Chapter 180

Christian “So when is that cousin of yours coming?” Beau asked as the two waited in front of the mall. “He’ll be here soon.” Christian stated. At least, that what he was expecting.

“He stood you up.” Beau chuckled while he pushed Siena’s stroller back and forth. “No, he didn’t, stop it.” Christian rolled his eyes.

“So you are serious about this?” Beau looked at Christian. “I told you, I’m sending Serena away.”

It was a spontaneous decision, but one which would be for the best. Christian was determined to find the key as soon as possible, and although he appreciated Serena being at his side, he didn’t want her to get involved.

That’s why he came up with a quick solution, a surprise vacation for Serena and her friends, who he knew she missed a lot. “I still don’t understand how Isobel got involved in all of this and why she has to go on vacation with a bunch of girls who don’t like her.”

“Because Isobel is annoying.” Christian rolled his eyes. “We have hard days ahead of us, and I don’t want her to distract you. She has this habit of calling you every second to force you to come back home, I can’t have that, and besides that-I need someone to keep an eye on Serena.”

“Right.” Beau chuckled. “Anyway, she agreed to it because you asked her to-but the case with Serena is a bit different.”

“You don’t really think you can buy my sister a suitcase filled with clothing and send her off to Panama, do you?” Beau laughed out loud. “It’s my sister we’re talking about-she won’t do leave that easily.”

“Yes, she will,” Christian stated. He was pretty confident that she would. “Every bit of doubt will disappear once she sees her friends. She won’t even question my intentions.”

“Oh,” Beau spoke, surprised. “Wow, you really planned all of this within hours, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Christian smiled. He couldn’t believe that he even went as far as checking every piece of Serena’s clothing, just so he could buy her the right size-but he wanted it to be a surprise. He didn’t want to give Serena the opportunity to decline his offer.

“Beau, did you know Gina left?” Christian suddenly addressed the situation. He knew how difficult it could be to go through an experience like that on her own, and despite everything, he wanted to be there to comfort her. He knew that he had his family, but Gina had no one.

“Enzo said she left. Just drop it already.” Beau shrugged him off. Christian was shocked by Beau’s behavior but figured it was probably because he was looking out for his twin and didn’t want to hear her name. He decided to let it drop, but he wouldn’t let it rest.

“Anyway, so you want to send Serena away while we look for the key and get the money?” Beau confirmed. “Yes, and the photoshoot is two days after,” Christian spoke.

“I’m not only doing this to get rid of her, you know.” Christian smiled as his mind went back to Serena. “She’s been through a lot, and she never really had the time to relax. I want her to take care of herself.”

“Yes, I know.” Beau agreed. “Knowing Serena, she would rather help you-

“And she can’t this time because it’ll be dangerous,” Christian spoke. “I don’t know what my uncle has planned, we haven’t heard a single thing from him, and I want Serena to be safe.”

“And what about Siena?” Beau asked. “How are you going to supervise Carmen’s party, find the key, get the money and take care of a baby-all in two days?”

Christian took a deep breath. “I’ll manage.”

“Yes, you always do, because somehow you’ve managed to drag Serena away from the baby,”

Beau muttered. “How about you let her be a mom for once and send Siena with her?

“Because…” Christian spoke. “I’m not going to explain that to you. Once your babies get here, you’ll understand why I can’t do that.”

Beau was just about to answer but was interrupted by Dario. “Hi, Christian…and Beau,” He awkwardly greeted him. Christian showed him a welcoming smile and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“I thought we were past being awkward.”

“We are.” Dario nodded. “I’m just confused as to why you brought me to a…mall.” He spoke. “I thought we were going to discuss how to stop my dad.”

“Christian’s is sending away Serena so we can find the key and get the money.” Beau suddenly shared while Christian gave him a look. “W-we?” Dario frowned.

“Yes, we,” Christian spoke. “Just because you’re new to the family doesn’t mean that you can sit of butt all day and do nothing,” Christian told him as he slammed his arm around his shoulder and inside.

“Right, Beau?” Christian looked back at Beau, who was pushing Siena’s stroller. “Right.” Beau agreed. also need you to help us supervise a bunch of teenagers at a party, especially some guy named Logan.”

