Chapter 212

“Did you come here on your own?” Beau asked. I shook my head and pointed to the car. “I told Christian I needed some air, so he called Marc to take care of me.

“Oh. I haven’t seen him in a while,” Beau spoke. Of course, he hadn’t because Christian mistreated him. He probably got sick of his big mouth and figured how easy it was to manipulate my brother.

“You know, I’m glad we’re doing this, Beau” I smiled. “It’s just like back in the days, and I’m sure you also deserve a break.”

“It is, I mean anything is better than home.” Beau agreed. “Pregnancy turned Isobel into a different person.”

So was I, but I wasn’t pregnant.

We had a nice walk in the park, just like we used to in the past. Things were much easier when everything was still peaceful. The first four months after Siena was born were perfect. Christian and I got along well and we had no issues.

There was only one intention as to why I wanted to meet up with Beau, and that was to tell him the truth. I trusted Christian would deal with Johnny, so I agreed not to tell Beau anything, but this was going too far.

“How is Luis doing?” I asked Beau. “I miss him.”

“Luis is good.” He replied. “Also, don’t forget about Vince-you haven’t visited him in a while.”

I stopped in my steps after hearing Vince’s name. The topic was still sensitive, and the guilt was still there. He was in a coma because he chose to protect me.

Beau and Vince were inseparable. They were as brothers, so at times I wondered how Beau even managed to be with Isobel who had caused everything in the first place. “How do you not resent her?”

“She’s the mother of my babies. How can I resent her?” Beau spoke. “She was someone I could talk to because we both went through the same thing.”

I felt guilt wash over me and gave him an understanding nod. Beau’s path with the Alfonzo’s was a bit different than mine had been.

“Her dad mistreated her because she betrayed everyone, and Matteo disliked me because I was a Garcia at one point.”

“I never got the chance to tell you, but I’m sorry for that.” I apologized. What if Beau agreed with Christian? What if he secretly hated the Alfonzo’s just as much as he did? What if he didn’t care about Carmen and Luke?

“Are you embarrassed by our last name?”

“No,” Beau stated. “I chose to be an Alfonzo because even though Matteo and I don’t always see eye to eye, he’s still trying.”

“True.”

The look in Matteo’s eyes whenever Beau went against him was one for the books. He was excited to have another son but had quickly realized that Beau was more of a Garcia than an Alfonzo.

I was different. After growing up without parents, I was grateful enough to have them in my life.

There was a time I used to look past every flaw they had, just because I wanted a family.

I felt the need to protect my siblings, because I never got the opportunity to do so. I wanted to be a good sister and I would do anything to achieve that.

“How about you?” Beau broke the silence. “How do you not resent Christian?”

That’s right, that’s the reason why I came here in the first place. “About that…we have to talk.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes-it’s about Carmen and Luke,” I reassured him. “I just wanted to check on you and hear how you feel about everything”

“I feel sorry for them.” Beau spoke. “I couldn’t protect them when they needed me the most.”

“Neither could Johnny.”

Beau looked at me with a confused expression on his face. “What?”

“Listen, there’s something I have to tell you,” I spoke as I took a breath. Was I betraying Christian?

No, I wanted to protect my siblings, and Beau had the right to know who he was working for.

“Christian is trying to sweep it under the rug. Carmen and Luke are just following his orders-but I’m still an Alfonzo.”

“Serena Beau asked, worried. There was no turning back. “I’m not a Lamberti, I’m an Alfonzo, and that’s why I have to tell you the truth.” I whispered to myself.

“The truth?”

“The night at the warehouse…Christian told me Johnny wanted to sacrifice Carmen and Luke for Berto and Luca.” I spoke without a pause. I knew Christian would never hurt me, but the idea of him not doing anything about Johnny trying to hurt the Alfonzo’s got me heated. What if he would use Beau next? What if I would lose my twin brother, because he was so put on protecting Christian?

“What?” Beau asked, startled. It was probably a lot to take in. “Serena, are you sure?”

I had to do this.

“Yes, he told me, and he asked me not to tell you. He asked Carmen and Luke and everyone present not to tell you.” I told him. “I agreed with him because I believed he would hold Johnny responsible for his actions, but he suddenly told me he wouldn’t and-

“So Johnny did all of this, and no one cared to tell me?” Beau spoke calmly. I could see through him, and I could feel his anger, but he had every right to be angry. We had every right to be angry.

“I know Christian is like your brother and that you’re trying to protect him for my sake, but I thought you should know who you’re working for,” I spoke. “I guess what I’m really trying to say is that you should never give your life for someone who’s not willing to do the same to you.”

