39. We Could Pretend

"Stellina, what are you doing there?" Diego's voice jolted the attention of Stellina who had been watching the scene outside the window of the mansion for the past hour. Stellina was even more surprised to see Diego coming with two cups in each hand. As he got closer, the distinctive aroma of tea greeted Stellina's sense of smell. "Why are you here all of a sudden?" asked Stellina, her gaze fixed on the two gels. Diego stopped in his tracks beside Stellina and handed her one of the gels. "For you. I made these personally," he said as he held out his hand. Stellina looked at the glass Diego handed her in surprise. Diego almost never made tea for Stellina. In fact, she thought he might be doing some other work right now. "Why did you make this for me?" asked Stellina, showing her suspicion openly. "I don't think there's any reason for you to suddenly be so nice to me." Diego's thin smile that signaled sincerity faded in an instant. Now the look of annoyance on his face was immediately apparent after hearing Stellina's question. "Do you suspect me?" Diego immediately guessed. His tone sounded unaccepting of the implied accusation in Stellina's words. Recognizing Diego's annoyance, Stellina couldn't help but laugh. Stellina just laughed without holding back. "No, no. I was just asking. Why are you making me this tea all of a sudden," Stellina replied as she looked up and smiled meaningfully, deliberately challenging Diego. Diego took a deep breath, then let it out. He extended the hand holding the glass for Stellina longer. "Take this glass first. My hands are sore," Diego pleaded urgently. A look of exasperation crossed his face at Stellina. Stellina waved her hand with an amused laugh before taking the glass. The aroma of tea grew stronger as Stellina tried to sip the drink slowly. "Thank you. I was even more surprised after seeing your acts of humanity." Stellina deliberately insinuated Diego in a joking tone. Because all this time, let alone their first meeting together, Stellina had only seen Diego's violent side. That's why Stellina didn't expect Diego to act humanely every time. Diego's life was filled with guns, murder, illegal business, and the like. Unfortunately, Diego's humane actions only surfaced recently. So Stellina still couldn't believe it. "I'm evil, but no human is completely evil," Diego replied before taking a sip of his drink. He leaned forward, looking out the window. Stellina sneered. As she looked back out the mansion's window, she took another sip of her drink. "Why do you sound so wise now?" asked Stellina, mockingly. Diego smiled proudly as he leaned his left side against the window. Instead of feeling offended by Stellina's sarcastic question, Diego deliberately showed a haughty expression. "I'm not pretending to be wise, but I am. Otherwise, why would I hold such a high position?" Diego threw the question back in self-defense. Stellina was somewhat surprised by Diego's unexpected level of confidence. For a split second, Stellina was dumbfounded and watched Diego in amazement. "Oh my, you really..." Stellina was left speechless. As a result, she chose not to reply to Diego. Diego smiled wryly as his interlocutor could no longer move. But Stellina did not care. "You haven't answered my question. Why are you standing here?" Diego changed the subject. Stellina paused for a moment, then chuckled. "Don't you ever just stand around and watch your surroundings?" "Quite often," Diego replied. "But it happens whenever I feel restless, or have a lot of thoughts in my brain." "That's why I'm standing here," Stellina replied. "I don't know why the image of the accident is still vivid in my mind. Arianna is asleep anyway." Diego frowned. "Are you sure that's the only reason?" he asked, looking at Stellina uncertainly. Then he straightened up and looked at Stellina more closely. "It's not because you're tired of being at home all the time?" Seeing Diego suddenly move closer to her made Stellina automatically step back. Stellina did not hesitate to look at Diego strangely. "Don't get too close." Stellina warned. Diego took a step back and grunted in exasperation. His lips briefly curled downward in a sneer. "I'm not going to do anything to you." "I still won't," Stellina replied. "I'm actually getting a little tired of being in the mansion all the time." Hearing Stellina's answer made Diego immediately look at her seriously. Diego automatically positioned himself as if he wanted to know more. "Do you want to go for a walk to relieve your boredom? Just tell me." Stellina looked at Diego strangely. For a moment, she watched the man who seemed to be waiting for an answer. Witnessing the look on the face in front of her now, Stellina remembered how Arianna's expression was of asking something and wanting to know the answer immediately. Arianna and Diego were almost exactly the same. Instantly Stellina could not help but laugh amusedly and forget the memory of the accident with Fabian. "Diego, can you not always look ridiculous in my eyes?" Stellina was already looking out the window as she didn't want to laugh at Diego any more. Diego's eyebrows drew together. Diego was taken aback by Stellina's reaction. "What's wrong with you? I'm asking seriously," Diego said. From the way he spoke, Diego sounded furious at Stellina. Why wasn't she taking his question seriously? "Jesus, Stellina. I feel like a clown in front of you. You've completely ruined my mafia image," Diego continued to complain and exhale harshly. "Okay, I'm not going to joke." Stellina tried to calm her laughter as Diego was already visibly upset. "Your questions and facial expressions are just like Arianna. I don't need to go out with you, Diego." Diego still gave Stellina a bemused look. But even so, he still replied, "So what? Are you afraid it will interfere with my work?" Stellina muttered as she thought for a moment. "That might be a reason, but it's not the main reason-" "It's fine. Don't feel worried. If you're bored at home, you can tell me so I can keep you company. When you want to go somewhere, don't go alone, so that something like this doesn't happen again." Stellina was almost dumbfounded by Diego's long-winded words. To make matters worse, Diego cut her off. Stellina was momentarily stunned. Her eyes were dazed as she looked at Diego. "I haven't even finished talking, Diego," she said later. Diego, who had been so excited, suddenly realized what a fool he had been. With sudden embarrassment, Diego immediately relaxed his enthusiasm and returned to his normal demeanor. After loosening the collar of his