Chapter 149

“Chri-” I called out as I ran into the mansion with a big smile on my face, but that smile had disappeared when I opened the door, only to see Christian’s grandpa. Franco.

He chuckled at the change in my behavior and grabbed Siena from my arms. “I know you have Siena, but it’s not a playground, is it?”

Siena seemed calm in his arms, which made me even more uncomfortable. Sometimes I couldn’t wait until I could at least communicate with my daughter, so I could tell her that her great-

grandfather was a bad man.

Neither of us said a word, but unlike a few months ago, I wasn’t afraid to look him in the eye. He might’ve scared all the others, but he would absolutely not be scaring me away. Not anymore.

Christian was on the phone and hadn’t even noticed my presence. He was too focused, and he couldn’t protect me this time. “How have you been?” Franco asked.

“Good?” I replied. “And how about you? How have you been?”

“Amazing.” Franco spoke. “So I’ve understood that you’re moving back in? It’s amazing how you get things done.”

“Get things done?” I chuckled. “Christian was the one begging me to come back home, so it’s amazing how he gets things done.” I corrected him while Franco laughed at my statement and focused his attention on Siena.

“There something wrong with that crazy mommy of yours!” He cooed and tapped her nose while Siena burst into fits of laughter. I couldn’t stand this man, and after hearing about what Dario had been through, I lost every bit of respect for this devil. I would be taking him down, but it was not his time yet.

“Listen,” I spoke as I forced a polite smile onto my face. “I don’t want any trouble, and everyone decided to move on from the past, so how about we start over?” I suggested, but Franco was mocking me from up close.

“Christian might not see through your act, but I can. I’m not going to argue with you because you’re just a child-but I will keep a close eye on you.” Franco spoke. His words were loud and clear.

He probably thought I only got back with Christian to bully the Lamberti’s, and yes, that was one of the reasons, but it was not the most significant reason. We got back together because we loved each other and couldn’t live without each other.

The moment Christian noticed my presence, he was in a hurry to end the phone call and glared at Franco. “She looks exactly like you.” Franco commented. “If it weren’t for the eyes, I would’ve pushed for a DNA test.”

“I’m sorry?” I snapped. It brought me back to Cesca, back in the old days. I remember Christian’s grandparents being out of town when I had dinner at the Lamberti’s for the first time, and thank god they were. At that time, I wasn’t an Alfonzo, but squirrel the stripper, which made everything even worse.

“It’s a joke. Old people are allowed to joke.” Franco laughed. That was right. He was old, so he didn’t have that many years to go, right?

“Hey, stop bothering her!” Christian, who had finally ended the phone call, warned Franco.

“Bothering? All I’m doing is holding my granddaughter.” Franco laughed as he handed Siena over to Christian. He refused to hand her over to me, and it was sickening.

Franco and I glared at each other while Christian was in his own little world and played with Siena.

“I’m heading out-and please don’t slack off again.” Franco growled him and gave me one more glare as he left. the mansion.

“My god.” I breathed at the bit of freedom I felt. Just the man’s presence made my skin crawl. “Don’t be like that. I want the two of you to get along.” Christian smiled. He knew his grandpa as the best but somehow still found the nerve to tell me to respect him. This was why we needed counseling.

“Chri—” Beau suddenly walked through the door the same way I had done and looked at me with a flustered look on his face. “Why are you treating me as a stranger?” I shrugged. “Just share whatever you have to say.”

“Yes, Beau.” Christian agreed. “Please tell me, what’s wrong?”

“Well.” Beau hammered and frowned his eyebrows as he stared at me. “Is this about Gina?” I sighed. “Because if it is, I really couldn’t care less.”

“Right,” Beau spoke with a nervous smile on his face. “A-anyway, I went to her apartment, and she wasn’t there. She hasn’t been there for a couple of days.”

Of course, she wasn’t. The poor girl must’ve fled out of embarrassment. Everyone knew about her trashy personality. “Don’t worry. I’ll look into it.” Christian told Beau.

“You’ve done enough for today, now go home and be with Isobel,” Christian ordered him. “Thanks.”

Beau spoke, relieved, and gave me a quick hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow Christian, bye Serena!”

“Look at him.” I smiled while Beau walked out the door. “He’s so happy, but it’s really cute.”

“I agree.” Christian chuckled. “I’ve never had a young brother before, but he feels like one.”

“You don’t mind about…Gina, do you?” Christian asked after Beau left, but this was the very same issue in our relationship. He should’ve asked me first and not after the damage had already been done.

“No, I don’t mind.” I smiled. “I’ll be moving back in a few days, but I wanted to spend these few days with my family. I hope you can understand.”

“I do.” Christian nodded. “I really want you back here, but I understand. It would be a bit weird for you to leave like that.”

Deep down, the Alfonzo’s didn’t want me to go, and they made it very clear with their use of words, and I felt terrible about it. It seemed as if I was only using them until I could crawl back to Christian.

“Come on, let’s sit down,” Christian spoke as he walked towards the living room with Siena in his arms. “We’re in a hurry, but after our talk, I’ll make you whatever you want.”

“What is it this time? Burgers?”

This kind act was still a bit weird to get used to, and I wondered for how long he would be able to keep up this time. “I feel like eating healthy today.” I shrugged. “But that’s not important. We have to discuss Dario.”

