86.
Alessandro's POV
I decided to take a walk outside the mansion when it was evening. Father had left and there was peace again.
I sighed, striding towards the swimming pool in slow steps.
Amelia's face flashed through my mind. I remembered the look on her face earlier. Father had indeed hurt her with his words.
"Sandro?" A soft voice called behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know it was Adelaide.
"You should be in bed." I said without turning to look at her. "You've been through a lot of stress."
"Mm." She nodded, settling beside me. "This pool reminds me of that lake." She chuckled. "Do you remember?"
"The Santorini lake?" A small smile rested on my lips. "How could I ever forget it?"
We used to go for a swim and even though father was against it, we would go secretly and also fish on the small lake beside it.
"You got your first tilapia when you were just 9. I only used to get crabs." She laughed and I turned to look at her with a proud smirk. "You've always been a great boy since little. I was so proud when you got a cat fish next. It was so yummy when we smoked it by the lake side."
"You almost burnt your fingers trying to make a fire."
"I've always been careless since little." She sighed, "dad was right. I'm just so stupid. Vivianne looks up to me but I've been a worst mom."
"Stop it." I groaned, "everyone has a careless side. Not everyone is perfect not even father who has always painted himself to be one."
"You think?" Adelaide raised a brow, "after father's words I've been so ashamed to face Vivi. I...I have hurt her so much. I was surprised when she called me on phone and asked about Wyatt. She has never liked to speak about him.
I'm the worst mom ever, even Amelia has raised that child in a way I couldn't. It's just in the matter of some weeks and Vivianne has changed a lot, she's not the sad girl I used to know. I suck at child upbringing." She sniffed and before I knew it, a river or tears flooded her eyes.
I held her hand, rubbing the back of her palm. I've always sucked at consoling others but Adelaide's tears moved me a lot and this brought back memories of my late mom which I had been fighting all these years to clear off my head but it keeps flashing now and then.
"Fran..cesca." I called slowly, my fingers grazing her chin. "Do you remember mom used to call you that?"
Adelaide slapped my hand off her face. "D... don't call me that." She croaked, more tears streaming down.
"Tell me the reason why you've stopped to bear that name. Y..you changed your name and for years you've not let me know the reason behind your actions?" I asked, my brows knitted, "are...you trying to erase the memory of mom off your head?"
"It's... it's painful. We're one of the most influential mafia family known here in Italy and beyond, yet mom and Vanessa got wasted like some stray chickens." She muffled out a dry laugh and ran her hands through her hair then wrapped it around herself again.
"Today I will tell you why I don't want that name again…" she paused and continued after a few croaks, "to me that name brings a pain I don't want to ever remember. I..I see blood when anyone calls me Francesca and it pierces my heart that I haven't fulfilled any of the promises I made to mom when she was still alive.
I... I've been reckless and I haven't been able to look after my own brother. Sandro…" she sniffed as she brought her hand up to touch my face. "I have been so far away from you. We've….been so apart that I feel the blissful memories we have slipping away. I've been worst all round."
"D... don't cry, Del." I sighed, struggling to keep myself together. "I... I'm fine."
"No!" Adelaide shook her head, her hands holding my face. "You…. the diagnosis...I want you to be well, San. I don't want to lose you. Not after mom and Vanessa."
"You should worry more about yourself, Del. I'll be fine." I said but her cries didn't subside.
"You've always been good at hiding how you feel but I can see through you, Sandro. You're not fine."
"Stop." I groaned, stepping away. "I...am perfectly okay. Don't make me feel pathetic."
"You love her don't you?"
"Who?" I asked, my voice laced with coldness.
"The nanny. Amelia." Adelaide answered, moving to stay in front of me. "You didn't tell me you broke up with Regina?"
"We did." I replied, my voice hard. "We broke up, there's no point in building a relationship based on lies and deceit." I scoffed, clicking my tongue in disgust.
"And Amelia?" Adelaide pressed, "what are you going to do about her?"
I raised a brow at her, gulping down. "I...I don't love Amelia. She's just my worker as you have mentioned earlier." I lied. My heart beats for her but I couldn't possibly let Adelaide know this.
I might not be there for her forever but as long as I was alive I would make sure to protect her.
I have figured out father's words earlier. To protect and make her safe then I should stop showing her public affection.
If I kept doing that, she might be open to attack. Even father's eyes were on her now. Russo was there and worse her family.
"I'm not stopping you from loving her, Sandro. You can't possibly lie about it, I saw it in your eyes earlier; the affection and love. Y...you don't always defend people like that especially not with father but you defended her. What does that mean?"
I rubbed my forehead, letting out a deep sigh. "What are you insinuating?"
"I've never seen that kind of love in your eyes even when you were in a relationship with Regina. But..your safety is premium, baby brother."
I chuckled dryly, casting a glance at her. "Baby brother, really?"
"Yes, Sandro." Adelaide nodded.
"What do you think others would say when they hear you call me that? You make me feel small." I complained.
She giggled but the pain within her was transparent. I could see it.
"The Vincenzo family are deadly." Adelaide's voice came out rigid, a sudden hardness replacing her soft voice.
"They...do not forgive just like every mafia out there. If they should find out that Amelia is still alive and in your premises then there would be war. How do you plan to protect her? How do you plan to keep the truth hidden from her forever?"
"Del…" I called but paused when I saw a shadow flash from behind. Who could that be?
I turned around and my breath hitched when I saw the person standing behind me. How long has she been there?
Did she hear everything Adelaide and I had been saying?
Ai! Fuck!