Chapter 207

I was pretty shocked after hearing Christian’s story. Who would’ve thought that Berto was in on everything? I knew Christian most likely blamed himself, but this sounded like something which could. not have been prevented.

The thing which shocked me the most was Johnny’s decision to sacrifice my siblings. Johnny? The same sweet Johnny who stopped by at my house after Christian had abandoned me.

The same Johnny who promised to protect me and continued looking out for me when Christian wouldn’t. His actions disgusted me and I could only imagine what would happen if it would reach my brother. “I agree about Beau,” I told Christian.

“We shouldn’t tell him about this, at least for now.”

I stopped talking after seeing the relieved look on Christian’s face and decided to keep my second opinion to myself, at least for the time being. Even though Christian hadn’t noticed it, he was growing weaker, and that was because he was too nice, How would he ever lead the family business if he let someone like Johnny walk all over him?

“I’m glad we can all agree to this, right, Siena?” Christian spoke to the baby, who was seated on his lap. “I feel so bad for her,” I told Christian as I stared into her eyes which were full of curiosity. She didn’t understand what was going on, and even if she did, there was nothing she could say about it.

I never cared about power or money, but now that Siena was involved, everything had changed.

She was the rightful heir, and no one was going to take away her fortune.

“Well, I would love to be in her position right now.” Christian chuckled. “The only thing she has to worry about is getting her diaper changed…which you are doing, by the way.”

“Yes, I should.” I smiled. Even though I knew he didn’t mean a word he said, it was still difficult to forget. about it. Whether he was being truthful or not, all I wanted was to show everyone that I was a good parent. “The smell that comes out of that tiny body never fails to surprise me,” Christian added.

“Me neither.”

I looked at Siena and smiled as she tried to release herself from Christian’s grip. “It looks like you’re not her favorite anymore.” I joked while Christian gave her what she wanted and placed her on the floor.

He pulled out a bear. “Do you recognize this?” He asked. I looked at the pink teddy bear and nod.

“Of course I do. You got it the day she was born.”

gave him a “I did.” Christian chuckled. He placed Siena on knees while he put a distance between her and the bear. “Look what she can do”

Siena placed her hands on the floor and squealed while she tried her best to crawl towards the bear.

“Wow, that’s amazing!” My voice cracked. It was probably nothing to cry about, but just the thought of Siena made me upset. We were supposed to raise her in peace, and we couldn’t. It would only be a matter of time before she would grow even more, and not a single thing had changed.

Christian made his way to me and knelt so he could wipe away my tears. “Why are you crying?”

“Because our baby is growing up.” I lied. I didn’t want to worry him, and I didn’t want to make him feel any guilt. I had the chance to take Siena and leave, but I didn’t. I chose this life because I wanted to be with Christian and I wanted us to be a family “She is.”

–

“And no-this is not a reason to discuss another baby.” I laughed at the daring look on his face. He brushed his finger against my cheek. “That’s too bad.”

The soft look in Christian’s eyes made me nervous. It was never a good thing when he decided to be extra nice because, for some reason it would always end up in an argument. “Are you okay?” I asked as Christian took a,breath.

“I know you just came back, but I have a lot I have to do tomorrow-

“And I’ll do it with you.” I decided. I knew what he was thinking, but it was not going to happen. He was not going to lock me up in some safe house. “I told you we’re a team, remember.”

Christian seemed shocked by my words and gave me a nod. “Yes, I remember.” He spoke as he moved his hand towards mine. “The things I said over the phone? I was stupid-”

“Am” I corrected him. “Nothing has changed. You’re still stupid.”

“Yes…I am stupid.” Christian sighed. I was afraid of this discussion, and it was a subject I had been trying to avoid. He was not serious, that was what I kept telling myself, but Christian’s words weren’t that much different from Enzo’s past words.

“I want you to know that I think you’re a good mom, and I didn’t mean any of it,” Christian spoke. “I know you, and I know you don’t want to hear it, but what I said is unacceptable, and I need you to know that it’s not how I feel about you.”

