Chapter 16
Getting Mariano to come home was easy. When I told him that I won't ever join him in his movie marathons, he whined for a bit and in ten minutes, he was back. He told me that he was just in a nearby cafe; he doesn't want me to give a hard time in case I ever look for him.
"Hmm. Have you cooled your head?"
Mariano nodded and pulled me for a hug. "I'm sorry, Arden. I don't know what's happening to me nowadays. I get irritable and there are moments where I just want to see blood; like seeing other people's heads blow up," he said casually and if I didn't know what he does and what kind of man he is, I would be out of here in a jiffy.
"Come on. Hal told me that he could explain your mood swings." He scrunched his nose, displeased with the term I used. "Don't tell me otherwise. You can't even hide your displeasure."
We headed to Mariano's study and Hal was hyper focused on his computer, a deep frown on his forehead. We just watched him from being confused to someone who just achieved enlightenment, as if he found all the answers to the world's problems.
"Oh, you guys are here," he said in surprise and with a grin. "So, there's something I need to confirm first. Let's go with you first, Arden."
Blinking in confusion, I nodded. "Okay. What is it?"
"Where is the father of your baby?" That question caught me off-guard. I tensed up and I bet Mariano could also feel it.
"You better tread lightly, Moreau. Stress is not a good thing for Arden and the baby, you know that," Mariano warned Hal in that low, deadly voice. His expression was tight as he reached for my hand and squeezed them gently.
"Boss, I know that. I just want to confirm my theory. This is for both your sake, and the baby's as well." Hal seemed serious and it made me nervous.
"Arden, baby, you don't have to, okay? I'll make sure to beat up Hal later for upsetting you like this," Mariano promised as he rubbed my back, hoping to offer some comfort, while Hal grimaced at Mariano's words.
Still, curiosity got the best of me. A part of me wanted to know what Hal was talking about, and I wanted to know as soon as possible. "I... don't know who he is, honestly."
The room became dead silent. Mariano tried his hardest to conceal his confusion and curiosity, while Hal was just looking at me. "You know, the same old cliche. You get drunk, and the next morning, you wake up naked, with a stranger beside you." I hope I was able to hide the crack in my voice. I don't regret my child, but what happened to me was kind of traumatizing. Aside from that, I can't remember what happened clearly, even after several weeks have passed.
When I glanced at Mariano, he was deep into his thoughts. His brows were furrowed and there was a kind of tension, which only increased the anxiety that has been brewing inside my system. I began to scratch my fingers and chew on my lips, unable to handle the tension any longer.
It was Hal who broke the tension. "Can you tell us where you woke up, Arden. I promise, this will be of great help to you once we figure this out."
"It was a luxurious hotel. I just can't remember... I think it has a crown in its name..."
"Golden Imperial Plaza," Mariano muttered breathlessly and looked at me with a soft gaze. My heart started to pound. "I was drugged. The elders were responsible for it. Upon investigation, Hal found out that someone was waiting in my room for me, planted by the elders. However, it seemed as if I went into the wrong room. I'll give you space to think about what I said, but I just want you to know Arden, you are very precious to me. I am so sorry for what I did, but I will never regret having a child with you." Mariano's eyes were glassy, his voice trembling so slightly, as he reached for my hand and kissed it lightly, as if he was afraid that I would break with a touch of him. My head started to throb and my ears rang. It was hard to catch up with the sudden development.
Mariano stood up and left the room. Hal gave me an apologetic smile and approached me. "You know where the emergency buttons are, Arden. If you need help, press them. I'm so sorry for subjecting you to this, but I hope that you keep an open heart. He really loves you, you know. I'm sure you can tell from his actions." Hal patted my head and stepped out of the room, giving me privacy, while I just blanked out, unable to process the revelations that I heard.
***
After staring into space for about an hour, I found myself calming down. Instead of Hal, I went to look for Mariano. I found him in the garden, staring at that pit I had made days ago. I want to laugh but he looks so guilty, to the point of jumping.
"One push, Arden. You only need one push. I'll happily get buried alive as long as you are the one to do it," Mariano said, not glancing my way. Why would he need to when his senses are so sharp?
"Hilarious as that may be, but can we talk? Please?" Mariano stilled and slowly turned to me with a somber face. Since he had no plans of walking beside me, I let him be and led us to the part of the garden where there's a big, shady tree. I sat on the swing while Mariano dropped down on the grass.
