Chapter 140: (Hundred) Thirty Nine: Ploy

Noise trickled into the silence that Becca doused herself in. People debating on something, Leo's voice was the first one she registered. He was refusing something. The other voice belonged to Fernanda and somehow, Becca's name slewed its way into their conversation. With eyes sealed shut, Becca was unable to decipher what the discussion was about since they kept switching from English to Italian and back.

So much for wallowing in tranquil stillness while reminiscing about the past. Becca's eyes flickered open when she heard Fernanda's voice again, this time asking where she was.

Sighing, Becca forced herself off the chair and back into the house, to the source of the noise. The dining hall. The sound of Becca's slippers against the marble tile made the people at the table turn, snatching their attention away from the breakfast in front of them and whatever they were conversing about. A smile illumine Fernanda's face while annoyance and frustration shadowed Leo's.

His gaze held hers but before she got the chance to mutter a word, Fernanda stood up, ambled her way and pulled her into a warm hug.

Becca reciprocated the hug, a smile tugging at her lips as she let herself melt into the cozy embrace. " Good Morning, Grandma." 

" Morning, my dear." Fernanda said, rubbing Becca's back as if she knew how much Becca needed it that morning. Anything that could quell the ashen lapse that weighed on her, anything that could ease the tight knots in her chest, even just a bit and Fernanda's hug worked wonders.

They broke the hug and Becca wandered her gaze to Leo once more, unable to deny the chills hying down her back. She knew she wouldn't be able to look at him the same way again after all that was said last night, not after she saw how ostensibly broken he still was. Fernanda's eyes went from Becca to Leo and back, pursing her lips. 

Becca wondered if Fernanda had any idea of what happened to Leo. She probably didn't since she never spoke a word about it. Perhaps Leo kept it from her as well.

Then Becca felt Fernanda locking arms with her. 

" Sweetie, I honestly need you to talk some sense into that boy over there." Fernanda said, pointing in Leo's direction. " He doesn't want to listen to reason."

Becca blinked twice. Fernanda lost her the moment she called Leo a boy. Clad with raw masculinity, facial hair shodding his face— a sheer delight for the eye— and pushing thirty yet somehow he could still be called a boy. 

Simply incredible.

" No means no, Grandma. Don't drag Becca into this." Leo's voice echoed against the glamorous walls, face framed with utter seriousness that Becca couldn't help not taking seriously.

Fernanda rolled her eyes, clearly not taking him seriously as well. 

" I might be old but I don't remember permitting you to speak. I am still your grandmother." Fernanda scolded and Leo snorted.

" And I still own this house." Leo asserted and Fernanda's eyes narrowed at him while Becca winced, staring in disbelief. Unlike Leo, Becca, for the longest time had been considered as a product of adultery— the mistake of a child— by her grandparents hence she never did as much as work up the courage to have a civil conversation with them, talk more of speak to them in the manner Leo spoke to Fernanda in.

" Like I care whose name this house is under." Then she turned to Becca, unfurling a smile. " Isn't he just unbearable?"

Leo raised a brow at her but didn't speak a word of disagreement. Becca's heart throbbed as she felt his gaze on her, not like he had stared anywhere but in her direction ever since she stepped into the place.

Becca soon snapped out of it, averting her gaze from Leo to stare at his grandmother. 

" What's wrong, Grandma?" Becca asked and Fernanda knew it was her cue to fix up her ' sad grandmother face'. A way to yank Becca to her side, to grip her sympathy.

Fernanda placed a hand on her chest, batting her lashes as if she was holding back tears she literally wished would fall.

" When I heard about Leo's condition, I canceled all the plans my husband had made to celebrate my birthday and rushed to America. To see him." Fernanda pointed at Leo, villainizing him. " All to make sure he was okay." 

Fernanda sniffled, taking out a handkerchief and wiped her lashes dampened with fake tears.

Becca's brows furrowed, her heart aching. " And what did Leo do?" 

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This was it. The time Fernanda was waiting for. She already clenched Becca's sympathy in her fist, now to rant about Leo's wrong deeds.