“I know,” I spoke as I was desperately trying to end the conversation. Christian wouldn’t take no for an answer and squeezed my hand. “I don’t know what came over me, and I know that I can’t take it back and that an apology won’t do anything…but I’m so so sorry.”

“I know,” I whispered. I lowered my head in the hopes of ending this conversation. “I’m sorry for what I said, and I know it’s not an excuse, but you’ve hurt me too.” Christian continued. This was the other thing I was most afraid of. All I wanted was to forget about everything so that we could move on in peace.

“I know I don’t have the right to complain, but you almost kissed some other man, you ignored my calls on purpose and then that Dario thing-”

“Was a mistake.” I completed his sentence. “What I said about Dario was a mistake. I was so angry and…1 didn’t mean it-I love you.”

The honest truth was that I was still unsure about my feelings, but telling Christian was a mistake.

He didn’t deserve that. “I was just…I send you a picture and you didn’t even reply.”

“I know” Christian laughed. “I know I’m an idiot and if you wanted to me to tell you that you look hot, I’m sorry for not telling you”

Hearing Christian’s reaction made me feel even more guilty. He genuinely did not know what he did wrong, while I went ahead and flirted with his cousin as if it was nothing. “And all that other stuff…

you have every right to be angry, and I’m so sorry.” I apologized. Christian wasn’t perfect, but I wasn’t any better, and I was aware of that.

“Look at us discussing things without arguing” Christian chuckled. It came as a huge surprise to both of us, considering we couldn’t last a day without arguing Christian made a promise to change, and it seemed like he was determined to keep it. “I honestly think this is the longest we’ve gone without arguing.”

“It could be worse. We could’ve been like Beau and Isobel.” I rolled my eyes. Christiar: had never faked his feelings with me or looked at me as if he wanted to choke me. He would show me whenever he was in a good mood, as well as show me whenever I bothered him.

“Oh, your poor brother.” Christian laughed. “Isobel isn’t the brightest, to begin with, and now these pregnancy hormones.”

“Exactly.”

“I think he’s better of without her.” Christian suddenly shared his opinion. I could tell he was serious.

“B- but, she’s your best friend?”

“So is your brother, and someone needs to free him-I mean, the poor guy is stuck, and it’s all because she’s pregnant.”

“Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?” I mumbled. Wasn’t that how Christian felt at one point?

“No, it doesn’t.” Christian shook his head. “Your pregnancy allowed me to get to know the real you but had I truly known you before that…I would’ve wanted you either way.” He confessed.

I felt my cheeks flush and placed my hand on top of his. I knew stuff like that was difficult for him to admit, but hearing his honest feelings did something to my heart. “I already told you I was into you from the moment I saw you.” I reminded Christian. “No matter how scary-looking you were.”

“I’m not scary.” Christian laughed. “You’re the one who has a habit of throwing stuff whenever you get angry…you’re the scary one.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” I acknowledged my past mistakes. “You’ve never done something like that to me, so I shouldn’t do stuff like that to you.”

Christian brushed his hand through my hair. “Are we going to apologize for every little mistake we made?”

“No, of course not.”

Maybe I was on a roll because I felt guilty about Dario. Who knew?

“Good.” Christian nodded. He cupped my chin with his hand and tilted his head so he could look at me. “What?” I smiled nervously. Christian shrugged his shoulders. “I haven’t seen you in two days.

I’m just admiring you.”

“And?” I raised my eyebrow. “And you’re still the most beautiful human being I’ve ever laid my eyes on…after Siena, of course.”

“Good answer.” I sighed as I looked past him. Siena was still playing with her bear and was in her own little world. “She looks perfect, doesn’t she?” Christian turned around. “Yes, she does.”

Christian sat down on the floor and played with Siena as I stared at them in complete silence. Siena clearly. loved him a lot, and she liked the attention, as did Christian. They looked perfect together, and no one would ruin it, not even Christian’s uncle. I wouldn’t let him.

“Christian, what are we going to do about your uncle?” I asked him. “Do you have a plan to get back the money? We are going to get back Siena’s money…right?”