“Oh?” Dario spoke, startled. “Yes, sure-I can do that.”

“I have some good news myself, Franco…or I’ll call him grandpa-placed security around the house, so it’s safe for me to return.” Dario shared. “Although, I have no idea where my dad is, and that isn’t a good thing “We’ll discuss it later,” Christian told him. “We have more important stuff to worry about, stuff like what Serena is going to wear on her way to Panama.”

“Right.” Dario smiled. “How is she doing?”

Christian couldn’t believe Dario had the nerve to ask about her, while it hadn’t even been twenty-

four hours. “Good,” He forced a smile onto his face.

“So where to first?” Beau asked after noticing the look on Christian’s face, “I don’t know,” Christian admitted.

It took them over an hour, but after a long time, the shopping spree was finally coming to an end.

“I think I filled the entire suitcase-this is our last stop,” Christian stated as the three walked into the final store. “I don’t know how women do this. Even the baby is half-asleep.” Beau commented.

“Not all women.” Christian corrected him. “Your sister hates shopping.” He spoke as he thought about Serena, who complained whenever they went shopping and was always on the lookout for the nearest couch.

“Arc you still alive, Dario?” Beau asked and turned his head, but Dario was long gone. “I can’t believe this guy.” Beau chuckled as the two looked at Dario, who already had a group of women surrounding him.

“I actually don’t mind,” Christian confessed with a smile on his face. “Seeing he does this with everyone means he’s most likely not a threat to me…at least I hope so.”

“Yes, or to me,” Beau agreed. “He’s all Isobel’s been talking about.”

Christian and Beau were so invested in Dario that they hadn’t noticed the store employee who made their way over to them. “Can I help you?” The woman asked with a seductive smile on her face, but Christian was traumatized and didn’t even want to shoot a smile at someone like that ever again. He had learned from his mistake, and the only person he wanted was Serena.

“I’m not here for myself…I’m here for my fiancée, the mother of my baby…that’s our baby, I’m a dad.” Christian made clear while Beau, who anticipated his answer, burst out laughing. “I think she gets the message.”

Christian rolled his eyes and made eye contact with the woman, who had a disappointed look on her face. “But you can help me, actually,” Christian spoke as he handed her the sizes he wrote down. “I’m looking for something she can wear to the beach, but I’m a bit clueless.”

“That’s fine.” The woman smiled. “Did you have something in mind? Does she needs a bikini or a one-pi “She’s pretty, so anything will do,” Christian spoke in a hurry. Also, he had enough of it and was ready to move on to their next destination, the hospital to visit Gio.

“Okay? And what color does your fiancée like?”

“Doesn’t matter, expensive things with diamonds and glitters…she doesn’t mind, as long as it’s expensive.” Christian spoke. He knew all too well Serena always ended up wanting the most expensive piece, even if she did it unintentionally.

“I see,” The woman chuckled. “Come on, please follow me.”

“Are you calling my sister a golddigger?” Beau asked as he pushed the stroller along with him.

“What?” Christian spoke, confused. “No, she can’t even tell designer brands apart. I didn’t mean it like that!”

Christian listened to the endless suggestions and bought whatever he felt Serena would like.

“You know, you’re actually hilarious, Christian,” Beau commented.

“Why?”

“Because you came up with this plan to get rid of Serena for a few days, and you’re actually going along with it.” Beau sighed. “It’s my sister you’re playing, so I’m supposed to punch you-

“Please not again.” Christian chuckled. “I let it go the first time because I deserved it, but this time I’ll kill you.”

“Kill me?” Beau frowned. “I would like to see you try.”

Christian did the unexpected and ruffled his hand through Beau’s hair as if he was a baby. “Stop it.”

Beau hissed, annoyed.

Having him near him made him realize that Beau wasn’t that different from Vince. He could tell the two used to spent a lot of time together and felt grateful he got to lend him as a friend, even if it was just for a while.

Just until Vince gets back, Christian promised himself. He already took so much from Vince, but there was one thing he wouldn’t take, and that was his best friend.

“Do you resent Vince?” Christian suddenly asked. The expression on Beau’s face had changed as he thought about his friend, who had no issue handing him over to his twisted father, and watched as he was tied to a chair and bled to death.

“I still visit him, and Vince has gone through a lot, don’t you think?” Beau answered the question.

