He felt pity for his brother. They all knew that his father's death wouldn't be easy to accept. But his mother's death came out of nowhere.
Castor had blamed himself. He had set-up a barricade along with the shooters he posted around the venue. He could have prevented the woman's demise.
But even Franco had accepted that it was inevitable.
"Will he be okay?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied. "He knows we're here for him."
"I feel guilty, Cas." She looked up to him, her blue-gray eyes tearing up. "It's like I destroyed his life. If I didn't—if I didn't push his father—if I kept quiet and handled things carefully...”
"Shh. Don't say that." He pulled her into an embrace. "I would've never known about my brother if you stayed quiet. And you know..." He pulled back and wiped the tears off her cheek. "Despite all this, Franco and I are thankful for all your interference."
"You mean that I was nosy?" she sniffed and took a deep breath.
"Yes," Castor replied. "I can't say everything is alright with my mother and me. But I understand her much better now. Don't just count the bad things, your majesty.”
She forced a smile. "I hope he'll feel better soon."
"Yeah. We'll get him into dates, get laid and then he'll be all better.”
Caly snorted. "No. Don't ever do that to him."
"Drinking then?
"Stop it."
They waited until the people went home to approach the distraught man. He shot them a dry smile as they yanked the empty chairs and sat in front of him.
"Stupid question... but are you okay?" Callista started, seeing the weary lines on his handsome face.
"I think so," he forced a smile. "It's a shock."
"You wanna drink?" Castor said that Caly glared at him. "Or cry? Whatever is it you want.”
Franco let out a chuckle. "No. I'm okay. But I think you should know that I will let Mr. Yusuf take care of the whole... family business thing. Is that okay?"
"Hey, it's your choice," Castor commented.
"How about the hotels and your winery?"
"I'll keep it," Franco answered with a genuine smile. "It's gonna be hard without Father's connections but... I want to try. I wanna go further without lies and betrayal and stepping on people. I know it won't be an easy transition so I'll probably need your help.”
His blue eyes hardened. "In exchange, I promise our children will only inherit the good things in life."
"That depends on you Franco." He leaned forward. "I won't give up the power that lets me protect the people I love unless you show me how good the alternative is."
He caught Callista's surprise. But he hoped she would understand where he was coming from. All these deaths had open up his eyes to what he truly wanted.
"That doesn't mean I'm not rooting for you. I'll support you." Castor ruffled his brother's hair. "I'm your older brother after all."
Franco swatted his hand away. "I'm older than you!”
Caly grinned at them as the somber mood improved.
"And Caly?" Franco asked.
"I don't know yet." She shook her head. "I wanted a normal life...”
Castor felt his chest ache.
"But if that's what you want Franco, I'll give you all the support you need," she added with a wide smile.
~~~~
Franco had found himself walking around the city with no aim. He talked big with Caly and Castor but his mind was still a big mess.
One thing was clear though. He would have a different path than his father.
And his mother...
Her decision was painful.
It shocked him. He didn't want to care. He didn't want to cry. He didn't want to shed tears for an unfeeling mother.
But fuck it.
There was a gaping hole in her heart.
Did it mean that in the end... she did love him?
That question would never have an answer.
But he was starting to realize that no matter how much he denied it, he had cared for Althea Castellano. She had been his mother for almost twenty years.
Dandelions floated before his eyes.
"Hi! Want to buy flowers?"
Franco arched an eyebrow at the girl who's holding a bouquet of yellow dandelions. She beamed at him and he raised his eyes to see that he stood before a flower shop.
"What does it mean?" he asked.
The girl blinked in confusion before she smiled. "Ah, it means 'overcoming hardship'. It's the flower of healing. You know you need this! That frown in your face... dandelions will make you feel better!”
He laughed. Her biological mother had believed in that and yet, she hurt Castor for years.
If flowers healed everything, his life would be so much better.
"Why are you laughing, mister? Flowers heal, you know." She declared, eyes burning with a challenge.