Christian dropped the beer he was holding and shot me an annoyed look. “We or me?” He frowned.

“It’s not that easy, you know-”

“And I never said it was,” I spoke, irritated. As expected, our peace had only lasted for about an hour. “Tin just saying that we need to fight for our daughter, and I’m saying we because I’ll be standing right beside you.”

I felt at ease as the look on Christian’s face had softened. “I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my mind, and I don’t want to disappoint everyone again.”

“We haven’t lost the battle, and no one is disappointed!” I encouraged him. “You decided to save my family, and I’ll never judge you for that. I mean, you protected them without a single doubt.”

“That’s not true,” Christian whispered. “I thought…it was just for one second, and all I wanted was to get rid of my uncle, no matter the consequences.”

“But you didn’t!”

He doubted himself, and nothing good would come out of it. “Carmen and Luke are still here, so you didn’t,” I spoke. He was vulnerable, and even though I didn’t want to influence him, this was the perfect moment to discuss Johnny’s mistake.

I leaned forward and placed my hand on Christian’s shoulder. “But Johnny, on the other hand.” I closed my eyes. It was a difficult thing for me to do, but I was doing it for Christian’s sake. He was slowly growing weak, and I needed him to make change. “He needs to pay for this-you know that.”

“Serena, he’s my cousin,” Christian spoke in disbelief. I understand, but Carmen and Luke are Alfonzo’s, and so is Siena…they’re my siblings, and if he was ready to sacrifice them, where do you think that leaves. Siena?”

Christian froze up and stared at Siena. Perhaps now he would listen.

“People are going to think you’re weak because you let your uncle get away, you let the money get away, you let Luca get away, and now you’re giving Johnny a pass-”

“And Johnny is just as much a threat as my uncle and Luca,” Christian concluded. It took him some time, but he was finally starting to see the real threat. “Christian, I’m not asking you to disown your cousin or whatever-but when the time comes, he needs to give you an apology, and you need to demand it in front of everyone…for Carmen and Luke.”

“For Carmen and Luke,” Christian whispered. I knew it would be difficult for him, but it would only make him stronger. “Just imagine how many men saw how you let him walk all over you, that’s embarrassing.”

I still loved Johnny like family, but it was time to think of Siena, and I couldn’t risk anyone making fun of Christian.

“Did you already speak to Franco about Dario?” I changed the subject. Having Dario by his side would be the right decision, and no one could tell me otherwise.

“We haven’t had the opportunity yet,” Christian muttered. Maybe he couldn’t see the seriousness of the situation, but I could.

“Well, do it fast!” I instructed. “To take over the family business. Berto needs family by his side,” I explained. “There’s no reason for anyone in your family to listen to his rubbish if you show them that you’ve let his son, Dario, sit right beside you.”

“Keep talking.” Christian listened. I had prepared myself for him to go against me, but he didn’t. He was listening to my every word and that was a good thing.

“The only reason why he needs Luca is because he doesn’t have Dario anymore. We might hate Luca-but from what I’ve seen, all the Lamberti’s love him.”

“They do,” Christian confirmed. I noticed the worried look on his face as he finally got the wake-up call he needed. “Stop them before it’s too late and share the family business with Dario until Siena is of age.”

“And what if Dario ends up having children and suddenly decides they have the right to the business,” Christian argued. That was another thing that had crossed my mind, but Dario wouldn’t do that. It was not even a possibility.

“He won’t.” I spoke, determined.

“How do you know that?” Christian wondered. I chuckled at the question to which he already knew the answer. “He won’t because he’s not capable of hurting me, and you know that better than anyone.”

Even if it was in a friendly way, Dario cared about me and would not hurt me, because that was the kind of person he was. I didn’t want to take advantage of him, but we needed him.

“You’re right.” Christian smiled. “I never thought of it that way.” He spoke as he lowered his hand to my check and pressed his forehead against mine.

“Serena, you’re a genius, and I’m lucky to have you by my side.”

“I am a genius…from now on you should listen to my advice and only my advice..”