"Can you tell me what happened that night? And how did I even get to that expensive room? I have low alcohol tolerance, but it doesn't mean that I'll go to an expensive hotel. I have money but not enough to throw them away for an overnight stay."
Mariano inhaled deeply and hummed. "I still can't recover the missing gaps in my memory, maybe because of the drugs, so I don't have much to tell. Hal and I gathered all the footage which could give me a lead as to the person who I slept with that night, but in the middle of it, I just didn't care. I'm so sorry, Arden, but I was under the impression that the person I slept with was sent by the elders." I would also do the same if I was in his position. Well, I kind of was in that position; I actually don't care who got me pregnant. I just never imagined it to be Mariano. After all, we never exchanged words, ever, until I met him in that cafe.
"Don't worry about it. I just want to give those old coots, your words," Mariano chuckled softly at that, "a smack on the head. Maybe I'll be able to knock some sense into them." To think that there are those who go the extra mile to meddle in other people's affairs.
"I also deeply apologize for blackmailing you. I was so desperate, even if it did not show on my face. I just don't want the elders to interfere with my personal life." If he was hiding it, then he's very good at it. He was very confident that time.
"Here's a curious question: what if the person who got pregnant was not the one you like, would you marry that person?" Well, in the first place, that was the scenario anyway. Mariano will make the elders believe that he has someone he loves and he will not agree to the arranged marriage. Only that, we encountered a twist. Quite mind blowing, I must say. A win-win situation for both of us, which I'm finding a hard time to believe. At first, I was convinced that what Hal mentioned were just circumstantial pieces of evidence. I might not be the person Mariano was referring to, but even with the lack of damning evidence, Hal is convinced that I was that person. I have never seen him that serious and certain. 'If you are still doubting, we can conduct a DNA test once your first trimester ends.'
Mariano glanced at me and shook his head. "No, but I'll support the child and give him my name. The child is innocent, after all. I think that the child does not deserve to be in a loveless marriage. Sure, he will have a broken family, but don't you think it's a slightly better situation than coming home and hearing your parents argue day and night? Hearing them say that they feel so trapped and that they can't wait to be with their beloved once the period given by the elders expires?"
Mariano inhaled sharply and cracked a bitter smile. "My parents entered into a political marriage, with both of them having the intention to increase their wealth and influence. From an early age, I never had a normal and peaceful childhood, not because I was in the mafia, but because my parents are so self-involved and selfish. They will bring their lovers to our house just to spite each other, to provoke the elders, and to mock their parents. They both led promiscuous lives until the elders intervened and gave them an ultimatum: they can do whatever they want once I reached of age and becomes the Don of the Il Volo Family."
"Nevertheless, they can't even bring themselves to share a decent conversation. It will always lead to loud arguments and exchange of nasty words. It's a very traumatic environment for a child, but I always had my nana. She's my babysitter and she took care of me. She gave me all the love she can offer and her passing devastated me. I was eighteen. Since then, I worked harder than anybody else and left home. People helped me along the way, and I am the way I am now because of my hard work and the help of the people who became close to me," Mariano finished and the sheer vulnerability in his eyes almost broke my heart.
I went to him and pulled him for a hug. No words were exchanged; just us sharing some warmth while listening to our steady heartbeats and feeling the soft breeze grazing on our skin. After a while, I had Mariano lay on my lap, and he slowly reached for my belly. "I'm scared, Arden. I didn't have the best childhood; what if I become a horrible father to him? I don't want to fail; not at this. Just not at this," he whispered, almost like a plea, as he nuzzled on my tummy.
"You are doing great, Mariano. You are great at taking care of us, even before we experienced this plot twist. We feel the love and care you have for us, and I will always be grateful. Did you know that if ever I would find a partner who would raise baby bean with me, I'd like it to be someone like you?"
Mariano backed his head away and looked at me. "Don't be so surprised. In these two months that we had spent together, I have never felt more safe and warm than being with you. I like being with you, Mariano... and..."
Mariano gave me a hopeful look as he held his breath. "I like you too, Mr. I'm Afraid of Commitment." It took me several days to finally admit that I have feelings for him, and I do not regret it one bit.
He released a huge breath and chuckled in delight, grabbing my hands and peppering them with soft kisses. "I love you so damn much, Arden. I'll do my best and I will work hard to be deserving of you and small bean," he promised in a voice full of emotion, sat up and engulfed me in a tight hug.
I smiled and choked the sobs about to come out. "Don't worry. I'll help you. We'll do this together."
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