Chapter 24

“I do. It’s hard not to know him when I destroyed her painting.” I remember how she always whined about it. I didn't care at first but I was eventually struck at her emotions especially when she cried. It was one of the first times that I actually felt guilty about something.

She shook her head in amusement. “You are such an asshole, Angelo. The girl has been depressed for quite a while. I had to push her about the auction so she could focus on something else and you had to ruin it.”

“Well, if I didn’t ruin it, we wouldn’t have met.” I shrugged, reminiscing the first time we met. She was so scared of me. When I kept her as my captive, she often had the courage to stand up against me and when I got angry, she stood back like a wounded pup.

She scoffed and eyed me in disbelief. “It’s not only about that, Angelo. I cared for her because of her past. Being an orphan is not that easy. Why do you think I help people like her? Not all people are fortunate like us.”

“I know.” I frowned. The guilt and regret suddenly came flooding in. “She told me about her past. She was tipsy when she told me about it but I got the gist.” I shrugged, acting nonchalant about it but when all actuality, I was hit at the fact that I hurt her and rather than realize my feelings for her and probably celebrate it with a night of passionate sex, here I am regretting what I did. It was not what I wanted it to be.

I was an orphan myself but unlike her, I had Uncle Domenico and Cara as my family. Not to mention the mafia. They never once left me alone. Hailynn had nothing. Either way, she had Ethan before. That’s why the serious attachment to him and now, he too, was gone.

Then it crossed my mind, when exactly did I start caring? Cara would’ve answered, ‘You don’t. You just care about her’. She always slaps the truth right out of my face. God, I suddenly miss her. Now that I know we might not be able to meet again… ever.

“I hope you know the reason why I’m acting like this; why I’m too concerned for someone who’s not even related to me.”

“You are a godsend you know that.” It was the truth. Stefano was so lucky to have a partner in life who has a heart as big as the universe. No wonder he treats her like a queen. He loves her so much that even a blind man could see that.

“It’s a matter of experience, Angelo, or what your eyes have seen or could see will shape you into something on what you can do in the present or the future.”

“Is this about you being in the army before?” I asked in curiosity. Stefano hated that topic whenever I brought it up in the past. I was so interested in the story that Stefano’s wife was in the army. I realized he was always against Avery back for deployment. But I heard some rumors of her before even when I first met her. She was the talk of the family when Stefano married a woman who had been in the army.

She let out a heavy sigh. “I always wanted to go back, you know. My first deployment, I was sent to the field. Instinct to survive and save people kicked in. I realized that I truly wanted to help them, that I couldn’t sit idly and watch people get hurt or die." She playfully glanced at me. "I was hurt pretty badly when I did that. I got hit in the middle of a gunfire.” A small smirk appeared in her face.

I frowned. Although I know she’s alright because she’s here now, I can’t help but feel worried for her. “Stefano must’ve lost his shit.”

“Well… he didn’t know that. Sierra and my brother only knew this. And now you.” She smiled. She seemed to take this conversation too lightly.

I frowned even more. “That’s not good. I’m sure he must have seen the scars.”

She rolled her eyes. “I have ointment to remove unwanted scars, Angelo. I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna leave that in my skin. Stefano will turn the world upside down.” She chuckled but I wasn't a little bit happy about it. I don’t even know how Stefano will react once he knows about this. I’m even worried for her even though it was already in the past.

“I trust that you won’t tell him about this though.” She winks as she pats my shoulder with her right hand.

I scoffed. “Let me think about that.”

She then gave me a forced but cunning smile. “Alright, you tell him that and I’ll tell him about Hailynn.”

I zipped my mouth with an imaginary zipper with my hand and threw the imaginary key away. Somewhere where no one will ever find it.

“Good.” She pats my shoulder again. “Now, I’d like to talk about your plans. You can’t honestly expect to have a family with her and still be the don. It won’t end well, Angelo.”

I smile as I tell her what I’ve been up to before she came marching in here ready to disfigure my handsome face.

---

After our conversation, I walked her towards her car. We had an agreement that she’ll tell a clean cut version to her husband of my relationship with Hailynn. He’ll probably have the shock of his life when he finds out I quit the mafia life. He and Uncle Marco.

When she finally drove off, I went directly towards Hailynn’s room. She’s probably sleeping right now. The doctor recommended that she needs to rest and not exert herself with work. She willingly did since her symptoms are still pretty severe. This will go on for a couple of weeks.

I honestly just want her to lie down and not do anything. I’m pretty nervous and scared that something will affect her and the twins. I just want what’s best for them even if she has to sit pretty and do nothing all day every day.

As soon as I went inside her room, I saw her figure lying under the blanket sleeping. Her back was facing me. I’ve missed her so much and with no second thoughts, I dived under the cover and laid down beside her. My arm wrapped around her waist languidly, careful not to squeeze her belly.