" This morning, I mentioned how it would be an amazing idea to celebrate my birthday here in New York, with him and the rest of our family but he immediately rebuked my request, saying he would never allow it to happen in his house." Fernanda said and hurled her arms around Becca, spewing out old lady tears. " I just wanted a small gathering, one fun thing for myself but he wouldn't even let me have that. After all the things I have done for him." 

Becca ran her palm over Fernanda's long hair, soothing her, at the same time, shooting Leo a displeased look, her eyes filled with disappointment like she wasn't staring at her boyfriend but the grinch himself.

" What's wrong if grandma wants to celebrate her birthday here?" Becca asked, hugging Fernanda and then it all clicked in Leo's head. His grandmother was weaving Becca into her ploy, she was using her to confine him in a cramped situation where he had to either say yes or risk being considered a horrible person. And Becca wandered straight into her ruse.

" Nothing, my love. I just don't like having strangers roaming around my property." Leo said but the displeasure in Becca's stare remained.

" They are your family, not strangers." Fernanda sobbed.

" Same thing." Leo retorted. His family. Strangers. There really wasn't a difference.

" All she wants is a small get together, Leo. How could you possibly say no to that?" Becca asked, not bothering to conceal her umbrage.

" Because I know what her small gatherings look like." Leo ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He came down to enjoy a peaceful breakfast, not to be ganged up against by the two most important people in his life.

Becca shook her head at him then returned her attention to Fernanda, who was sopping her eyes, placed a finger on her chin, lifting it so she would look at her.

" Well, you should have told me about it first," Becca said, ignoring the way Leo's eyes narrowed at her words. " This house is as much yours as it is his and I'm sure that Leo wouldn't mind." 

Becca's every word wielded indisputable authority that Leo didn't dare question and when she said he wouldn't mind, she actually meant she wouldn't listen to his oppositions, especially when he just made his grandmother cry.

Fernanda was awashed with satisfaction at the way the matter was being settled, easily fettering the smile crawling to her face. If she hadn't then her hoax would be jeopardized. 

" Really?" Fernanda propped herself off Becca, her tears and sobs belying the immense sense of fulfillment gurgling through her. Leo was just like his grandfather. His no only truly means no when the woman he loves says no as well and in this case, she didn't.

Becca nodded. " Of course, grandma. Anything for you." 

Leo's eyes stayed narrowed but Becca didn't respond to his egregious stares, giving him a pointed look as well: we will talk about this upstairs.

Breakfast ended with Leo escorting Becca upstairs and Fernanda could bet all the money she had that Becca was going to win whatever discussion they were going to have.

Leo held open the door to their bedroom, stepping in right after Becca did. She turned to him as he clicked the door shut.

" It's your grandmother's birthday, how bad can one party be?" Becca asked before Leo could get the chance to speak. She moved closer, her beautiful green eyes widened in the cutest way he had ever seen. His heart skipped but his resolve remained unscathed.

" I just don't like the idea of strangers in my house. For all I know, she might even invite reporters to cover the event and you know how much I want to stay out of the public eye. " He let out a jagged sigh, and placed his hand on Becca's face, tracing its curves, his other hand gripping his cane firmly.

" But grandma promised to keep it small. Just family, no strangers." Becca peeked at him through her lashes. 

Precisely why he rejected his grandmother's request in the first place. It wasn't about despising the idea of having strangers in his house. No, it was the fact the rest of his family were being involved that truly irked him. For a moment, he thought he managed to fiddle his way out of the promise he made to Fernanda when he visited her in Italy so he wouldn't have to enmesh himself in the mess that occurs whenever all his family are gathered, hence why part of him was pleased when he found out he was paralyzed. Little did he know that Fernanda would suddenly come up with this suggestion.

" Trust me, my love." He drawled, trailing his finger along her chin. "It makes no difference." 

It was like a vicious cycle whenever he was around them. They piss him off, he almost kills one of them, and all of the sudden, he's considered the bad guy. Leo never truly considered them a problem though, not until Becca came into the picture.. Especially when one of his asshole cousins might sprout out balls and sing traitorous songs to her.

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