Chapter 211

“Am I annoying you? You haven’t said a single word to me the entire drive.” I smiled as I placed my hand on top of Christian’s. He seemed irritated, and his answers were short and off.

I had asked countless questions, from the meeting to his grandpa to the reason why Dario left without greeting me-but all he could do was shrug his shoulders. “You’re not annoying me. I’m just tired.” Christian smiled.

It was a fake smile, and I knew it because it was not unusual for him. It made me wonder whether Christian and Dario had a falling out or if perhaps he didn’t want to be part of the family business.

“So what did Dario say? Did he bother you?”

“No, it’s all good.” Christian cleared his throat. “He was actually really positive about the offer, and he accepted it right away.”

“That’s good.” I smiled. “I’m happy for you.”

Christian scoffed and tightened his grip around the steering wheel. “Happy for me or for you?”

I tried to be the bigger person, so I kept my mouth shut and ignored his comment. Of course, I was happy for him. What else could I gain out of this?

“Poor Siena, she has been sleeping all day.” I pouted as my eyes moved to the baby. “Do you think she’s sick?”

“I don’t know, Serena,” Christian spoke, annoyed. “If you play with her in the middle of the night, then yes -she’ll be tired during the day.”

I’d had it with him and his negative remarks. I really tried to work on our relationship, but how could I do that when it only came from my side? How could I do that when he wouldn’t tell me what his issue was?

“Christian, tell me, what’s wrong with you?” I demanded an answer. Anyone who would’ve seen his facial expression could tell that something was bothering him.

“Nothing, I’m good.” Christian shrugged a bit too nonchalantly.

“See, I don’t like it when you get like this,” I admitted. Maybe if we could communicate just like yesterday, he would apologize, and everything would be okay again.

“Like what?”

“When something is bothering you, and you decide to take it out on me-

“Look, I’m sorry.” Christian sighed. Was he sorry? That was not quite the words I hoped for because it wasn’t something I hadn’t heard before.

“Yes, you’re always sorry.”

A long sigh had escaped from Christian’s lips, and I could tell that whatever his issue was, he would not be able to control himself any longer.

“You can’t blame me for being angry if all you’ve been talking about for the past minutes is Dario, Dario, Dario. After all, you said about him. You really can’t blame me.”

“Just like I can’t blame you for letting Gina into our lives despite…you know.”

“No, I don’t know, and I thought we were past that.”

“We were, but when you start making these false accusations-”

“I never accused of anything.” Christian sighed.

“Look, we had a really lovely day, and I don’t want to argue-”

“Good, me neither.”

+5 Bonus I stood in the doorway and smiled at Christian, who was rocking Siena to sleep. At least he could smile at her because, at the end of the day, that was all which truly mattered to me.

Ever since our altercation on our way home, things have been awkward. Christian had been avoiding me. and I had no idea why.

“I feel like we’re messing up her sleeping pattern.” Christian chuckled. “Yes, maybe.” I answered.

“Serena, do you think I’m a good dad?”

I almost choked at that stupid question and gave him a nod. “Yes, you’re a good dad-of course, you are.

“And a fiancé?” Christian continued. “Am I not giving you enough love? I mean, I know I’m not always the nicest and I’m working on that, but…”

I felt embarrassed and could sense that all of this was because of Dario. I had no idea what the two of them had really discussed, but Christian hadn’t been the same ever since. I could hardly mention Dario’s name. “Well, nobody is perfect.”

“Dario is,” Christian whispered loud enough for me to hear. He put the baby to sleep and turned around to face me while I immediately lowered my head. Not today, please…not today.

Christian walked closer until he stood right in front of me and brought his hand to my cheek while my heart beat out my chest. What was he going to say this time?

“I don’t like the idea of you playing me, Serena,” Christian spoke in a terrifying calm tone. He placed his hand behind my back and led me out of the baby room while I was flustered and worked along.

“I-I’ll just leave you alone a-and-”

“No.” Christian pressed me against the wall. He was gentle and I could tell that he did not want to hurt me. “Are you really worried about the family business, or are you trying to play me, so you can get what you truly desire?”

Christian’s face was an inch removed from the mine, and I could not make a move. He trapped me and was demanding answers as if it was nothing. “What is it that I truly desire?” I gulped as I tried my hardest not to show him any fear. I knew where he was getting at but would he be bold enough to mention his name.

“Dario.” Christian spoke.

