Chapter 131
The words cut through Romano, yet he made himself give a soft smile. "I know, Ariel. And I am sorry. But I can't let you go. not yet."
"You can't do this, Romano." Ariel sobbed, getting off Alessandro's arms.
"I'm not doing anything, baby girl." Romano spoke, standing up from the couch, his hands tucked in his pants nervously.
"Don't baby me, Romano. I love you, but you can't keep me by your side with force, I can't allow that." She said, tears streaming down her face as she shifted back, stepping on Jacqueline accidentally.
"No one is keeping you here, by force Ariel. Why don't you get that?" Romano snapped in anger causing her to flinch
"Lower down your tone, Romano. She needs time to adjust to this life." Alessandro said from where he was seated.
"You're the one who knocked me out in the first place." Ariel directed at him, with an anger laced tone.
"You see what I said, time. " Alessandro shrugged, smirking wildly.
"This isn't funny, Alessandro." Jacqueline butted in.
"Excuse me, lady did you see me smile?" He asked In all seriousness. Jacqueline was feeling hurt seeing her friend get subjected to the same thing she went through. She knew the moment Chain sent her to Alessandro as a spy, her life was going to change from then on. Jacqueline palmed her forehead on remembering Chain. The feeling of guilt hitting her so bad she shivered as a result of it.
Jacqueline glared at Alessandro while Ariel glared at Romano.
"Okay, you kids should stop it." Penelope said, waving her hand.
"Kids? Seriously mama?" Romano asked, pouting his lips.
"Yes, you all are behaving like toddler that had their toys snatched from them. Ariel darling, no one is forcing you to stay, it's all for your safety. If you want to risk that, then by all means, there's the door." Penelope stated, her eyes on Ariel waiting for her reaction. Ariel on the other hand didn't know whether to leave or stay.
"I'll just add this one thing. You go out through that door, that vow where the priest says " in health and in sickness and in good times and bad times' you won't on no account take it. Romano might not let you know this, but as his loving grandmother I will tell you. Once you step out that door, you lose him. And if by any chance you get him back, he will always have it at the back of his mind that when it comes to being unsafe, you will never stand by him." Penelope paused to take in their reaction. Jacqueline was covering her mouth, bewildered. This was blackmail without the threat. Alessandro of course was smiling proudly at Penelope.
Romano had his head bowed in sadness, while Ariel was crying profusely.
She never asked for this. She knew fully well Romano wasn't the prince Charming every girl wished for, she knew he was into shady deals, but she didn't expect it to put her life on danger.
"I thought you didn't know how to blackmail? That was perfect!." Alessandro who sat beside Penelope whispered in her ears.
"Shush. I hate displaying my talent, now the poor girl is spilling waterworks."
"This is just too much, so um...I'll be upstairs." Jacqueline muttered, leaving. She just couldn't stand it anymore. Alessandro followed her and Penelope was left with Ariel and Romano. Then she stood up, leaving the two lovers to sort out things between them.
"Is it exactly as she said?" Ariel asked after some minutes.
Romano raised his head to stare at her, he didn't know what to say. Deep down it was exactly what Penelope said.
He didn't want to lose Ariel, but on the other if she left, there was no use fighting over someone who wasn't ready to to stand with him in peace and in war.
"No." Romano said finally, lying through his teeth.
"You're lying, Romano." Ariel said, wiping her face clean.
"I'm not." He shook his head in refusals.
"You are. " Ariel insisted. "You're doing that thing you do with your eyes when you're lying. You don't want to lose me and I understand, but, Romano...it's hard." Ariel said, choking on her tears.
Romano stepped closer to her, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I understand. But if you go out there I might never see you again and that scares me more than you'll ever know. Stay, Ariel. It might not be for the sake of me, stay for Jacqueline. After these is over you can leave and I'll know that where ever you are even if it's not with me, you'll be safe."
Ariel placed her head on his chest as she cried.
"You're making me feel bad, Romano." She said.
"I'm sorry, baby girl" He muttered.
JACQUELINE'S ROOM.
Jacqueline went into her room, about to lock it behind her when Alessandro came in.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She muttered, turning her back to him.
"I don't believe that." Alessandro said, hugging her from behind.
"I'm tired, Alessandro. I want my freedom back. The ability to go outside without looking over my shoulder without looking above my shoulder." Jacqueline replied, turning to face him, so they were now hugging each other.
"It will be over soon, my love." He said.
Jacqueline nodded. "I wanted to go get my sister, she just had surgery a week ago and I haven't made time to go see her because of this saga."
"You can go, but if you go with a bodyguard. I can't let you go out there without protection." Alessandro stated and Jacqueline nodded.
"I love being here. " she muttered, inhaling his scent.
Alessandro chuckled softly, disengaging from the hug. "Let's see what's going on with Romano and Ariel. " He said, taking her hand.
"About that, can you stop being an arrogant dick around her? She's new to all this, you don't expect her to just accept it." Jacqueline grumbled.
"Arrogant dick, seriously? I don't think she's good for my best friend, simple." He groaned.
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