Chapter 208

“Siena, are you excited to see grandpa?” Christian kissed her check. It was one day before the family shoot, and I had somehow managed to push Christian to talk about Dario’s position with Franco.

“Please behave normally around my dad.” Christian requested. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you do this weird thing with your eyes, and you’re a terrible liar-so please, control yourself.”

I laughed at Christian’s honest words and gave him a nudge against his shoulder. I knew I was a bad actress, but that was okay-I couldn’t do everything. “It’s hard being nice, isn’t it?”

“I’m sorry for speaking the truth.” Christian chuckled. “And don’t push me when I’m holding the baby.”

“And don’t push me when I’m holding the baby.” I mimicked Christian. If there was one thing that would never get boring, it was definitely getting on his nerves. “Come on, I’m just kidding!” I spoke after seeing. the look on his face. Perhaps it was time to stop with the teasing.

“Have we heard anything about your uncle’s whereabouts?” I asked while I held his free hand. The sigh which escaped from Christian’s mouth was enough proof that he didn’t want to discuss it.

“No, as far as I’m concerned, we still have a truce for my dad’s sake,” Christian spoke as he tried to remain calm. If he really thought that his uncle would sit on his ass and do nothing, then it was time for him to rethink that. “Monsters like him don’t do truces.” I spoke.

Christian stopped in his steps and released my hand so that he could tighten his grip around Sienna. “Do you really think so?” He asked, worried. It was not that difficult to see that his uncle’s terrified him, and that’s why we had to deal with it as soon as possible. If someone like Christian was terrified, it meant his uncle was a severe threat.

“Yes, he’ll show himself before that-so what you need to do is tell your dad the truth,” I explained myself. Things had changed, so maybe I could get through him.

“No, absolutely not.” Christian spoke to my surprise. I guess I was wrong.

Manipulating him in doing what I wanted would only get me that far, but that was okay for now. He had at least agreed to the idea of sharing the family business with Dario, and that was enough for now. “You know I appreciate your advice, but I won’t tell him.”

I was shocked at Christian’s cold tone and did my best to control myself. In the past, I would’ve gone crazy and asked him who he thought he was talking to, but I did not want to argue. There was no time to argue.

“Because you want to wait for your dad to die, and you think your uncle Berto is patient enough to wait for his last breath?” I shot Christian a sympathetic smile. “I understand, but you can’t trust him-

he would want to say goodbye to his brother.”

“Drop it,” Christian spoke, irritated. He was slowly getting on my nerve. All I wanted was for him to see my point, but it wasn’t working. He wouldn’t listen.

“Forget about the truce-you can’t make promises with someone like that, Christian.” I sighed before 1 decided to let the situation drop. I told him what I had to say and that was it.

“Listen, have you at least thought about what you’re going to do about Johnny?”

Johnny…

Carmen told me she was fine over the phone, but I knew my sister, and she had lost her unique glow. Johnny wanted to sacrifice them just like that, and Christian still stood behind his cousin.

He was still weak.

“Serena-please don’t start with me, not now.” Christian huffed angrily. This was it, my final warning.

One more word, and he was going to explode, which meant our own peace would’ve only lasted one day.

“Fine.” I rubbed my hand against Christian’s arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.” I told him.

“It’s okay.”

“Look, someone is happy to see us!” I pointed to Lucio, who was waiting for us at the door. He seemed energetic today and managed to raise his hand to wave at us. “Christian!” He yelled from afar.

I turned my head to look at Christian and observed the smile on his face. He loved his dad so much that I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if he were to leave this earth. Lucio was his rock, and even though it sounded selfish, all I wanted was for him to hold on for just a bit longer, just until I was reassured that Christian would be fine.

“Come, come!” Lucio opened his arms when we reached the door. Christian handed me Siena and nearly ran into his dad’s embrace. “It looks like even you are replaceable.” I whispered to Siena, who was asleep in my arms.

“I missed you. I thought you didn’t want to see me.” Lucio complained before he kissed his head.

“Dad, I didn’t…I would never.” Christian smiled.

It took Lucio a while before he even acknowledged my existence, but I couldn’t blame him. Christian was clearly his favorite son, if not his favorite person. Christian stepped aside so Lucio could take a proper look at me. “Serena, how was your vacation?”

“It was nice.” I smiled at Lucio. He gave me a nod and grabbed my hand. “Are you excited for tomorrow?”

Behind his smile I could tell that he was skinnier than before and was probably nearing his end.

Even thep- it was still a beautiful thing to see how much he was looking forward to tomorrow. “Yes, of course, I am.”

Christian pushed the wheelchair inside and ordered the guards to close the door. “You should at least wear a jacket, dad.”

“Do you see that, Serena?” Lucio laughed. “My own son is trying to baby me.”

Christian leaned forward to kiss Lucio’s cheek. “It’s because I want you to be healthy, dad.” He spoke.

“Healthy? Christian, who cares? I’m dying, and I can literally drop dead any second-

“Dad, stop it!” Christian suddenly raised his voice. He released his hands from the wheelchair and snatched Siena from my hands.

“Christian!” I spoke, surprised, while he seemed shocked by his own actions. “I-I need to see my grandpa, and Siena needs silence. Take care of my dad,” Christian stormed off.

“I’m so sorry, he didn’t mean it like that.” I placed my hand on Lucio’s shoulder. “I’m fine. It’s just how he gets.” Lucio spoke. “I never meant to hurt his feelings. I just want him to be prepared”

Lucio had a point because that was also what I wanted, I needed him to be strong and prepared, and I didn’t want stuff like this to happen. He was going through a hard time and even if I wanted to understand, I probably couldn’t.