Franco cleared his throat. "Sorry. I wasn't insulting you. How much is it?"
"You're gonna buy? Oh my god! You're my first customer!”
Franco chuckled. Her sunny disposition was contagious. "Hey, what's your name?”
She looked back from her task. Her brown hair shining against the sun as another smile lit up her face. "I'm Ivy."
***
CHAPTER 52
Callista brushed her hair, letting it fall in over her shoulders. She could hear Castor playing with some game. He was quiet the whole time they went back to her mansion.
He sat on the floor in his pajamas, back flat against the edge of her bed. He was frowning at his phone screen. "Stupid Franco! You're a marksman! Stop rushing!"
She chuckled at the Italian profanities that spilled from his mouth. Caly sat behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs on his body, kissing his hair. "You just died."
He snorted, leaning to her touch. "I can't believe that PJ is better than Franco. To think he's old.”
"PJ is young at heart." Caly hugged him tighter. His skin was scorching. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yeah, wait." He continued tapping at his phone as Caly watched over his shoulder.
"Loser," she teased.
"Look at my kills, darling."
"That doesn't matter. Your team lost. So you're a loser," she chuckled and kissed his cheek as the game ended.
Castor twisted and laid his head on her stomach. "What were you saying?"
"What you said to Franco... I was surprised." She raked her fingers through his hair. "Do you want to live here and carry on the business?"
"Yes," he answered. "I want a better future for Franco. A much better future for us. But that day... I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Losing you." Castor gripped her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. "I felt helpless. I couldn't do anything without you and Franco's decision. I remember thinking that I would kill anyone who would get in my way.”
"Cas..."
"I don't ever want to feel that helpless again." He met her eyes. "If it's for you and my family, I don't mind using all the resources I have. That's what I decided.”
She smiled. "I understand. It's okay."
"You still want me?"
"I will never not want you." She embraced him tighter, setting her chin on his shoulder. "Thank you. For saving me that day... and years ago.”
She felt him tense.
"I know why you didn't tell me, Cas. And I know why you never used it against me even if you saw how desperate I was to pay my debt."
"Really? Why do you think I hid it?" She could feel him smiling.
"Because I know that you want me to like you for who you are. And not because I have a debt to pay.”
Castor stood up and draw her to his arms. They sat on the floor with her on his lap. "You know me that much?”
"Of course I do." Callista turned to look at him, caressing his cheek. "Thank you for everything, Cas. And I meant what I said, I will always want you with me. It was because of you that I realized what I wanted all along."
"A family."
He smirked. "With who?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sure I could find someone.”
"No need. I volunteer." Castor locked his lips in hers. The kiss was deep, hard, and passionate like there was no tomorrow. He bit her lip before he ravaged her mouth. He moved his head and whispered in her ear. "Marry me.”
"Shouldn't you be on your knees?”
He set her on the edge of the bed, kneeling between her legs. His fingers grazed the skin on her thighs. Castor arched an eyebrow. "Is this alright?”
Callista held his face between her palms. "Over and over, I keep leaving you. But that will never happen again. I love you and I promise that no matter what kind of shit life throws at us, I will always be by your side."
"That a yes?"
Her reply was muffled by another kiss. Castor pushed her back on the bed as his tongue surged between her lips. She moaned at the feel of his hot skin. Her hands roamed around from his toned abs to his broad shoulders. Her legs wrapped around his waist, hearing Castor's groan at the sudden contact.
His lips licked at her neck before he bit and suck at the same spot.
"Wait." She yanked at his hair, causing him to growl in annoyance.
"What?"
"You didn't say you love me," she complained with a small pout.
Castor laughed as his face hovered over hers. His thumb stroked her cheek lovingly. "I love you, your majesty. There's no one else I want by my side.”
She kissed his cheek. "That's better."
