Chapter 162 - Chapter(Hundred) Sixty One: Packing

She returned. She was home.

Leo watched Becca push open the door and his legs— clearly having a mind of their own— carried him to her as she trotted in.

" Becca." He called out to her but she didn't respond. She barely acknowledged his presence as she headed straight for the stairs, most likely to get away from him but his strides were much wider than hers. When he gained a befitting proximity to her, he caught hold of her left arm to stop her from moving further away. " Please, Becca. Let me explain." 

His gruff voice made her flinch, his touch made her tense. 

Leo's grip was firm yet gentle as he spun her to face him. But he felt something different about her, something amiss in her gaze, an opaque shadow and it frightened him. He felt her tremble under his palm and as he stared down into her eyes, he saw fear. Regardless of how fleeting it was, he still saw it.

Was she scared of him? 

He was a murderer who slaughtered people at will. Of course, she was scared.

His stomach sank at the abhorrent thought. He wanted to assure her that she was safe with him, to convince her that he would never hurt her, to tell her that he wasn't like his father but before he could utter a single intelligible phrase, Becca turned her gaze away, like she couldn't stomach the mere sight of him.

Slowly, he slid his hand down her arm to hold her hand and as he did, Fernanda walked in on them. Elegance oozed from every step Fernanda took as she descended down the stairs, her hair held in a classy bun. 

" What's happening here?" Her eyes went from Leo to Becca, demanding a response.

Leo contrived a smile. " Nothing is wrong. We are perfectly fine. " 

He said the last word lamely as though he wasn't confident enough to vouch for his own words. 

Becca shot him an iced glance, bucking his hand off hers.

" I came to gather my things," Becca said to Fernanda, deliberately ignoring the pleading look in Leo's eyes.

Fernanda scrunched her brows in confusion. " Gather your things?" She looked at Leo once more but he looked so distant, so troubled as he kept staring at Becca. She instantly sensed something awry as she watched Becca swiftly move her hand away when Leo tried to touch her.

Becca nodded, albeit with salient hesitation. She took a deep breath then another, her lips parting. " Yes. We're breaking up." 

" My love, please don't say things like that." 

Becca, however, shrugged off his pleas. It was pointless. His words, his promises, they held such little value to her, they were easily disposable.

" What?" Fernanda was unable to conceal her shock. She looked at Leo once more, this time her confusion tripling. Leo didn't look back at her, he didn't even blink as he continued staring at Becca. Her words, that simple sentence— we're breaking up— perturbed his thoughts so much, it muffled all other sounds around him. 

Leo knew where she had been all day but after careful cogitation, he chose to let her be, for now, to give her some space and time to cool off from what happened between them that morning. 

He wouldn't know what to do without her but here she was now, acting like she wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

The two said nothing more, Becca's gaze fixed on the floor with lingering scruples and Leo's gaze still stark on her, to which she paid no heed. 

Fernanda stepped closer to Becca and took hold of her hands.

" Darling…"

" I've made my decision, grandma." Becca cut Fernanda off, although she didn't mean to. She was just so overwhelmed by everything that was happening, it was hard to maintain a firm helm on her senses. But even that didn't stop her from feeling bad and apologizing. " I'm sorry, grandma but you can't change my mind."

Fernanda didn't care about the apology, nor did she mind the tone Becca used when cutting her off. Though she had only known her for a brief period, somehow Becca managed to weave into Fernanda's heart, and amid the seemingly flawless relationship she thought the two shared, she was wholly certain that a thing like this would most likely never occur. But she was wrong.

Right now, she felt as though she was on the verge of losing a part of her family. It was horrible and the empty feeling that would come after this, would be so much worse.

Gently, Becca freed her hands from Fernanda's grip. " If there isn't anything more to be discussed, I would like to be excused." She didn't bother to glance Leo's way, nor did she have the courage to look Fernanda in the eye as she slipped out of their midst.

She was fully aware that both their gazes were fixed on her as she ascended the staircase but she did her best to shunt the tumult rioting in her. She did her best not to look back.