“You confuse me the most, Serena Beau turned his head. “How can you tell me all of this and-”

“Still be with him?” I finished his sentence. “It’s not that different from your case, and I would appreciate it if you can keep this between the two of us.” I requested. “I just couldn’t lie to you anymore, and I needed. you to know.”

“So you’re telling me all of this, but I’m not allowed to do anything with it? I should just sit back and watch?” Beau laughed in disbelief. Well, that was the plan.

“Yes.”

“Then why did you tell me?”

“Because Carmen is clearly suffering because of all of this.”

“That’s fine,” Beau spoke. “Then I promise I won’t tell.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked Marc who was behind the wheel. We were on our way back home, and as far as Christian was concerned, I only went for a walk He didn’t want me out alone, and I accepted that and went along with his request to keep someone by my side at all times. “Of course you can.” Marc smiled.

“Christian told you to take care of me, right?”

“He did,” Marc confirmed. Marc was the type of person who did not want to get involved in our issues, which was exactly what I needed. “In case Christian asks. I went for a walk by myself.”

“But you went for a walk with your brother?” Marc laughed, confused. I shook my head and attempted to hypnotize him with my necklace. “I went for a walk by myself,” I repeated.

Marc liked it whenever I did something stupid and behaved like the old Serena, so if that was what I had to do to gain his trust-so be it. “You went for a walk by yourself.” Marc laughed as he played along.

“Look, Serena.” Marc began. “You know Christian well enough to know that he will interrogate me about your whereabouts.”

“Pathetic,” I whispered. It almost felt as if my dad was keeping an eye on me. I understood things were dangerous at the moment, but Christian breathing in my neck every second got on my nerves.

First in Panama and now back home.

“It’s not pathetic.” Marc defended him. “I can’t even begin to explain how much Christian loves you, and he just wants you to be safe.”

I wondered whether Marc knew about Johnny. Would Christian have told him?

“We’re here.” Marc interrupted my thoughts. I turned around, surprised, and looked at Christian, who was standing at the door. “Did you guys get into a fight…again?”

“No, we didn’t.” I lied to Marc. Not everyone had to know what was going on between us. As far as others were concerned, we were doing just fine. What good would it be if everyone knew we couldn’t last a day without arguing?

“I know the look on his face,” Marc said. “It means he feels guilty about something.”

Did it?

“Thank you, Marc,” I spoke as I grabbed my purse. I got out of the car and waited until Marc took off before I turned around to look at Christian, He did seemed regretful and it made me wonder whether I made the right decision.

“Don’t feel guilty, Serena. You haven’t done anything wrong.”I told myself as I walked to the door. I had to tell Beau, I had to tell to him, and I had to warn him about Christian and Johnny.

“Serena!” Christian called out my name with an innocent smile on his face. What was I even on about? Christian was a smart person who did everything for a reason.

He was angry, but he would turn around his decision because that was the kind of person he was.

He was an impulsive person who couldn’t control his mouth, and I had just broken his trust.

“Please punch me,” Christian spoke. I shot him a surprised look and laughed at his strange request.

“I bet you don’t want to hear that I’m sorry, so please punch me.”

Christian forced my hand into a fist and pushed it against his jaw. “Punch me for being jealous, insecure, unfair, evil, and just everything else-please.”

I furrowed my eyebrows at the serious expression on his face until I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Stop embarrassing yourself, you look stupid.”

“Yes, I am.” Christian pulled me into his embrace. “I am stupid and jealous and insecure, but it’s only because I love you, and I don’t want to share you.”

“It’s okay.” I spoke, but all I could feel was guilt.

What right did I have to attack Christian? I ran around like a headless chicken and told my brother, my very short-tempered brother, by the way, not to trust Christian just because he hurt my feelings.

“We’ll talk about the Johnny situation after the photoshoot tomorrow, okay?” Christian told me. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin Lucio’s special day, but I was so reckless that I hadn’t even thought about that. Why would I even give Beau this information, right before Lucio’s big day?

“Okay.” I smiled.

“So we’re good?” Christian asked as he looked at me with eyes full of hope. If he only knew what I had done.

“Yes, as long as you’re not jealous anymore…we’re good “Thank god,” Christian erupted in laughter as he tilted me over his shoulder and spun around. “What are you doing?” I giggled at his unexpected bright personality while he carried me to the house.

My lips curled into a smile at the idea of us being capable of being a happy family, but there was always this one worry in the back of my mind.

Whenever we were happy, there was always something that would ruin it.

Beau promised me he wouldn’t tell, so that he wouldn’t do anything crazy, right?