Chapter 115

Christian No matter how hard he tried, Christian could not ignore the judgmental looks as he walked through the Lamberti estate.

It was one day after the disaster, and Lucio had requested his presence. Now that everyone was aware of his mistake, Christian knew he was frowned upon and had to work even harder for not only everyone’s respect, but also for something which seemed impossible at the moment, Serena’s forgiveness. He never meant to pick Gina over her, but he wanted to keep Serena safe.

He wanted to protect her good name, and he failed to do so because Serena misunderstood the situation.

He couldn’t care less about how others would see him, and did not care about Gina-but he did care about Serena and did not want her to lose herself.

“Dad,” Christian called out as he entered the room. “Look at what you’ve done.” His grandpa scoffed and took a step back. Christian’s look went from Franco to Lucio as his face went pale after seeing the state his dad was in. He got even skinnier and appeared to be losing more energy by the minute.

“Come here,” Lucio told him while Christian made his way over to the bed. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” Lucio apologized. “I put you under so much stress and forced Gina on you-I really liked her, and I thought she was good for you if I had known…”

“Don’t blame yourself. This is not your fault, and this is why I didn’t tell you. Look at you.” Christian spoke as he held a cloth against his father’s forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I couldn’t fire her after the way you spoke about her.”

“I’m so sorry,” Lucio repeated while Christian shook his head. “Stop it. It’s not your fault!”

“Serena?” Lucio asked. “She must hate me, right?” He gulped. He felt guilty for letting Gina into their household and couldn’t stop thinking about Serena and Siena. “We’re are not together anymore, that’s what she wants so don’t worry about her-worry about your health.” Christian sighed.

He tried everything he could to prevent this from happening, but in the end, it still turned out like this. If he only would’ve told his dad the truth from the start, instead of trying to please an ill man, or if he told Serena the full truth instead of giving her what she wanted to hear-none of this would’ve happened. He only made things worse by protecting the ones he loved.

“What do you mean, not together?” Lucio stressed and coughed. “Dad, calm down-it’s okay.”

Christian shushed him and kissed his forchead. “It’s not your fault. It’s all okay.”

“Matteo called me he told me about what happened. It’s all my fault.” Lucio spoke. “Everything is my fault if I had never put you under that much pressure…”

Christian looked into his father’s eyes and wiped away his tears. “You’re not like this. You’re supposed to be strong.

“I don’t want to go like this.” Lucio sighed. “You’re not going anywhere-and I’m fine!” Christian lied.

He was a mess, but not in front of Lucio. In front of Lucio, he had to remain healthy and show him not to worry.

“Gina and Serena are such sweet girls. I’m the one who put them in this position. Gina needed the help. and I gave it to her. If I knew who she was-I would’ve never done it, and I’m so sorry.” Lucio apologized again as he held Christian’s hand. “It’s not your fault,” Christian repeated. “It’s mine for making a mistake in the first place, for not telling you, and for lying to Serena-it’s not your fault.”

“I want you, Siena, and Serena to be a family. I’m happy the two of you are still together.” Lucio mumbled. Christian stumbled back and was unsure of what to say. “I just told you we weren’t together.” He whispered.

It was just as Ramiro had warned him. Lucio’s health was declining and his memories were all over the place. It is all because of me, Christian thought.

“It’s time for your dad to get some sleep.” Franco interrupted him and placed his hand on Christian’s shoulder as he led him outside. “You’ve done more than enough by embarrassing this family.”

“I’m sorry,” Christian spoke as he lowered his head. “I know, and I’m sorry.”

“Is it really done between you and Serena?” Franco scoffed. “Just let it rest. It’s for the best to let it rest.” Christian told his grandfather. He wanted her back, but even he knew that he broke her trust and she deserved all the space she needed. “There’s only one person we should go after, and that’s Dario Orlando.”

“He did all of this?” Franco asked. “Christian, I will take care of it, whatever happens-”

“I know.” Christian held up his hand to stop him from talking. “He’s doing this to get to me, and I can’t show my feelings, I know.” He sighed. If it were up to him, he would’ve followed Serena and gone on his knees to beg for her forgiveness, but that was what Dario wanted and what Dario was after. “But I can’t just sit back and let him control my life like that, I can’t.”

He was out to destroy him, and there was no better way to do so than to stir trouble between the Lamberti’s and the Alfonzo’s, the two most powerful families in the city. “How about Siena? What’s going to happen to her?” Franco asked.

“What do you mean?” Christian spoke. “Siena is staying with her mom. She’s staying with Serena.

We’ll work something out-but she’s staying with Serena.”

“Work something out?” Franco chuckled. “You cheated on her with your assistant, and you think the Alfonzo’s will work something out? Good luck with seeing Siena once a month if they’ll let you.”

“You just told me to lay low, and Serena isn’t like that!” Christian defended her. “I told you to lay low.

It didn’t tell you to bail on your daughter!” Franco spoke, making Christian flinch.

“Look, all I’m saying is that it’s never too late to get your daughter. We’re more powerful than the Alfonzo’s. All you have to do is say the words, and we’ll-”

“No,” Christian spoke. “Siena will stay with her mom, and there’s nothing you can do or say to change my mind.”

