Chapter 351 - Are you Capable of Hurting my Daughter?

Manuel was already in his mid-thirties. He had dark brown hair and light brown eyes, tall and good looking enough. He used to be a good friend of Isabella until he ran out of patience.  For him, he was better off compared to the man that abducted and abused her. Yet, she refused him.

He never understood why he was rejected. For him, Isabella was lucky enough that a man was still willing to take her as a woman, considering her past. 

At first, it was him that told Isabella how Matteo can remind her of the man who abused her, but when she started avoiding him, he passed on the task to Alice. 

Back then, he figured, should he and Isabella be together, he would only accept his own child and not anyone else's, especially that of a criminal. 

When Alice arrived, Isabella's parents had also come out of the house. Everyone greeted Stefano a happy birthday and soon sat on the edge of the long table with Isabella on his right. Vittoria, on the other hand, sat on his left. 

Isabella's uncle, Salvatore and his wife sat next to Vittoria followed by Manuel and his parents. Matteo sat next to Isabella, followed by Hanxi. A cousin of hers had sat next to Hanxi but Alice purposely pleaded for her to sit closer to Isabella saying, "I really want to catch up with Bella. I have been busy with work lately and…" Turning to Isabella she added, "How long has it been, Bella? Two months since we last have seen each other?"

"Yes, that's right, but we often talk in WhatsApp so it really felt like you were always here," said Isabella. She then placed a hand on Hanxi's shoulder and said, "This is Hanxi, by the way. My boyfriend."

After getting the seat she wanted, she exclaimed happily, "Oh, wow! Nice to finally meet you - Well, it's not like Isabella said so much but still, I'm happy to see you in real life!" She then extended her hand to him and said, "My name is Alice. I am the sister of Manuel over there. I assume you have already met."

Alice was friendly to Hanxi and even as the food was served, she continued to ask about him. "So aside from being a bodyguard, what work have you done in the past?"

Hanxi noticed Alice spoke rather loudly, seemingly wanting everyone to hear each of her words. He finished up chewing his food before answering, "I used to be in showbiz when I was a lot younger."

"Really now…" Alice was in deep thought but soon added, "To be honest. You look so familiar. Hmmm… Could you be the same Chinese young actor that ended his career and turned drunk? I heard he had a few lawsuits back in the day. He always got into trouble… getting drunk and beating up people…He lost all his money paying the settlement! Tsk, tsk... so terrible of him."

Alice began to eat some salad before she turned to Hanxi and inquired, "You could not possibly be that same person, are you?"

Her tale of the story was crystal clear. Even the other table heard her well. She looked at Hanxi from head to toe, waiting for his response. 

Isabella became nervous. She wanted to speak for Hanxi but she could not find the words to say it right. 

"Alice," Stefano called her attention. "You might have the wrong person. If anything, Hanxi had a difficult past - "

"Oh, really? So am I wrong? Hanxi?" Alice's mouth twitched after inquiring again. 

"Alice, you should stop this - "

"Alice," Stefano interrupted Isabella while calling Alice's attention. 

"No... Actually Mr. Ricci. I am that same person," Hanxi admitted.

He looked at each and everyone who was staring at him before explaining his side, "My parents were killed in a brutal way and the murder was never solved. Back then, getting drunk was my only outlet."

He then looked at Isabella's parents and said, "but I've changed now. My sister has helped me through it and so did Bella."

Vittoria was taken aback with his confession. Her brows drew together before she asked, "Hanxi, did you really end up assaulting people?"

Being put in the spotlight, Hanxi wiped his mouth with a napkin and answered, "Mrs. Ricci.. and those who are concerned about Bella, I admit having a dark past, but back then I was lost and had no one to turn to. I had no family and my friends abandoned me. It was not easy to get through losing my loved ones - "

"How awful," Manuel said. "I mean, just because your parents were killed. It does not give you the right to beat up people -"

"Do you know how it feels like? Losing your parents?" Hanxi asked. "I don't expect you to understand but you cannot judge me for the pain that felt then."

"Still, I admit that it was wrong, but I had already paid for my mistakes." Hanxi looked at Manuel in the eye and said, "I'm guessing you already know that."

Hanxi was ready to leave but Isabella held his hand. Her face had earlier turned red out of anger. She recognized Alice and Manuel were trying to ruin Hanxi in front of her parents.

She slammed her hands against the table and stood up saying, "Whoever in this gathering had never made a mistake in their lives, say I!"

"Stop this! Stop this right now!" Stefano yelled. He looked at Hanxi in dismay and said, "Get inside the house boy. Let's talk this out."

"Brother," Salvatore called out. "It's your birthday - "

"I don't care about my birthday! My daughter's future is more important to me." Stefano cut off his brother as he stood up. He then gestured for Hanxi to follow him inside. 

"Stay here, Bella. Look after Matteo," her father instructed in a cold tone.

Vittoria sat up suddenly, saying, "I want to come with you. I want to speak with Hanxi as well."

"Mommy." Isabella sat back down, seeing the worried expression on Matteo's face. She heard him say, "Mommy, is uncle Hanxi in trouble with grandpa?"

"Shhh… Don't worry, Matteo. Uncle Hanxi will handle it well," she said before looking up to Alice and Manuel, "He is a very honest and kind person."

Hanxi followed Stefano inside his study and Vittoria came along with them. As soon as Hanxi shut the door closed, he heard Isabella's father pursue the matter, "Are you capable of hurting my daughter? What if you would also beat up my daughter? What would become of Isabella then?"