“Yes, how was the visit to your old home?” Christian asked. “Did you have fun?”

I laughed at the innocent look on his face and thought about whether I should open up about my feelings and tell him that I knew about what he did or not. Yes, it was invasion of privacy, but I did not think it was creepy. No, I was actually amazed because he was willing to learn everything about me, and that was the reason why he knew me so well.

“I had a great time.” I smiled. “And so did Dario. He’s really good with children.”

“So?” Christian scoffed. “I’m also good with children, and people call me a monster, so where do we go from there?”

Was he still jealous?

There was literally nothing to be jealous about.

“How did you manage to break through to him?” Christian asked. “Did you tell him about the office?

What was his reaction?”

“Well…” I muttered. “He knew all along. He was just waiting for me to tell him.”

“He seemed pissed about us getting back together, and he had a lot to say to you.” I told Christian.

“Okay, and my uncle?” Christian asked, completely unfazed. “Do you know more about the va”

“Christian, we need to talk.” I sighed as he gave me a confused look. Yes, there was no way to talk right Dario’s mistakes, but he was broken. “Dario told me about the birthday party where the two of you met. He didn’t mention your name of course, but it had to be about you.”

“Did he?” Christian chuckled. “He has a good memory.”

“Yes, he does,” I spoke. He was going through a lot of pain and considering and had been through a lot. “He claimed that you stood by and watched while he got bullied. Is that true?” I asked.

Christian went quiet for a few seconds as he went into deep thoughts. “I can’t remember.” He shrugged. Even though he didn’t directly bully him, it pained me to know that he didn’t remember.

Dario’s eyes were enough to see that he was not lying. Why would he lie?

“Christian, think.” I pushed him. I told him the entire story about the party and his uncle while Christian looked at me with a confused look on his face. “I’m sorry, I really can’t remember.”

Christian shrugged.

“And I also don’t understand why you’re pushing me to remember. It was years ago, so he should man up and get over it.”

“What?” I frowned. His words didn’t impress me at all. I knew Christian wasn’t perfect and knew he could learn how to be better, but his words were harsh. “Please don’t talk about stuff you don’t understand,” 1 told him.

“I also got bullied, pushed around-made fun of, and it’s not something you get over,” I explained.

“Yes, his obsession is going a bit too far, and he’s probably feeling pressured by your uncle, but I understand his pain.”

Christian’s eyes softened, and the look on his face told me he felt guilty. “I didn’t know you felt like that. I’m sorry.” He apologized. “My words were careless, and I’m sorry-but don’t you think he’s a bit crazy? If something bothers you for that long, you get help.”

“Christian.” I sighed, disappointed. It was so easy to make that statement, but we all knew things would he a bit different if Siena was the one getting bullied. If that was the case, his reaction would not be the same. “What do you want me to do?” He repeated.

“Do you want me to call Gio, Enzo, Isobel, and all the others so they can go on their knees and apologize to him?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Yes, they should-because if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be discussing this right now.”

“Can’t you think for once? What would you do if Siena came to you decades later to tell you that she got bullied? Wouldn’t you hunt down every single person and hurt them?”

I was waiting for Christian’s answer, but it never came. All I got in return was a deep breath. “I would.” Christian finally admitted. “Well, that’s what Dario’s doing. The only difference is that he’s doing it for himself. He got treated like some dog for his entire life, and it was only because your grandpa bullied. away your mom.”

“I know,” Christian whispered. “I’m sorry-”

“No, not to me!” I told him. “You have to apologize to Dario. How about you get him to open that vault?”

“Serena!” Christian warned me, but I was done listening to him. “I know you won’t listen to me, but when stuff escalates, and you’ll have no choice but to beg for his forgiveness, I’ll tell you, I told you so.”

I was disappointed, but I wasn’t angry. Christian was a good person, but he needed guidance, and after he would face the consequences of his family’s actions, he would come back and ask me for it.

“I want you to ask Beau what he would’ve done. He despised the Alfonzo’s so much and didn’t even want to meet them, remember?” I reminded Christian.

“Serena, I don’t want to argue,” Christian spoke, annoyed. Those were his usual words, and sometimes I wondered if his vocabulary went even further than that. It was normal to have different opinions in a relationship.

Me not agreeing with him did not mean that I was picking a fight.

“We’re not arguing. We’re having a conversation.” I glared at him. “The issue with you is that no one can tell you anything without you feeling attacked all the time.”

Christian sighed and ignored my words. “How about you hold Siena while I make you something to eat, okay?” He smiled as if nothing had happened and placed her in my arms. He ran away from the discussion, and simple stuff like that was why we often had unfinished business, which turned into arguments.

“You’re not angry, right?” Christian asked and kissed my forehead. “No, I’m not,” I spoke.

I wasn’t angry. I was pissed. He wouldn’t even listen to my advice, and he did not take me seriously.

The last thing I wanted was for him to do something crazy or for Dario and his uncle to resent him even more. I was not in the mood for another situation like with the Garcia’s and I did not want to lose Dario the same way I lose Vincenzo.

“I love you, but you need to stop trusting people.” Christian smiled and ruffled his hand through my hair. “I know what I’m doing, just trust me, I have it all planned out.”

“I hope you do.” I sighed, annoyed.

I really hope he did.