CHAPTER NINETEEN

"It looks like Mrs. King doesn't know that eavesdropping can get her into a lot of trouble," Mr. Black said with a wide grin.
"Weren't you also eavesdropping on my conversation with Leo" Lia tried to defend herself.
"I was stranded, who would want to listen to your ridiculous love play?"
"Whatever, I'm leaving. Good night" Lia turned around to leave.
"If you have any questions ask, I won't be so greedy with the answers"
" Who is she?" Lia asked curiously.
" That's none of your business"
"You are the one who insisted that I asked you" Mr. Black looked unfazed.
" Cynthia Giovanni, I trust you are not so stupid as to not be able to do some research by yourself"
Mr. Black turned around and began walking away. He was done with the conversation.
" Have a good night's sleep Mr. Black" Lia said while forcing a smile.
" I will"
Lia stumped her foot all the way to her bedroom. Still fuming, Lia brushed her teeth and took a quick shower.
She brought out her laptop from her bag.
"Stupid Mr. Black. Can't even be polite for a minute" Lia mumbled to herself.
"Let's see. C..yn...th...ia Gi...o..va...nni "
Lia said as she typed the name on her monitor.
The picture of a blonde woman with blue eyes came into view.
"It looks like she is a writer, Hm..m interesting"
Lia looked up a lot of her books. She found out that the writer hadn't written a book in the last seven years. It's as if she had just disappeared. Lia wondered what kind of relationship Leo had with the woman.
Something else caught Lia's attention.
"The fall of the Giovanni family, Let's see what this is about" Lia was just about to click on the link.
"What are you doing?" Lia quickly closed her laptop.
"Nothing, I was just waiting for you to come so that we could sleep"
"I came in thirty minutes ago"
Lia had just noticed the little water droplets falling from his hair.
"I guess I was just a little bit distracted"
Leo got on the bed.
"Aren't you going to dry your hair first?"
"Why would I, my wife already told me that she loves it better when my hair was wet"
"Pardon?"
Leo gave her the 'you heard what I said' look.
"I don't remember saying anything like that"
"You said it in your sleep. You talk a lot when you sleep"
Lia suddenly remembered something from her past.
***Lia had just woken up from her deep slumber. Mabel came to sleep in her room that night because there was a thunderstorm and Mabel was scared of the sound of thunder.
" Oh, Mabel I had a weird dream. You were yelling at me and telling me to shut up and you also said you pitty whoever I was going to get married to. It was weird because I was asleep"
"wow, that sounds like something I would do," Mabel said sarcastically and rolled her eyes.***
"That's not true"
"Do you want to listen to a recording I have?"
"No please, what else did I say?"
"You said, you smell so good, you are the most handsome man I've ever met, you have great style, I love your eyes, your face is..." Leo said all that trying to mimic her, but he failed drastically.
"Gosh, that's enough. Whatever you heard, I was talking about my crush"
"Which is me, you mentioned my name several times"
"You're not the only Leo I know"
"I'm sure as hell I'm the only Leonardo king you know"
"So what?"
"Come here"
"No, not this night. You always hug me when we sleep I want some space all to myself this time"
"You also said that I'm soft and I should always hug you till you fall asleep"
"Did I say that?"
"Come here, Lia"
Lia didn't say another word and got into Leo's arms.
Lia's heart was beating so ferociously, she feared that Leo would be able to feel it as his bare chest was against her back.
...
The next morning, At the Griffon's residence.
"Where is she?"
"Mother please calm down"
"How can I?, I just left for a week and that girl dared to hurt you and she even dares to threaten the life of my grandson. It looks like I've been too lenient with her"
"Mother, please understand that Mabel is pregnant. She has some mood swings, that's all"
"Bullshit, I've been pregnant before. If I disrespected your father the same way she is did to you, do you think I would be standing on my two feet?"
"Mother, please I beg you"
"Get out of my way or I promise you, I would beat you into a pulp"
"I'm here" Mabel showed up.
" How dare you do this to my son" Mrs. Griffon pointed at the burn marks on Jack's arms.
"It was a mistake, he isn't complaining is he?"
"You" Jack's mother slapped her.
"Mother what are you doing? what if you hurt the baby?"
" I don't believe there is a baby in that womb anymore. There is no bump, nothing"
" Maybe the baby is really small"
" Ha, did I raise a fool?"
" Enough" Mabel was tired of their crap.
" If you don't want me here, then I would leave"
" Good, you can come back when you can prove to me that you are pregnant"
" What?. Mother how could you even support this. Mabel don't be ridiculous this is your house too"
" I'm starting to think that Lia girl would have been better than you"
Mabel hated when she was compared to Lia.
" At least I was able to make my man fall in love with me and not just need me to make an heir" Mabel snapped.
That was the last straw. Jack's mother grabbed the nearest object around her and threw it at Mabel.
It hit her right above her left eye. Blood began to ooze out.
It was true that Jack's father never loved his mother. They only married to unite their families. Although Mrs. Griffon loved her husband, her love was never reciprocated.
" Get out of my house right this instant, I never want to see you here ever again"
"Mother, if she leaves this house then I'm going to leave too"
"And if you leave don't you ever come back. I will make sure you get nothing, not even a penny, and just know that when you walk out that door you have lost your mother"
"You want to make me choose between you and The woman I love"
"Choose wisely"
Jack turned towards Mabel, a tear rolling down his eye.
"I'm sorry M..."