“So be it.” Franco shrugged his shoulders. “It is just that the thought of Serena being close to Dario worries. me, and judging from that video, I think she’s unfit to be a mother—“

“Unfit? Wait, what video? Show me!” Christian demanded. “This video.” Christian heard the sound of his mother’s voice. He took a deep breath and turned around without meeting Cesca’s eyes as she walked towards him. “I managed to keep it on the low for now, but I can only do that much.” She scoffed as she shove the phone into his hands.

Christian’s body went numb as he looked at the video of Serena beating up Gina, followed by their loud argument. “See, you agree, even you asked if this is how she acts around Siena,” Franco spoke while Christian stopped the video. He had seen enough. “Where did you even get this from?”

“One of my friends send it to me. She got it from someone. It’ll only be a matter of time before it spreads. I took away your dad’s phone-he doesn’t have to see this mess.” Francesca folded her arms. “You are totally in the wrong for cheating, with your assistant on top of that-but did you see how Serena handled. the situation? I warned you from the beginning!” Cesca yelled. “I warned all of you but no one listened.”

“This video is an embarrassment to all of us. We’re doomed.” Cesca paced back and forth. “It’s already bad enough that you cheated on her, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt because I thought you could fix it and keep her quiet-but your assistant?”

“First your cousin Samantha and now you. If no one does something about the Orlando’s, I will!”

Cesca spoke while Franco tried to calm her. “No, you won’t.” He spoke.

“What?” Cesca frowned her eyebrows. “This is what they want. They want us to do something, and they want the other families to hate us-so they can take us out, but it won’t happen. You will take your distance from Serena, as long as it doesn’t concern your daughter-you’ll keep your distance from her.” Franco pointed at Christian before his eyes moved to Cesca. “And you will not stop this video from spreading. I want everyone to see that we’re unfazed and that no one can touch the Lamberti’s.”

“I’m not giving Serena the cold shoulder. I’m not doing it again.” Christian whispered. He knew he had to give her space-but those two things were completely different. “You will, and I will find you some good lawyers. You should know your rights. Siena is a Lamberti. Please don’t forget that.”

“I won’t,” Christian repeated. “I won’t take her away from Serena. I won’t. What about dad and Matteo?”

“Their friendship won’t last. Not after that embarrassing video spreads, impossible.” Cesca scoffed.

“Christian, I know you want everything to be sunshine and rainbows-but you have to understand that Serena is very important to the Alfonzo’s, and you hurt their princess. It will never be the same again.” Franco told him. “Especially with the whole cheating scandal, they’ll try to defame you, and they’ll try to convince her to take away your rights. Do you think any family will still want to work with you if you can’t even keep Serena under control?”

“Under control?” Christian frowned. “She’s not a dog, and she didn’t do anything. I hurt her, I betrayed her!”

“Siena stays with Serena. I made a promise with Serena, and that promise was not to separate her from Siena. I said what I said in the moment, but Serena is an amazing mom and my daughter is staying with her, and that’s final.” Christian spoke. He trusted Serena to do the right thing and believed she would never sabotage his time with Siena. Not unless the Alfonzo’s held her at gunpoint. That was not like her.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Cesca sighed. “Her family will whisper things in her ears, and before you know it, you won’t see your daughter at all. If you lose Siena, you will lose the family business. I know you love. Serena, but she clearly doesn’t love you anymore-and I’m sorry you couldn’t save your relationship, but you can still save the family business. Take control of the situation.”

“Your mother is right,” Franco growled. “The Alfonzo’s go, or we go, but Dario and Serena seem to be getting along well, and now both families hate us, so I’m pretty sure it’s going have to be us.”

“How about we work together to get rid of the Orlando’s?” Christian suggested. “And then?” Franco chuckled. “Dario did the Alfonzo’s a favor by exposing you, all he has to do is convince them to kick us out, and we’re done.”

“Take care of the situation and take your daughter so we can keep the Alfonzo’s in check-or I’ll do it!” Franco spoke before he walked past Christian.

“I won’t do it, mom, I don’t care about this family business if that means hurting Serena-she’s the mother of my child and I won’t throw her under the bus because of my mistake, and I won’t separate her from Siena. I won’t do it.” Christian spoke loud and clear.

“Okay, if you think you can go to Matteo and her twisted brothers and talk this out over a cup of tea, you can do that.” Francesca shrugged and walked away. “Just make sure to not drag us down with you.”

Christian cursed and grabbed the closest thing his eyes landed on before throwing it to the wall and watched as the vase shattered into pieces. “What are you looking at!” He yelled at one of the men who held up his hands in surrender.

Christian had one goal, and that goal was to kill Dario. He looked down at the blood on his hands and wiped it down his shirt before he stormed out of the house and walked back to his car.

“Christian, you’re bleeding?” Gio commented, but Christian ignored him. “Move!” He growled as he pushed him away so he could close the car.

“Christian, stop!” Gio yelled out and slammed his fist on the car window. Christian ignored his brother and drove back to shrug him off before he sped off. He was only after one thing, Dario.

I will kill him, Christian repeated in his head as he thought about Serena’s words.

‘Dario didn’t tell you to cheat on me with your assistant, did he?”

Serena was right. He didn’t-but he was out to ruin his daughter’s life, and that was one thing he didn’t play around with. He could ruin his life, but not Siena’s life.

The gate to the Orlando estate opened without any issues and it almost seemed as if Dario was already expecting him. Dario leaned against the door with a smug smile on his face while Christian rushed out the car and stormed towards him before connecting his fist with his jaw as only one thought went through his head.

I’ll kill him.