“But do you resent him?” Christian asked as he thought about his uncle.

Wouldn’t it be for the best if he would apologize and we could all move on? Christian thought to himself. If Beau was able to forgive Vince and Isobel, they could do it too.

Beau was just about to answer before Dario joined the two and slammed an arm around their shoulders.

“The mall was a good idea after all.” He laughed out loud. Seeing Dario having a good time and being capable of hanging out with him was already enough to make Christian happy.

He was done arguing and did not want to have any trouble. That’s the exact reason why he never confronted Dario. He saw how he looked at Serena and how she looked at him, but he decided to let it rest. He wanted to believe that Serena wasn’t like him.

“The two of you should try being single sometime!” Dario suggested while both Beau and Christian pulled him off.

Just the words ‘being single’ made Christian feel uncomfortable, and he could not imagine a life without Serena.

“What do you mean single? Isobel and I have two babies on the way.” Beau chuckled.

“Yes, but don’t you feel suffocated?” Dario asked as they made their way outside. “Do you really want to settle down at this age?” He continued. “Lose your freedom?”

“I have my freedom!” Beau insisted, but before he could say another word, his phone went off. “Let me guess, Isobel?” Christian laughed at the worried look on Beau’s face.

“I have to take this one. I’m sorry.” Beau whispered, embarrassed.

“You don’t really love me, do you?” Christian heard Isobel’s voice. He got chills throughout his body just by hearing that tone and was suddenly a bit more grateful for Serena, who only gave him a hard time whenever he deserved it.

“W-what?” Beau spoke. “What do you mean, I don’t love you?”

Christian heard a deep breath from Isobel’s mouth and gave Beau a pat of encouragement. “I’m carrying your two babies, I’m also taking care of Luis, I haven’t even finished packing for tomorrow, I’ve been calling you every ten minutes to drop hints about how lonely I am-and meanwhile, you spend your time at the fucking mall with Chr Beau rolled his eyes and covered his phone with his hand so that he could ignore the sound of Isobel’s voice. “So this is freedom?” Dario smirked. “We can all see.”

Christian let out a laugh and shrugged his shoulders. He could not remember Serena having any moods. wings like that. “Give her a break. She’s pregnant.” He smiled.

Beau sighed and placed the phone near his ear once again. “You’re right, babe. It’s all my fault.” He apologized. “I’m a bad person, and I deserve to get punished for my actions.”

“Yes, of course, I’ll come home right now!”

“Is Serena also like that?” Dario chuckled. Christian had to remind himself to stay calm. They’re close friends. Of course, he was going to ask questions about Serena.

“No,” Christian told him. “Isobel is…a special case. She’s always been like this.”

“Ah, yes,” Dario commented. “The two of you were-”

After seeing the curious frown on Christian’s face, Dario decided to keep his mouth shut. Christian was in no mood to talk about his past with Isobel, and everyone else had already erased it from existence. It was the best for everyone involved.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to cut our day short.” Beau apologized as he finally ended the phone call. It wasn’t something new for Christian. He was used to it.

“I better get going. I don’t want to anger her even more.”

“I understand.” Christian smiled and took the stroller from Beau’s grip. “You only have to survive for one more day.”

“Yes, that vacation seems like a good plan after all.” Beau agreed. He leaned down to give Siena a pinch on her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Siena, uncle, has to go back home now-

“Unwillingly.” Dario laughed while Christian joined him. Beau gave Dario one last glare before he walked off. “That’s a sad situation, and she got him trapped for life.” Dario sighed. “He doesn’t deserve that.”

“It doesn’t really matter.” Christian smiled. It was the same thing Gio used to say about him and Serena, but Christian learned that people only focused on the negative stuff. “She’s like that because she loves him. That’s nothing to be sad about.”

“I guess you have a point.” Dario shrugged. Christian looked over at Dario and wondered how someone so positive could still be negative. “Am I also like that?” Christian whispered in disbelief.

“What?” Dario asked while Christian shrugged him off and pushed the stroller into his hands. “I said it’s just you, me, and the baby.”

A smile grew on Dario’s face as he looked down at Siena, who stuck out her hands to touch his face.

“Just you, me, and the baby.” Dario smiled.