Chapter 151 - Chapter (Hundred) Fifty: House

He said to wait until they got home. He said he would tell her everything and in return, she promised to listen. She promised herself to understand. Well, they were home now but still nothing. There was not a single word out of him yet, nothing but the clattering of knives and forks against plates.

Becca let out a disappointed sigh, proceeding to take a small bite from the meat on her fork. Still, chewing the food in her mouth, she couldn't help flitting her gaze from Fernanda to Leo whose seat was opposite to hers. After Leo's shameless demonstration of lust, Becca ensured to keep a potent distance from him whenever they shared a meal with Fernanda in the dining hall and it was almost too facile. All Becca had to do was wait for Leo to take his seat first then once that phase was taken care of, she would scurry her way to the other side of the table— to sit next to Fernanda. 

Leo had tossed her a puzzled glance the first time she did it but being the person that he was, he rather stayed mute than speak up about things that bothered him. This case wasn't any different. Knowing Leo and the sardonic traits he tends to manifest, Becca had a big hunch that sooner or later, Leo would veto her maneuvers. The way he would do so still laid a mystery.

Becca swallowed as Leo hoisted the gaze from his plate on noticing her very unsubtle stares, a hint of what looked like a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His eyes twinkled with profound amusement.

Damn it! Her tricks, he knew.

The more Leo stared, the more memories barraged Becca. Memories of the two of them, perforated with sizzling passion and desire. Memories; sweet, warm, hot.

So very hot.

Becca, unable to hold his smoldering gaze a second longer, turned away. Her cheeks pink, hot and burning. 

Leo's smile flared into a grin at the ambrosial sight of Becca's blazing cheeks. So beautiful, he could watch her for eternity and still not be sated, even after a lifetime he still wouldn't be able to get enough of her. While Becca resumed her flimsy attempts to ignore his presence in the room, Leo's gaze remained stark on her, never leaving her. 

He adjusted on his seat, gradually growing uncomfortable and sultry as the heat of his arousal seared him whole. If it hadn't been for the fact that his grandmother was dining in the same room as he was, he would have surely reached out and pulled Becca to his lap. Then he would proceed to strip her bare, wrap her in his arms and make love to her until she begged him for more. Just the thought of her soft body pressed to his, burnt him ten times hotter, his cock hardening to the point of discomfort. 

It was appalling to know that the same woman he was lusting over, wasn't paying him any attention. She wasn't even looking his way. He grumbled to himself, stabbing his fork into the plate of food in front of him.

Amid the clanking of cutlery against plates, a transient silence engulfed the room. No one spoke, not until Fernanda's lips parted.

" About my birthday," She started and Leo instantly regretted yielding to her request. " I have already contacted some of the top event organizers that I'm familiar with and I have made reservations. They would see to it that everything comes out perfect. Finally, all that's left is to send out invites to the family and close friends." 

Fernanda finished with a smile, unaware of how tightly Leo gripped his cutlery at the mention of his family. Becca did notice though, even when she tried to ignore his existence. She saw how the veins along his wrist bulged, she noticed how pallor his knuckles were becoming. Then she lifted her gaze to stare at his face; he didn't look particularly angry and at the same time, he didn't look happy. It was the same look he had on his face when she asked about his parents for the first time.

Becca didn't need to touch him to know how rigid he had become. Leo put down his cutlery, grabbed his wine glass, and took a swig. Becca's stares followed his every action, eyes gleaming with concern.

" On second thought," His voice sounded stiff as he spoke. " Why don't we move the whole thing to Italy?"

With a fork just inches away from her mouth, Fernanda ceased all motion.

" Italy?" She asked, putting down her fork in utmost surprise. Her brows scrunched in confusion.

" Sure," Leo smiled but it didn't take Becca two seconds to realize it was forced. " I have some important work to take care of over there, so why not just kill two birds with one stone?" 

" You never told me you had work to take care of in Italy," Becca said, lips pursed. Why was she even surprised? It was typical of Leo not to tell her things.

" That's because I was going to take you along with me and I wanted it to be a surprise." He responded.

" That's a wonderful idea. Just tell me the date of your flight and I will have the workers back home prepare a room for the two of you." Fernanda beamed with glee, just the thought of having the whole family together in their old house in civitanova marche, spread blissful warmth through her chest. Their family would be whole once more.

" Actually, I was thinking about booking a suite for Becca and I during our stay over there." Leo's words contorted the smile on Fernanda's lips, transforming it into a scowl.

" What?" She faltered. " Why would you do that when our house back home is perfectly fine and comfortable enough for everyone?"

" That's grandfather's house, not mine. I don't remember that villa being part of my inheritance." 

For a few seconds, Fernanda stayed quiet.

" It's still your home. It's where your grandfather and I raised you for the first eight years of your life." She said, her voice soft, saying the last words in barely a whisper.

How could Leo say such things? That house was special. It was where he learned to crawl as a baby. The floor of the living room was where he stood up on his little feet for the very first time and took his first three steps before falling back to the floor. The walls of the house echoed with the first words he muttered, though most of them being gibberish. How could he now talk about the house like it held no significant value to him?

Leo scoffed. " Salvador never took the time out of his day to worry about my well-being, he didn't care much to even bother raising me. He merely sat at the sidelines, watching you do all the work." 

" Enough, Leonardo." Fernanda snarled at him, her accent becoming audible the more her voice rose. " When you speak about your grandfather, you ought to show some respect. I raised you better than this."

Even with the fierce frown writhing Fernanda's face, Leo didn't waver. He didn't take back his words, nor did he regret them.

" Yes, you raised me." 

Not his grandfather, not his mother. Fernanda was genuinely the only parent he had ever known, while his own father's love was simply out of obligation and nothing more.

Becca stared at Fernanda then at Leo, not bothering to sheath her confusion. The room fell silent once more.

Fernanda let out a sigh. " I have been blessed with a family and now that I am growing older, the only thing I want most in this world is to spend special times like these with my family." She stared straight at Leo. " You are the only thing I have left of Lorenzo. Having you here reminds me of my son." 

Fernanda's eyes glistened as she spoke, blinking back the tears that came with the memories of Lorenzo and how he was cruelly taken away from her. Being with Leo made the void that Lorenzo's death caused seem almost nonexistent. 

Becca's heart quivered at the shocking sadness embedded in Fernanda's tone. Gently, she put a hand over Fernanda's, giving it a light rub in an attempt to soothe the pain before directing her gaze to Leo who immediately averted his. He knew why Becca was staring at him like that but he refused to concede her stares or her demands. Same reason why he quickly looked away. One look into Becca's beautiful green eyes and he would be done for, his body aching to yield to all her heinous requests. Even this one.

He ignored her while she batted her lashes, muffled the sound of her sweet voice calling out to him but what he couldn't seem to dismiss was the morsel of defeat lingering in her tone as she sighed.

He squeezed his eyes shut and sucked in a gush of air into his lungs. Dear God...

" Fine," He said in a part sigh, part groan. " We will stay with you at the old house." 

He knew for sure that he was going to regret this decision. He would definitely hate himself for saying yes to this but the smile that curved Becca's lips seconds later, almost made it seem worth it.

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