The Malevolence of a Woman Wronged (PREQUEL)

Chapter 27- A Great Man

"My, and she's so well-spoken too," She patted my cheek.

Every day, I find myself being more and more grateful for all the arduous lessons on grace and poise that mother put me through as a child, they're all being put to good use.

But I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a quiet meow.

"Milo!" I gasped, surprised to see him walking towards me as I leaned down to pick him up in my arms, kissing his furry self as he released another meow. It feels like it's been years since I've last seen him, but in all honesty, it's been around two weeks since the last time I saw him was on my wedding day.

"He's made himself quite comfortable in his new home. Your mother dropped him off before the day she left to return to Italy, and he's gotten quite close to all the workers. Thankfully, no one's allergic to cats," Ingrid stated as I smiled down at my cat.

"I missed you, you little furrball," I kissed him again as he meowed yet again.

"Ugh, I forgot he even existed," I jokingly slapped Lucian as he glared down at the cat which I noticed he didn't get along with very well.

"For real now, you can all get back to work," He changed the topic, waving everyone off.

"But-"

"-You can greet them all properly some other time, I promise," He cut me off with a pleading look as I gave in with a sigh, putting Milo down as I watched him stroll over to Stefan who picked him up in his arms, giving me an assuring look that he was in safe hands.

"Before that, I will personally give you a quick tour," He outstretched a hand, waiting for me to take it, and I did with a grateful smile as we went on our way.

And so, I followed Lucian around my new home as he gave me a tour of the most important rooms in the mansion, since it would very well take hours if he were to go and show me every single room of the large building.

I learnt that the estate itself has been alive since the 1600s, and has been owned by the Vandenburg family since the very beginning, it's been refurbished countless times to accustom itself with the changing times until it became what it is now, that would explain the modern aspects and the older aspects of it.

He said the main building of the estate had 20 bedrooms, a large kitchen that could rival a 7-star hotel, 5 different living areas, and 3 dining rooms, each one bigger than the other depending on the number of guests, and there were more bathrooms than I could bother remembering. 

But one of my favourite rooms was the conservatory, it was massive, and made entirely of glass with fountains spraying water, a waterfall surrounded by trees of all kinds, from palm trees to my favourite willow trees, and I even spotted some gingko trees along with more flowers than I knew existed, and the large Greek statues reminded me of home.

The statues reminded me of my father who was a big fanatic of traditional Italian art, he'd take me to the museum countless times as a child before his death.

The Moretti estate wasn't as big as this, but I remember spending a lot of time at the conservatory there, even though it hasn't properly been looked after in years. That conservatory has nothing on this one.

And I'm grateful that my love for nature is something that Lucian can relate to, Donovan didn't like nature at all, in fact, he'd always be complaining about it.

"My father would have loved this place," I inhaled a deep breath of air as I walked deeper into the glass dome, not even wanting to blink in fear of missing something.

"Your father..." Lucian whispered as he followed close behind me.

"Yes, he was a man of art, and nature. That's what influenced me,"

"You got along with your father then, I'm guessing," I turned to look at him for a moment as I nodded my head before carrying on my way, and I swear I heard the chirping of birds.

"Mama's always been busy with work so it used to just be my father and I. We did everything together, from going on father-daughter trips, to cooking together, and so on,"

"Wow. So, he's the man that taught you to cook as well as you do," Laughing, I nodded at his words, going to sit on the wooden bench as he sat down beside me, and we both simply looked over the landscape.

It was truly such a heavenly sight.

"It's his death anniversary soon. 18 years since I last called him papa," I sighed, my chest tightening at the fact as I gulped back the lump in my throat.

More than anyone could ever know, I missed him so much.

"I'm sorry, Angelina," He didn't need to be sorry, but I didn't say anything, and simply rested my head on his shoulder as his own head came to rest atop mine. Sometimes, one's presence can mean so much more than anyone's words, this was one of those moments.

"I know you've probably heard this many times already, but I know he was a good man," A smile graced my lips as I closed my eyes for a moment.

"You want to know how I know?" He asked.

"Go on, amuse me,"

"You," He whispered.

"Me?" I echoed.

"Yes. Seeing the kind of woman you've become; I can tell that his influence on you has helped to turn you into the amazing person that you are. And greatness will only create an even bigger greatness," I bit the inside of my lips, squeezing my eyes shut, afraid I'd really end up crying.

It was nice to hear. I had been so sure that my father would be disappointed in me if he were to see the kind of woman I've become, but Lucian's words assured me otherwise. I had nothing to be afraid of, I never did.

"Thank you," I needed to hear that.

"It's just facts," He muttered, going to kiss the top of my head.

"...It was a car crash," I spoke without thinking. 

"And it was my fault," I added, a single tear slipping passed my lashes as it rolled down my cheek, but Lucian didn't say anything, and I appreciated that. He simply sat beside me, wiping my tears away as he listened.

"That day, I shouted at my mother, asking her why she had given birth to me if she wasn't even going to share the responsibility to raise me, I was intent on the fact that she didn't love me... and I ran out the house." I took a moment to catch my breath.

Even Donovan didn't know this story, and I'm not sure why I'm telling Lucian, but it felt like it would be okay. So, I continued to speak.

"I wasn't planning on going far, just to the neighbourhood park to cool my head down... But there was a drunk driver, and papa jumped in to push me out of the way... He got hit by the car in my place, hit his head on the curb, and died on impact. No last words. No will. Nothing."

And I broke down.

But he was there with me the whole time, his hands stroking my back, lips showering me with kisses, and speaking reassuring words that told me it wasn't my fault.

Things like this happen all the time, I wasn't the first, and I certainly wasn't the last. 

But just as I walk down the path of life with scars littering me, there are many others that do too. And knowing that I wasn't alone gave me a sense of comfort.

My father was a great man.

And I liked to believe that he was in a better place right now.

...