Once Becca disappeared and the sound of the door to the master's bedroom shutting streamed into Fernanda's ears, she shot Leo a glare, anger conspicuous in her cold blue eyes.

" Now you listen to me." She pointed her index finger at him. " Non mi interessa quello che fai o come lo farai, correggere questo." 

( I don't care what you do or how you will do it, fix this.)

She didn't say anything more. She didn't feel the need to do so.

She turned away and walked back up the stairs.

Becca was already in the room she shared with Leo, packing. Her suitcase flipped open on the bed which she shoved her clothes into, one after the other. She did it so fast, it looked like she was pilfering those clothes from Leo's wardrobe. 

She inched to grab the next garment to stuff her bag with but her hand froze as she gazed at the dress she was reaching for.

It was the same dress Leo bought for her for their first date together.

Her fingers grazed the velvet silk ever so delicately, reminiscing memories that would forever be etched in her heart and mind. Then her heart lurched when she heard the sound of the doorknob turning.

" Leo, I told you I'm not in the mood to—" Becca paused as she saw Fernanda prowling into the room. She had no clue why Leo was the first person her brain thought of as the door opened.

Fernanda walked to Becca, her steps light, graceful yet something about it was undeniably regal, it drew gazes her way. It commanded respect. Fernanda's eyes went from the heap of unfolded clothes and the opened suitcase atop the bed, to Becca who stood next to the huge closet. She had clothes in her hands. She was packing.

The thought twisted the knot in Fernanda's stomach.

" You are packing already?" Fernanda asked, not bothering to cloak her poignancy. 

Becca gave a light nod and turned her back to Fernanda, her actions replete with subtle reluctance. She resumed packing, intentionally bypassing the velvet gown that was left dangling in an almost half-emptied closet. She wouldn't pack it. She wouldn't need it.

"Yes, I am." Becca cooed and Fernanda stood there watching her. When the heartache became insufferable, she sauntered closer to Becca and held her hands to stop her from taking out any more items.

" Darling, I know Leo can be a handful sometimes and I know you are livid right now but don't you think your decision is a bit too hasty. I'm not trying to justify my grandson's actions but leaving him means you are leaving me too." 

Fernanda's touch was soothing, her perfume permeated the air around them blissfully, her hands were so soft, Becca couldn't reckon to buck her grip away. Instead, she allowed Fernanda to hold her hands, Fernanda— the closest thing to a grandparent that Becca had ever had. A grandparent that didn't see her as a result of sin, a mistake. A perfect grandparent.

Becca was going to miss her so much.

" Grandma, can I ask you something?" Becca asked and Fernanda nodded almost instantly. " Do you know about Leo's illegal businesses? Or perhaps the people he murdered?"

Maybe she wasn't the only one who was lied to, maybe she wasn't the only one who Leo deliberately kept in the dark. 

For a few seconds, Fernanda looked taken aback then slowly, she nodded.

" Yes, I knew," Fernanda confessed.

Becca's heart squeezed. Indeed, she was the only one made to look like a fool by the very man she loved.

Fernanda immediately noticed the shift in Becca's mood and it hinted to her what might have been the catalyst for the misunderstanding the couple was facing. 

She tightened her grip on Becca just as she tried to retract her hands.

" Sweetie, I think you two need to talk this out first before making any drastic decisions. I'm sure he didn't mean to do what he did."

But he did. He lied to her so much, the memories of the moments when she honestly tried to understand him, now mocked her. It derided her. And now that she really thought about it, things were slowly getting limpid. His myriad of bodyguards, the shooting at her restaurant; it was all starting to make sense.

" I know he is your grandson but I would appreciate it if you don't make excuses for him." Becca breathed in a lungful of air. " Instead of talking about Leo, let's talk about you." 

Fernanda's lips parted with sheer astonishment. " Me?" 

Becca nodded. " Of course." This might as well be the last time they engage in such a viable conversation and Becca was determined to make it memorable.. " Whatever you are ready to share."