Chapter 64

"IT'S EASY to die for someone you love, but can you endure and live through all the hardships with them?" Ella asked again.
Beckett was taken aback by what he heard. All this time, he thought his mindset was correct—that he would unquestionably give his own life for Vivianne's well-being. 
But if he did that, Vivianne would be left alone, and she would have a permanent heartache. 
Losing a loved one brings a permanent scar to someone, and Beckett knew that all too well. That's what he experienced when his parents were killed.
Beckett smiled before speaking again. "Let me rephrase it. I'm willing to live for a lifetime to be at your daughter’s side at all times."
Ella nodded approvingly at what the young man said. Vivianne felt the same way. She seemed reassured upon hearing Beckett's words because it meant he wouldn't easily sacrifice his life anymore… because now, he had a reason to live.
Pain is not his motivation anymore to live; it’s his love for Vivianne.
After that, they caught up with each other, and Vivianne also talked about the places they visited in Italy with Beckett. Ella listened with a smile on her face. She hadn't seen her daughter this happy since she was a child, before Alfred did them wrong.
Because of that, Ella became happy too. Despite feeling unwell every day because she was always confined, she didn't mind it anymore. She won't let Vivianne suffer along with her, so she decided to remove her from the mansion, starting now.
"Besides your sightseeing, should I expect to have grandchildren next year?"
"Mom!" Vivianne almost slapped her mother in surprise, but luckily, she restrained herself immediately. "W-What kind of question is that?"
"Of course, you went on a honeymoon. I had to ask!" Ella replied with a grin, teasing her daughter, who was now blushing. "But of course, there's no pressure in my question. It's up to you if you're ready."
"And I’m just waiting for her to be ready. I won't pressure her," Beckett interjected into the conversation.
Vivianne didn't immediately respond. Her heart suddenly started pounding faster. She liked it so much when Beckett was giving her the authority to decide as well, unlike others who always believed they should be the ones in charge because they were men. 
Her feelings for Beckett only grew stronger as time passed, but their situation was still complicated.
She knew Beckett loved her. There was no doubt about that. And she loved Beckett too, but... was she really deserving of that love?
How could she love someone else and accept love... if she couldn't even love herself?
"Are you okay?" Beckett asked when he saw Vivianne staring blankly, as if lost in thought. "Do you feel something different?"
That snapped Vivianne out of her reverie. "Uh... Nothing. I just thought of something," she replied, shaking her head. After that, she redirected her attention back to her mother. "How about you, Mom? How are you doing? What have you been up to?"
"Just watching some new Kdramas, but I've been resting more often..." Ella replied before she started talking about what she had been watching.
Fortunately, Vivianne succeeded in changing their topic. Their conversation was no longer about them as a couple, and even if their topic changed, it was about something else.
Vivianne's heart was filled with joy. It was the first time they hadn't talked about their problems and what Alfred was doing to them. However, that happiness turned out to be short-lived.
"Ma'am Vivianne, Sir Alfred is calling for you downstairs," one of their maids said after knocking on the door of Ella's room.
"Okay. I'll go in a bit," Vivianne replied. She didn't want to leave her mother just yet because she had only just started talking to her like this again.
"Sir Alfred said you should come now because he has something important to attend to later. He also said that your conversation should be brief," the maid explained.
Alfred already knew what his daughter would say, so he immediately gave instructions in case Vivianne refused.
"That Alfred, really," Vivianne sighed deeply, annoyed at Alfred's meddling.
But she couldn't do anything about it. She was sure Alfred would just order her to find out things about Agrianthropos Island because he had long wanted to enter it, but it wasn't possible.
"I'll come back soon, okay?" Vivianne said before kissing her mother on the cheek. "And please don't tell Beckett about my embarrassments. It should just be between us."
Ella couldn't help but laugh when she heard that. Even Beckett, who was quietly listening to them, smiled slightly. He's seeing a different side of Vivianne right now, and he’s also loving it.
He's loving her more.
"Okay, go ahead. Go there now," Ella ordered, and her daughter complied.
Vivianne closed the door, and the maid followed her to the living room.
Beckett and Ella were left alone in the room. Beckett remained silent because he didn't know what to say, but Ella broke the silence between them.
"Is Hernandez your middle name?" the lady asked.
Beckett nodded. He rarely tells people his middle name, but it's a sign of trust he has in the mother and daughter.
"Do you know Ylona Hernandez?" Ella asked again, and Beckett looked at her.
"She's my mother," Beckett replied without hesitation.
Ella's eyes widened at the revelation, and even though she heard Beckett say it earlier, she still wanted to make sure. "Does Ylona have a husband and child?"
Beckett nodded. "My mom met him in Milan. At least, that's what she told me," he answered, but he didn't take his eyes off Ella. "Do you... know her?"
"She's my savior," Ella smiled as she mentioned that. "She was one of the people working for the Allamino Mafia back then, but unlike others, she was kind to all of us. She treated our wounds and defended us from others."
Ella took a deep breath as her whole body trembled while recalling the past, but whenever she remembered Ylona, she felt calm.
"She fought for us against Alfred back then. She asked for permission to release all of us and close down this mafia, but Alfred didn't agree. Until I just heard about her disappearance... and I now understand why."
Ella is also a mother, and if she were in that situation, she would surely leave too to protect her child. Mothers who are deeply loving towards their children are willing to do anything to give them a peaceful life.
'I’m right. Being an Allamino Corporation employee was only a facade. My mother really worked in the mafia,' Beckett thought to himself, and he didn't know why it was so hard for him to accept.
"Your mother was protecting someone else back then," Ella said, bringing Beckett back to reality. "His name was Dylan. I saw in the news that he was shot recently, and I saw your face there."
"I was doing my volunteer work at that time, and he was shot right in front of me," Beckett explained. "The shooter was caught, but he didn't say why he did it."
Beckett took a deep breath and asked again. "Do you know why my mother took the child and acted as her guardian?"
Ella's lips opened and closed, as if she wanted to say something but didn't. But she answered the young man's question.
"Ylona told me back then that he was the child of a close friend of Alfred's, and my husband wanted him dead."
Beckett bit his lower lip. His jaw clenched in anger. "Don’t worry. He’s safe now."
But he was surprised by Ella's response.

Book Comment (11)

  • avatar
    Hisham Adam Jbdegil

    Best story

    06/09

      0
  • avatar
    valdezCriselda

    very nice story

    12/07

      0
  • avatar
    Ykcir Goopmat Ollitsac

    nice story

    12/07

      0
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