Chapter 32

“You told Marc what? Did I not tell you to keep her identity to yourself!” Lucio yelled out and stepped froface his son.

“I told Marc the truth about Serena, about everything— I am sick and tired of hearing that I don’t care aChristian said.

It was all he had heard for the past week, and the only people who had thought otherwise were the peoptaken the time to get to know Serena. Lucio, Johnny, Marc, Enzo, and Emmanuella.

Christian was furious at Serena for calling his mom the worst name possible, but he did not want Serena reckless as packing her bags and leave. He was angry because she did not listen, but also amused becauthe baby was in safe hands. Serena listened to no one other than herself, and even though it backfired atwas not necessarily a bad thing.

He knew of Serena’s reckless decisions and after Francesca’s outburst, he knew that the other families w— meaning the truth about Serena might’ve been revealed if someone stuck their nose where they shouEven then he was not planning on letting Serena go, so if going against his own mother was what he hadthe baby safe, so be it.

“I told her I would handle it, and she…” Christian clenched his fist and looked at his dad. “She called yourthrew a drink in her face, are you not angry with her?” Christian tested his dad to see if he shared the samhim. Although Serena’s should’ve kept her mouth shut— it was not her fault.

Lucio chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “No, because I knew this would happen, I told you to not takdid without even knowing her. But now you know that Serena is not the puppet you want her to be althounfortunate you had to find out this way.”

“Is that why you didn’t want her here?” Christian asked Lucio.

“Yes, I’ve had tons of phone calls asking me to reconsider my decision and there have been many peopleSerena so it will only be a matter of time before someone starts digging for information,”

Lucio spoke.

Christian had already expected for everyone to call his father to ask him to reconsider his position and inwouldn’t care, but things had changed. He had decided that he would follow up his father and clean thefor the baby sake. Even though others feared and admired the Lamberti’s he had always been ashamed oand would change it. He needed this position so he could protect his baby, but knew he couldn’t do so wmouth. She could not expose herself.

“How about Matteo or Fabio?” Christian asked Lucio, who seemed stressed out. “Matteo could laugh abowouldn’t do so if he knew it was his daughter.”

“And Fabio….” Lucio spoke. Considering the past there were no words to describe how he felt about Fabito get along for the sake of the families. “Fabio is waiting for this family’s downfall, I’m sure he heard bustays away from Serena…”

Christian stared at his father’s troubled face and started to doubt himself. Perhaps I made a mistake aftethoughts going through his head.

Only now had he realized that he wanted to be a dad so badly that the thought of not knowing Serena hcrossed his mind.

He knew that he was also to blame and that Serena who had a good heart— would’ve not acted that waknown the truth about everything. Out of fear of her seeing him as a monster and running away with theshrugged it off, but he was willing to go against all the families if the truth against Serena came out. The used to care for was the baby, but he wanted the baby to have a mother so would do anything to protecChristian knew that she may not know it at the moment, but not opening his mouth to defend her was fo“You know mom started it, so regardless of what happened she owes Serena an apology,” Christian said,choosing Serena over his mom. Ever since the dinner Francesca had ignored him and waited on a proper“I can’t argue with that if she treated Serena nice from the start.” Lucio sighed. He wanted to stick up fordid not feel like Serena was in the wrong. Francesca dared her, and Serena defended herself.

“How are things between you and Serena?” Lucio asked but Christian shook his head.

“She’s getting on my nerves, why can’t she just listen for once? Seriously-“ Christian stopped complaininLucio who let out a laugh. “You guys are much more alike than you think…this baby will be something.”

Christian’s thoughts went to Serena and how much different she was from what he usually went for.