“You know, Serena” Lucio sighed. “He will have to face some challenges when I’m gone-such as distant relatives he has never even heard off trying to bring him down.”

“I won’t let that happen.” I spoke, determined. Lucio wasn’t even talking about Berto, which only made me wonder what kind of challenges Christian would face. “I know you won’t, and that’s why I’m happy to have you as my daughter.”

“Christian called me yesterday about sharing the business with Dario, and he told me it came from you.” Lucio grabbed my hand. He probably thought I was just a good person without knowing the real reason, which pained me. It pained me to lie to him and he deserved to know the truth about Berto.

The truce seemed to good to be true and Berto seemed like an impatient person who would most likely not listen to Christian’s request, but Christian would not listen to mine either.

“I’m just doing the right thing.” I told Lucio. In my opinion, Christian didn’t even have to ask permission from his grandpa as he was technically the boss, but he, unfortunately, valued other people’s views the most. To me it was just another sign of his weakness.

I brought Lucio to the living room and noticed Cesca who had been waiting for us. She had a fake smile on her face, and I could tell that it was meant for me. “Serena, it’s good to see you.” She managed to get out.

“Likewise,” I spoke loud enough for her to hear. I strongly believed that Cesca was also part of the bigger issue which caused Christian a lot of stress and I could confirm that by her nerve to glare at me.

“I also heard about what you did for…Dario.” Cesca spoke with trembling lips. So that was the problem. I folded my arms and glared at Cesca the same way she glared at me. Respect had to go both ways, and it seemed like she had forgotten about what happened the first time.

“Sir, you have a phone call from Matteo Alfonzo.” One of the maids broke the awkward silence.

“Serena, excuse me–it seems like your dad’s been calling me!” Lucio excused himself before he exited the room.

I had no one, I did not have a Christian, and I did not have Siena. It was just Cesca and me.

“I thought a two-day vacation was enough, but apparently, you’re also making decisions now?”

Cesca scoffed. “You don’t understand, so please.” I pleaded. Even though I wanted to, I could not tell her the truth about Berto because I had made a promise to Christian.

“You see, Serena.” Cesca began as she walked towards me. “I think you’re trying to ruin this family, and you might not do it on purpose…but you’re doing it.” She stated.

I took a step back and avoided her gaze. “This will backfire, and do you know why?” Cesea asked, while I shook my head. Even though I promised myself to stand my ground, her presence was too much for me.

“Men are men, they are horrible, selfish, and hungry for power, and Dario and Christian are not meant to be on the same line…so it will backfire.”

I took in Cesca’s words and felt as if my head was about to spin. In the worst-case scenario, Cesca’s opinion would turn out to be correct, and if that were the case, Christian would put all the blame on me. “Now tell me, Serena, are you and Dario sleeping together?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Are you and Dario sleeping together?” Cesca repeated the question. “Because I don’t understand why you would want to sabotage Christian, the father of your child and your fiancée-”

“I didn’t force him to do anything. I only advised him to do the right thing!” I raised my voice. I would not stand here and listen to this woman’s fake accusations. “He listens to you because he’s vulnerable!” Cesca yelled at me.

“He listens to you because he’s afraid of losing you again, so if you ask him to drink his own pee-

he’ll actually do it.”

As he should. All I did was for Siena, and if I had to manipulate her dad to get what I want, so be it.

“So what I’m getting out of this is that you don’t want Christian to share the business with Dario?”

Cesca shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not too late to run upstairs and tell him to take back his decision-”

“I won’t.” I said. “I won’t do that, never.”

“Then you’ll take full responsibility when it backfires? Cesca sighed. I believed it wouldn’t backfire because I trusted Christian and Dario. They made a perfect team. “I won’t. Christian is a grown man who is capable of making his own decisions.”

There was only one real threat, and that was Berto. Keeping Dario close was a way of showing his uncle that he couldn’t get to the business.

It was a way of showing him and everyone around him that Christian was a good person who did not. resent his uncle or his son.

“You’re unbelievable.” Cesca shook her head in disbelief. To be honest, I don’t even think there would’ve been a point in telling her the truth. Even then, she would find a way to bring me down.

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I knew she wanted me to be the crazy person I usually was, so that she could cry in Christian’s arms, but it was not going to happen.

“You’re unbelievably stupid if you think that I’ll sit back and do nothing while you’ve been looking at Dario the same way you once looked at my son.”

I let out a small gasp at Cesca’s sudden threat and felt a warm feeling inside my body. It was the feeling of shame and embarrassment. If the way I looked at Dario were clear enough for Cesca, it would also be for Christian.

“Is everything okay?” A familiar voice spoke. Cesca and I turned around and looked at Christian, who leaned against the wall. For how long had he been standing there?

“Y-yes, we’re fine,” I said. “I thought you had a meeting with your grandpa?”

“Yes, I’m just waiting for…Dario.” Christian looked me straight into my eyes. I knew Christian, so I could tell that this was his way of showing me that he had heard every single sentence.

“Cesca, why won’t you tell Christian about what we were discussing?” I smiled at her. I felt humiliated and embarrassed. Cesca was a smart woman, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she knew he had been standing there all along.

“I was telling Serena that I accept her into this family because despite everything we’ve been through—1 think she’s perfect for you, and I trust her to make the right decisions, Cesca spoke. I could tell that her kind words were nothing more than a clear threat. Mess with Christian, and I’ll kill you. Her point came across.

Christian laughed at his mom’s statement and shot me a suspicious look while I wondered whatever was going through his head.

“So do I, but Serena has never really been the issue.”