. “Serena would never erase you from Siena’s life. She grew up without parents, think for once.”

Do you really love Serenat Those words were difficult to hear, but he knew they were right. Christian was aware of how unfair he was being, but the idea of Serena taking away the one thing he loved the most was scaring him, and so were the thoughts going through his head.

Would Serena really take Siena and leave?

Would Serena tell Siena her daddy is a cheater?

“I’m scared.” Christian gulped. Those were words he hadn’t spoken in years because he always believed that nothing could scare him. He only found out the true meaning of fear after dealing with Lucio’s life coming close to an end and possibly losing Serena and Siena.

“I’ve changed, but is it really for the better?” Christian wondered. “I wasn’t like this. I’ve never been like this.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being human, and if you want to be an even better human-you will tell Serena the truth.”

“I know,” Christian spoke. “You don’t have to tell me that, I know.”

Not long after, Christian was on his way to Gina’s house. He had thought about Marc’s words, and they were finally starting to get through to him.

He had no right to complain about Dario, and he had no right to keep Serena to himself, while he couldn’t even do the same.

That’s why he decided to do what was right, and that was to tell Serena the truth. He would not lie to her any longer and accept his faith as he should’ve done from the beginning. No excuses, just the truth.

When he knocked on Gina’s door, she opened it with her usual warm smile on her face. “Come in!”

She greeted him and opened the door.

“Do you want something to drink?” Gina asked and led him to the kitchen while Christian immediately shook his head. “No, just sign the papers so I can leave-I think we both know that isn’t a good idea.”

“Sure, no problem.” Gina smiled. She was just as relieved as he was and wanted nothing more than a quick visit. Christian’s eyes shifted to the man who came walking down the stairs, and he figured it was her husband.

He felt awful and guilty when he saw the big smile on his face as he walked towards him to give him a hand. “Austin Pacelli, it’s a pleasure to meet you, and thank you so much for hiring my wife.” He spoke as he held both of his hands.

“Likewise Christian tried his hardest to fake a smile. “So you are my aunt’s new boyfriend’s employee. Did I get that right?” Christian chuckled.

“Yes, something like that.” Austin nodded his head. Christian looked behind him and stared at Gina, who had a devastated look on his face. He knew why he cheated on Serena and felt terrible for the stupid reason-but he could not understand why Gina did. In his mind, Gina was a warm and kind person.

“I heard you had a daughter, congratulations!” Austin spoke and handed him a large gift bag. “It’s for you, the baby, and your fiancée.”

Christian didn’t know he could feel any more guilt than he already did, but he managed to feel it. No one had to tell him that he did not deserve this because he knew he didn’t.

“I can’t accept this,” Christian spoke as his eyes met Gina’s, who was shaking her head. “But I will because you went through all this trouble.” He awkwardly laughed.

“Thanks, I really put my heart in it.” Austin sighed while Gina walked over to the papers to sign them. Just like him, she felt uncomfortable and just wanted to get it over with.

“It’s an honor to meet you, and I’ve only heard good things about you. You’re even making me nervous.” He spoke as he once again shook his hand. “Are you staying over for lunch?” Austin asked with hopeful eyes.

“He has a fiancée and a daughter to get to, Austin, Gina spoke for the first time and walked to her husband to lock her arms with his. “That’s right, I forgot. I’m sorry I got a little too excited.” Austin laughed.

“It’s still really nice to meet you, and I know the Lamberti’s are also full of lawyers, but if you ever need someone dedicated, don’t hesitate to give me a call.” He spoke with a big smile on his face.

“Why would I need another lawyer?” Christian frowned his eyebrow and patted Austin on his back.

“You’re a good guy Austin.”

“Come on. I’ll walk you out.” Gina offered and grabbed Christian’s arm. “It was nice to meet you,”

Austin spoke one last time before Gina led Christian outside.

“Thanks.” Christian chuckled. “No problem.” Gina smiled. “I’m sorry, he can be a bit over the top, but he means well. He’s a good guy.”

“Then why did you do it?” Christian asked. “Why did you cheat on him?”

Gina felt uncomfortable at the sudden question and did not know how to reply. It was a question she did not have the answer to. “You know the in-laws I told you about? We fought with his parents, he chose their side, and I just didn’t think.” Gina explained herself.

“Does he know?” Christian wondered. “Yes, of course. He doesn’t know it’s you, but he knows-it’s my husband, and I love him.” Gina told him. Not telling her husband the truth was not even an option.

“And he can still laugh with you like that? He did not leave you?”

“He also cheated on me before, it was a really long time ago, but we both cheated on each other-

apologized and moved on,” Gina mumbled. There was nothing to be mad at when they had both made mistakes.

“So the both of you are a mess?” Christian laughed, but that laughter had vanished when his mind went to Serena and Siena I’m going to tell her the truth, not about you, of course-but she deserves to know.”

“She does. She’s a really good person.” Gina spoke before she took a deep breath. “What’s the problem?” Christian frowned his eyebrows.

“I don’t know. I just feel bad that you’re going to leave her with questions. Don’t you think she will want to know who it is?” Gina told him her opinion. “I feel like only knowing half of the story will end up hurting her-”

“So I should tell her that it’s you so that I can break my dad’s heart and Serena’s heart? This is not something to cry about. You should be grateful.” Christian spoke.

“I should. I’m sorry.” Gina apologized. “But you guys will be fine, right?”

“Fine?” Christian chuckled. “No offense but Serena is not like your husband. Serena is loyal and trusts me with her entire heart, so she will be devastated and most likely pack her bags, take Siena with her and leave because that’s the kind of person she is.” He spoke while he remembered how she had pushed him aside when he broke his promise to help her with Siena.

“And you’re still telling her?” Gina asked with a guilty look on her face. “I’m still telling her,” Christian answered.

Marc’s words were the wake-up call he needed. This situation was unfair to Serena and Siena, and he had asked himself the question, how could I demand someone to treat Siena with respect when I can’t even treat her mother with respect?

“Anyway, this conversation was never supposed to be this deep. I just wanted to tell you, so now you know,” Christian ended the conversation.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, don’t be late.” He greeted her one last time before he took off. The drive back home, which took about twenty minutes, felt like five to him, and his stomach was doing turns. He was not ready to have this conversation, but he had to do what was right.

He had to do it for Serena, Siena-and the sake of being a healthy family.

“Serena!” He immediately called out when he walked in, but it was silent. “Have you seen Serena?”

He asked one of the maids, who shook her head.

“You’ve just missed her. She has just left.” Another one spoke and turned around to continue her work.

Christian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She wasn’t here, which meant he couldn’t tell her.

“It is like everyone, and everything is working against me. He sighed to himself. After finally gathering the courage to tell her the truth, she wasn’t even here, but even then, he had already made up his mind.

There was no turning back, and he was going to tell her the truth.