“W-what?” I stuttered. I felt a cold feeling throughout my body and froze up in disbelief. “I don’t want Dario. I want you!”

The calm expression on his face worried me even more. He seemed so unfazed by my statement and looked at me as if lying to his face. “Then tell me, when I touch you-do you think of Dario or me?”

“You, of course!”

“Me? That’s good.” Christian sighed. “Excuse me for asking, because it’s always Dario this and Dario that.”

“It’s not like that,” I reassured him. I was done lying to myself, so I could honestly admit that a part of me liked Dario, but there was only one person I loved, and that person was Christian.

Christian took a step back and finally allowed me to breathe. “So you didn’t bewitch me to share the business with Dario so that you could be closer to him?”

Wasn’t he finished?

How far was he going to take this?

“Bewitch? I’m sorry, but what do you see me as?” I asked, shocked. I had heard it all before, but this was a new nickname I could add to the books. Christian smirked. “So you don’t have plans to betray me, so you can be with him.”

“Christian, no-never!” I raised my voice at him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Me?” Christian asked. He laughed at me as if he was mocking me and gave me a playful nudg shoulder. What was wrong with him?

“You mean, what the hell is wrong with you and Dario?” Christian commented. “I-I know I ma and I know I don’t have the right to say anything, so I ignored it.”

He ignored it…

What did he even meant by that?

“I trusted the two of you to do the right thing because he is my cousin and I love you, but instead, the tw of you are lying to my face and making me look like a fool—”

“We’re not, I’m not-nothing is going on!” I said somewhat defensively. “What I said about him was a mistake, and I don’t care for him or your power. All I care about is you.”

“Really?” Christian frowned. “Do you even hear yourself?” He stepped closer. “Because you say you care about me, but at the same time you’re asking me to punish Johnny, my cousin”

“It was just a suggestion!” I breathed. “And if you don’t like that suggestion, then that’s okay because you are the boss, and I respect that.”

It took me a lot to get out those words, but I did not want to anger him even more. It disgusted me that he was still determined to protect Johnny, and it made me realize that I perhaps didn’t have the control over him as I think I did. I was the one who asked him to stop being weak and to step up his game, so why was I complaining?

“So you and Dario wouldn’t mind if I would tell you that I will not give Johnny a punishment?”

Christian chuckled. All I could see in his eyes were rage and anger.

“Y-you’ll not?” I stumbled over my words. After hearing Dario’s name, it was clear that Christian was doing this to get to us. He obviously needed him to make things easier for the family business, so he could not touch him, and since he couldn’t touch him, he was childish enough to find another way.

One thing he didn’t know was that I would walk through fire for the Alfonzo’s and especially my siblings. and Carmen, who had lost her glow.

“I’m not going to punish Johnny, and since you’re not with me for my power, I hope you can respect that,” Christian spoke with a mischievous smile on his lips. He knew what he was doing and if this was his idea. of making peace with me, he was not very good at it.

“Christian, I know you’re angry, but you can’t do that.” I tried to change his mind. “At least do it for the Alfonzo name-

“The Alfonzo name?” Christian chuckled. “So what you’re saying is that you can’t respect my decision because you’re an Alfonzo.”

“All I hear is that you never had plans to be a Lamberti and I really don’t like the sound of that.” He spoke. “Would you want to be a Lamberti if Dario took our last name?”

“No, what are you even saying?” I almost trembled. “I do want to be a Lamberti and if you want me to respect your decision, then that’s what I’ll do.”

Christian and I looked at each other for a few seconds before he released a relieved breath. “That’s all I needed to know.”

Christian leaned in closer to kiss me, but I turned my head, so his lips would only reach my cheek.

He was protecting his cousin over my siblings while we would get married one day and the disrespect towards the Alfonzo’s did not sit right with me.

Would he have said the same if one of us threatened his siblings?

The look in Christian’s eyes had softened as he probably did not expect me to turn away. He seemed shocked and surprised. “I have work to do, excuse me.” He spoke before he walked off in a hurry.

Did he feel uncomfortable? Embarrassed? Because he should be.

I could indeed not blame him for being jealous, but accusing me of having other intentions and punishing me by giving his cousin a pass for wanting to sacrifice my siblings was where I would draw the line.

I grabbed my phone and searched for Beau’s number. I know we had made the decision not to tell him anything, but my brother deserved to know the truth. He deserved to know who he was working for.

To: Beau Are you free?

There’s something I have to tell you.