Chapter 190
“Siena, do you see all of this?” Christian asked as he walked through the driveway. He did just as promised. and picked up Siena, so he could at least spend some time with her, but the last thing he expected was the thousands of trucks and people on his property.
He barely felt comfortable around people he didn’t know, and he was starting to second-guess his decision. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all.
“Your aunt and your uncle are starting to feel a little bit too comfortable, don’t you think?” He asked Siena. He could hear her familiar squeal near his ear and laughed at her reaction.
“Of course you don’t mind. You’re just like the Alfonzo’s.”
He entered the house with the mission to find Carmen, but the last thing he had expected when he walked towards the living room was to find Matteo, who stared right back at him.
Christian’s eyes moved to Carmen and Luke, who were having some kind of discussion with Enzo and
Beau.
Did he found out? Christian thought. He still felt anxious about Berto and suspected Matteo might’ve visited for the wrong reasons.
“You!” Matteo called out. Christian blinked his eyes in confusion and decided to wait for Matteo’s reaction, but all Matteo did was pull Christian into an unexpected hug. “I heard you send my daughter on vacation, and I heard all about what you’ve been doing for Carmen and Luke!”
Siena leaned forward to go to Matteo while Christian handed her over. “She hasn’t forgotten what her grandpa looks like!”
Christian smiled at Siena and caressed his fingers through her hair. It was still beyond him how his uncle. would ever want to break the bond between the Lamberti’s and the Alfonzo’s.
“So, what have you been up to?” Matteo asked. “Nothing.” Christian spoke to get him off his back, but it wasn’t exactly that easy. “Nothing?” Matteo chuckled. “How are you going to keep a business running by doing nothing.”
“Right?” Christian played along. Matteo’s presence still made him anxious, and it was mainly because he knew how fast that man had turned against him.
“Where are you leaving Siena tomorrow?” Matteo asked. Christian cracked his brains and thought about tomorrow, but he couldn’t understand what Matteo meant by that. “What?”
“You weren’t planning on letting her stay here, right?” Matteo questioned. “The party?”
Right, the party.
“Oh, the party!” Christian spoke.
“No, of course not.”
The thought of letting Siena stay somewhere else, hadn’t even crossed his mind. After hearing those words. from Matteo’s mouth, he realized how strange it was to keep a baby at a party. He couldn’t do that.
“Lita and I can take her if you want,” Matteo spoke as he looked down at Siena. Christian took a deep breath and couldn’t believe that he was yet again abandoning his daughter while she could’ve had a nice vacation with Serena.
“I’d appreciate that, thank you.”
“Do you want me to take her right now?” Matteo offered, but Christian shook his head. “No!” He nearly yelled. Matteo had a confused frown on his face and stared at Christian. “I’m sorry.” Christian apologized as he came back to his senses.
“No, not now-I’d like to spend some time with her.” He spoke more calmly. Matteo gave him a nod. “Of course, Lita will be home all day.”
“So I’ll bring her over tomorrow,” Christian confirmed.
“That’s fine.” Matteo smiled.
“I should’ve told you about Serena. I’m so sorry.” Christian apologized. He knew how much Serena meant to the Alfonzo’s and realized he didn’t have the best approach. “It’s fine,” Matteo reassured him. “Serena is your responsibility now, and I trust you’ll never make a mistake ever again-so it’s fine.”
I trust you’ll never make a mistake ever again.
Those words weren’t as comforting to Christian. He knew he screwed up, but the worst thing was that his
every second. mistake would be haunting him for years. He did not want to hear it
“So Carmen and Luke went all out, didn’t they?” Christian changed the subject. “They did. It’s so generous of you.” Matteo smiled. “I heard you didn’t only allow them to have it in your house, but that you’re also covering all the expenses.”
Am I? Christian thought.
“They went all out. They even rented a DJ.” Matteo sighed. Christian let out an awkward laugh as he thought about the state of his house. He already couldn’t deal with Serena leaving her trail of trash around. the house.
“Can I offer you something to drink?” Christian offered, but Matteo shrugged him off. “Don’t bother. I was just about to leave.” He smiled as he gave Siena to Christian.
“Already?” Christian sighed. It was all an act, and he couldn’t be any happier to hear Matteo wouldn’t be staying any longer. All Christian wanted to do was spend some alone time with Siena.
Once Dario and Kenzo would find the key, things would’ve been hectic, and he knew he wouldn’t have time to do that anymore. “Is there something I should worry about for the party tomorrow?” Matteo wondered.
Christian went into deep thoughts. “Some guy named Logan?” Christian remembered. “Carmen likes.
him.”
“Then you know what to do,” Matteo spoke in a threatening tone. Christian laughed and thought about Beau. Even though Beau still despised the Alfonzo’s and was in deep denial whenever someone told him how much he looked like his dad, Christian also agreed and thought he was just like Matteo.
“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Christian smiled. He personally didn’t understand the big deal and secretly wondered if he would also be like that with Siena. “Is she not allowed to date?” Christian wondered.
“Not before I’ve done a background check,” Matteo spoke. “My daughters only deserve the best, and so do my sons.” He whispered the last part and turned his head to look at Beau.
“Still not a fan of Isobel, I see?” Christian commented. It was no secret that Isobel wouldn’t even be part of the family if Christian hadn’t spoken to her grandfather.
“She’s still a snitch, and she’s changing my son into a puppet,” Matteo spoke through gritted teeth. “I liked him better when he was cold and quiet.”
Christian couldn’t exactly deny the second part. Beau had lost his charm, and even though he was still rude, he became less cold, which meant others were less frightened.
“How are you holding up?” Matteo spoke and placed his hand on Christian’s shoulder. Christian hated that question, and just the thought of Lucio made him emotional. He knew any sane person wanted to spend some time with Lucio, but for Christian, it had changed.
Maybe if I visit him less, he won’t die as quickly. Those were the only thoughts going through Christian’s head as he thought about losing his father.
“I’m good.” Christian lied, but Matteo could see right through him. “I know we didn’t really get along for a while, but if you ever need someone to talk to, you can come to me-just like back in the days.” Matteo comforted him.
“Remember back in the days when you used to tell me and your uncle Berto every little thing that bothered you because Lucio wouldn’t listen?”
“Right,” Christian mumbled. No one barely mentioned his uncle anymore, but it had suddenly changed. It almost seemed like fate.
“Anyway, I have to go now,” Matteo spoke before he leaned down to kiss Siena on her cheek. “She has Serena’s cheeks, doesn’t she?” Christian smiled.
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