He tbeautiful and she had always been obeying and shy— but ever since the pregnancy, it seemed like her bchanged. Although he felt more at ease with her standing up for herself, she was still getting on his nerv

“Treating women like this is not the right way. You need to show her affection, hug her, take her on datesstrong for carrying your ba-“

“And how would you know that? Your mom’s puppet and I don’t plan on being one, especially to someoleaving in a few months.” Christian told his dad. “And the relationship is fake— in case you hadn’t notice“Very well then,” Lucio spoke embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck. Many feared Lucio Lambehim respect, but Francesca and Christian had always been different. They did not care about his position their mouth as they pleased. For Christian it was fascinating to see how the man who had never showed else other than Francesca any kind of affection had changed into a warm and loving grandfather.

“And I’m not touching Serena ever again, look where it got me. She can get a pat on the shoulder and th“I agree, you two falling for each other would end up being a nightmare…anyway, you shouldn’t be this sespecially with a baby coming along the way and you need to be there for Serena, I put all of your tasks now please try to snuggle up to all the families in case Serena’s secret does get exposed and Fabio planssomething,” Lucio spoke.

“Also…what’s the situation with Vincenzo?”

Christian thought about Vincenzo and the way he told his friend to stay away from Serena. The poor guyher, and Christian had no problem with that, but he did have an issue with him being Fabio’s son and knabsolutely not be near her or the baby.

“I think he got the message.” Christian sighed. “It’s also a good thing that everything went well with Emiresemble each other so much but still…luck was on our side.” Lucio said.

“Good, now let’s stop talking. I think maybe you should buy something for your mom, Serena, and the bmake up with them? I’ll help you with it— lately I’ve been reading your sister’s fashion magazine.” Lucio Christian couldn’t help but smile at the big Lucio Lamberti’s newest hobby.

“Dad, I don’t know what I would do without you…thank you.”

“I know I’ve been hard on you in the past…but I don’t want you to make the same mistake as I did. I wanbest dad you can be, a better one than I was.” Lucio chuckled, thinking about what he had put his sons tthis day everything was still a competition.

He took them to the worst places possible and showed them how to get rid of someone who could not kthe deal. He taught them what his father had once taught them, but the way it affected Gio and Christianthem into cold individuals was something he had regretted every single day. In his mind Enzo had never running to take him over, so he let him go his own way. He was the only son who had remained calm and“Christian, despite everything I’ve been fighting so hard for you and I will make sure that onceI’ve reacheof this goes to you and the baby so please, hold on for a bit longer,”

Lucio spoke. Christian statement of the family gave him a wake-up call. He was aware of how Christian’s brains worked and knew that he wochanging a lot, but that was a risk he was willing to take. Just so that the family business would fall into t“I will…why are you suddenly being nice to me?” Christian wondered. He had been scared to tell Lucio abpregnancy, and initially, Lucio gave him the reaction he had expected, but seeing his dad go soft was somnot prepared for. It was no secret that Lucio had always been nicer to him than he was to his brothers, buhad never been anything like this.

Lucio stood up and walked to Christian. “I’m doing this because you’re my son, and I love you,”

Lucio spmaking Christian choke in his own spit.

“Uh…thanks…I…appreciate you,” Christian said, refusing to say it back. This new Lucio was scaring him, anthought he would say it but he wanted the old one to come back. There was not a single day Christian cothat Lucio told him or any of his brothers that he loved them. Those words were only meant for Francesc“Can’t you say it back?” Lucio spoke embarrassed while Christian looked away. “Stop being nice and undweird.”

“So you don’t love me?” Lucio smiled and gave him a kiss on his forehead, while Christian tried his hardeaway.

Originally he had called Christian over to tell him that the truth might come out sooner than expected, bthe look on his face he decided to spare him.

Lucio’s biggest fear had come true, he was aware that his best friend Matteo Alfonzo who was amused bsomeone sticking up to Cesca, had been digging in her past after hearing she was an orphan as did othecould not stop talking about her behavior.

He knew that it would only become a matter of time before his friend found out the truth.

He knew that it would only become a matter of time before Fabio Garcia would find out the truth.