***
CHAPTER 53
Franco Castellano glanced at his Rolex as Ivy arranged his order. It was his mother's birthday and even if three years had passed, he still had a lot to learn about flower language.
But Ivy had helped him a lot.
She was a breath of fresh air from his chaotic world. Ivy was busy with her own business but she didn't mind if ever he would come and hang around.
Though she told him once that she would've been more thankful if he helped in the store.
Her bluntness made him laugh so he decided to help out in the marketing aspect of the flower shop.
His phone chimed and Castor's message sprang up.
'Tell her I'm busy. Or make up excuses.'
He rolled his eyes at his brother's stupidity. But thank god he was used to it. He knew Castor's weakness after all.
'I'll tell Caly'
'Fuck you! Are we family or not?"
'Caly's my sister tho.'
'Fckkkkk'
He chuckled and sent him a laughing emoji.
"What are you laughing at?" Ivy mumbled, handing him the bouquet of purple and pink hydrangeas. "Here. Tell your mother a happy birthday for me."
Franco nodded. "Thanks. And I'll need one more—"
"For who?" She flushed and corrected her question. "I mean, is there another celebration?"
"Yeah." He stifled his laugh. "What do girls like to receive?”
"Finally! You realize that you haven't ordered flowers for your dates and such, right?" She chuckled before she clasped her hands together. "Anyway, I suggest camellia for affection and admiration. Amaryllis for beauty. Light red carnations are also great."
"What would you like to receive?"
"Me?" Her brown eyes widened as she took off her rubber gloves. "I don't know. But sunflowers or yellow roses would be nice.”
"Then give me both of that."
Ivy gaped at him. "But—"
"Okay. I'll be direct," Franco muttered, saving her from further confusion.
Castor, as much as he hated it, had told him once to stop beating around the bush and say what he wants, that women were as clueless as men. He had said it at his bachelor's party that PJ had to remind him that it took him years before telling Caly what he felt.
Franco even thought that it wasn't really good advice at that time but of course, his drunken mind could barely register anything.
But yes, Cas had a point.
It had been three years since he met Ivy.
"Can I ask you out?"
"W-what?" she stammered. "But Franco... I'm not sure that I—"
"Do you like me?" he asked. Franco grabbed her hands. "Because I like you. I like spending time with you but if you don't, well... I guess I'll accept that."
Ivy was quiet for a second. She sighed and gazed at him. "Of course, I like you. But you have to be sure. I know your story and you know mine."
"I know that. And I'm sure."
It took him a long time to get over his past hurt. He had buried himself in work and in convincing Castor and Caly that investing in him was worth it.
Castor kept setting him up with different women but he couldn't bring himself to care. He hadn't dated since Elena died. And it was even harder to date after knowing how he was conceived.
His life sucked. He was born because of a crime. It was difficult to accept. And he didn't want to drag anyone into that.
But like everything, things got better.
His family didn't treat him any differently. In fact, his circle grew and all of them knew him not because of his last name but of what he had accomplished and what kind of person he was.
And that when he had told Ivy the truth, her only reaction was how it felt to have half-siblings because she was in the same situation. That her father had two families. They had talked for hours before he realized that his origin didn't matter.
He was his own person.
"Fine."
"Thank god!" he exclaimed and kissed the back of her hands. "Then, can you be my date at Mother's party?"
Ivy gasped, yanking her hand and crossed her arms. "What! Our first date involves meeting your family?"
"Why not?" Franco replied. "We'll be together for a long time.”
She reddened at his words. "If you're sure then.”
"Thank you." He gestured to the flowers. "And for these."
Ivy arched an eyebrow. "You know that's not free, right?”
He laughed. "I know that."
~~~~
Callista Genovese entered the shop she frequented and head straight to the accessories section. She had found the store two years ago. It was a small gift shop with rainbow-colored walls. Everything was just bright like it was made for kids.
She chose a pair of star earrings for her mother in law. Caly was about to choose a charm for her bracelet when somebody cleared their throat.
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