Chapter 25

“You should’ve told your mom first.” Lucio shrugged his shoulders and walked past Christian to avoid hisJust as expected everyone had heard about the rumor and all it took for the word to get spread was onehospital.

Christian did not get the chance to tell anyone himself— but instead, they had to hear about the pregnaHe knew that Francesca would be pissed, but he didn’t have the heart to apologize over the phone and wface to face.

He looked over at his two brothers who had also stopped by to anticipate their mother’s outburst.

“Look who’s here.” Gio chuckled.

“Uncle Chrissie!” Gianna called out and ran towards him to hug his leg, while Pia crawled towards him toChristian smiled at the four-year-old and picked her up to kiss her before he patted Pia on her head.

Gianna and the two-year-old Pia were Gio’s children. To this day Christian could still not understand howwas blessed with a kind wife and two cheerful children.

“Up!” Pia stuck out her tiny hands but was interrupted by Francesca who had entered the room. “I heardcream for you guys.” She told them to lure them away which had immediately worked.

Christian tried to avoid his mother’s gaze and prepared himself for the scolding he knew he would receiv“I know I always speak low of you, but getting a stripper pregnant was something even I did not expect fstirred the pot and crossed his arms while waiting for his mom’s outburst.

For Gio, this was a perfect opportunity to prove to everyone that Christian was not that perfect as they mbe.

“Don’t be like that. Squirrel is a nice girl.” Enzo corrected his brother. Gio rolled his eyes at his brother anpush against his shoulder. “If he really wants to, he can defend her himself.”

Gio gave Christian a daring look and had already expected for him to let the insult pass, but Christian ha“You’re right. I won’t let you disrespect Serena and I still have more power over you—

so I suggest you kshut!” He scolded him and turned towards Francesca who had not said a single word.

His mother had always been outspoken, but even she kept quiet this time.

Francesca walked towards him while Christian tried his hardest to avoid her gaze, but that seemed uselesgrabbed him by the chin to turn his face.

“Ridiculous,” Francesca had whispered and caressed his cheek before it was met with a hard slap followe“The first one was for getting a hood rat pregnant, the second one was for bringing her into this family asupposed to give you a third one for making her your fiancée and a fourth one because you embarrasseto hear it from my friends, but I’ll spare you,” Francesca spoke.

Christian touched his cheek and kept his mouth shut. Francesca was the queen of the household and notchange that.

“I’m sorry mom.” He said and looked down. Not once had his mother been disappointed in him and hadhim, so getting scolded by his mother was not something he was used to.

“How the hell did your dad agree to all of this? Do you even know this girl? She’s probably after your mo“She’s not like that.” Christian immediately jumped to Serena’s defense. He had wished for her to be likethat would’ve made the situation a whole lot easier but she wasn’t. It was not difficult for him to figure othe complete opposite. If anything she did not want anything to do with him or his money and only gavebaby’s well-being.

“She’s not? How would you know because your dad told me that you’ve known her for just six months.”spoke. Christian figured that Lucio would not tell Francesca about Serena’s true identity and for a blabbeFrancesca it would probably for the best, but he also knew that her reaction wouldn’t be like this if she hSerena originally being an Alfonzo.

“So what? Are you also turning your back on your own grandchild?” Christian asked. He hadn’t forgottenfather’s words and how quickly he had changed his narrative about protecting his family.

The look on Francesca’s face had softened and she shook her head in denial. “The baby is a Lamberti so pass…but the hoodrat?”

“Serena, her name is Serena and she will stay by my side so you will accept her.” He had immediately mamother’s reaction gave him the truth he had needed to let everyone including his own family believe thaengagement was real. He couldn’t even imagine how all the families would try to disrespect Serena if shering on her finger.

“Were you planning on introducing me to her?” Francesca asked and Christian shook his head. “No, I doany of you.”

“That’s too late for that, I’ve organized a last-minute family dinner. Is Selena going to show up or will sheoffer and decline, what do you think?” Francesca asked.

Christian knew that his mother had put him in a trap and that she was going to go through with it.

Christoffer on Serena’s behalf would’ve made her look bad in front of the entire family and that was the last thHe had promised to keep her safe until the baby was born and tried his hardest to not break it this time. Serena.”

“Nice, then she can come over tomorrow and correct me herself. I expect the two of you at dinner.”

Franchad walked out, leaving behind a flustered Christian.

“Are you really making her a Lamberti?” Enzo wondered. Christian was grateful for his brother keeping thsecret and knew that he could trust him, but the same could not be said about Enzo.

“Yes, I will make her a Lamberti and everything that’s mine will go to her and the baby,” Christian stated right into Enzo’s eyes. Christian had often thought about why his brother would be so disturbed by this nthought it was perhaps because he thought the business would go to him and his children instead. The lexpected was for Christian to put a child in this world.

“That’s great, I really like squirrel.” Enzo smiled and was proud of his younger brother for finally getting h“Anyway, I have to get home to Serena and I only came here to pick up my stuff— so if you mind.” He exand had finally walked away from his brothers. Go home to Serena.

No matter how many times he had repeated it in his head it still sounded off. He meant it when he said ther selfish personality were getting on his nerves, but he could not deny that it felt as if a weight had beshoulders. He did not have to worry about Serena or whatever she was doing and could keep her in checinstead.

After he was done packing his stuff he prepared himself to leave but was stopped by his father’s hand on“Yes?” He asked, preparing himself for an unwanted remark but the look on Lucio’s face told otherwise.

“Are you aware that your mother has invited Emilio Alfonzo on the Alfonzo’s behalf to welcome Serena tmentioned.

“So you tell her not to!” Christian said back. “You think I didn’t? You know how your mother gets and bewould be to suspicious.”

For Christian, it felt like things couldn’t get any worse upon hearing Emilio Alfonzo’s name. Emilio was Mson and heir.

All Christian could think about was that Emilio had to face his own sister tomorrow without knowing her Christian could wish for at that moment was that everything would go well without either of the two sussomething. A sibling bond can”t be that strong, Christian thought thinking about his own siblings.

He had remembered how angry he had been with Vincenzo. It was not for him hiring her or for overworkhow it was not for him connecting the puzzle pieces and realizing Serena had been the girl he was talkinChristian had his own reasons. He knew that Vincenzo would probably not be that cozy with her if he fouher true identity, so for the time being he did not want him anywhere near her.

Leave and don’t ever contact her again, were the exact words he had used against his best friend. It had say it but all he ever wanted was to make sure that the baby was safe and was not about to throw Serenaarms of the enemy.

Francesca inviting Emilio Alfonzo didn’t made things all that better.

One step closer to the Alfonzo’s meant one step closer to the truth and not to forget, Fabio Garcia.