shirt, Diego said, "Okay, continue what you were saying before." Stellina sighed softly as she shook her head. She had a small smile on her face. "The honest reason is because I only miss my parents." Gradually the annoyance on Diego's face faded. Diego was silent, watching Stellina intensely. At that moment Diego saw Stellina arch a faint smile, but there was sadness implied there. As she let out a long sigh and looked at the sky, Stellina said, "My parents and I are very far apart. Since they and I used to see each other, now I'm thinking about how they're doing over there." Diego remained unmoved. When Stellina said that, he felt sorry for her. Diego said nothing as he took his cell phone from his pants pocket and turned on the screen. "Do you want to see them?" Diego asked Stellina. Stellina's gaze shifted to Diego and took in the cell phone he handed her. Stellina remembered that she had left her cell phone in Diego's car, which had been damaged in an accident. "I know your cell phone is broken. Just use my cell phone to call them." Diego persuaded Stellina as he handed her the phone once again. He gestured for Stellina to quickly accept it. Stellina was immediately touched by Diego's words. Although Diego's face looked nonchalant, his concern was evident in his eyes. The corners of Stellina's lips curved into a wide smile as she accepted Diego's cell phone. Diego had already unlocked the screen before Stellina opened the contacts and searched for the phone number of Camila, Fabian's younger sister who was with her mother. Stellina set the call to video call. Then Stellina immediately got ready to fix her hair when the video call camera turned on. Diego's cell phone was held up a few inches from his face. While Stellina was still waiting for the video call to be picked up by Camila, Diego watched from the side. So intense and serious. Unbeknownst to Stellina, seeing how Stellina's expression changed, Diego secretly curved a small smile. Diego almost couldn't help but laugh when Stellina wiped a strand of hair back. "Why won't you say that-" Stellina's words stopped after the video call changed appearance. Camila's face was there. Within a second, Stellina was smiling from ear to ear. "Camila!" Stellina greeted Camila, who was still adapting to the camera. A few seconds later, Camila immediately waved at Stellina. "Hello, Stellina!" Camila greeted Stellina back. "Oh, my, how are you doing over there?" "I should be the one asking that! I'm fine here, how are you and my mom?" asked Stellina, her voice sounding like she was about to cry. Her longing filled her heart and overwhelmed her in an instant. Camila then pointed the video call camera at Stellina's mother. "Stellina's mother, Stellina is looking for you," Camila said after the camera had been directed at Stellina's mother. Stellina felt her heart was touched after watching her mother give a warm smile and wave. Stellina had never been separated from her mother for this long, let alone this long, period of time. "Mother," Stellina called. "How are you doing over there now?" Stellina's mother finally took over the camera phone Camila had given her. Seeing Stellina's face, Stellina's mother's face then turned very bright. "Mom's news is very good, Stellina. Mom is resting at home. Are you well there, dear?" Hearing her mother's soft voice made Stellina grimace with tears. But Stellina tried not to show her sadness to her mother, not wanting to worry her. Stellina nodded her head. She forced her lips to curve a smile. "Yes, I'm healthy. Very healthy." Despite the fact that she was lying. Stellina did not want to give the news that she and Fabian had an accident. Especially the news that she was almost attacked by members of the Nuvoletti Clan—Diego's enemies. "You should be fine there, Stellina. I'm doing well here, too. You know how much I miss you." Stellina sighed softly with a chuckle. "I miss you too. It's been a long time since we've been away from each other since you went to Rome." Stellina's mother immediately put on a pitiable face. Remembering the separation of the two of them made each of them unable to hold back the longing. "But it's okay, Mother, you went there because you wanted to accompany father during his treatment. I'm here taking care of my father's printing press," Stellina replied, explaining at length. Diego, on the other hand, was still watching Stellina as she sipped the remaining tea. Stellina enthusiastically recounted the progress of her father's printing press. "...and in a few months my father's printing business will be finished and I'll be able to follow you to Rome," she continued. After listening to Stellina's explanation, her mother curved her sweet smile. Stellina's mother had to chuckle as she imagined the scene of her daughter's explanation. "You're living a good life there, Stellina. I'm grateful that Diego is still giving you a decent life." Stellina's gaze shifted to Diego, who almost choked in shock. Diego was dumbfounded that his name had suddenly been mentioned by Stellina's mother, and his expression made Stellina barely suppress a mocking laugh. Stellina offered with a flick of her eyes whether or not Diego wanted to show up for the video call. But Diego shook his head and let Stellina have her time to talk to her mother. Still chuckling, Stellina said, "Thank goodness he's not as bad as I thought. Oh, yeah, so how's dad?" After the topic was deliberately changed by Stellina because she did not want to drag on her sadness, her mother had changed her sitting position. With a look of relief on her face, Stellina's mother smiled at Stellina. "Father's condition has started to improve, Stelina. The hospital has even found a lung donor. But your father needs to undergo various tests according to protocol." Stellina was relieved, though she was also a little worried that the lungs might not match her father. That thought was hastily dismissed by Stellina so as not to show her sad expression to her mother. "It's okay, Mom. I hope the process goes well." Stellina gave a comforting smile at the end of her sentence. Stellina's mother nodded her head in agreement. "Patricia is taking care of your father now, Stellina. She and I take turns looking after him." Stellina replied with a nod as well. After the pleasantries, they had time to talk about other things. Not for long, as Stellina felt uncomfortable using Diego's cell phone for long periods of time. As a result, when she felt that her longing had begun to be resolved, Stellina ended their phone conversation. "Alright, Mom. Let's end our conversation, shall we? I'm using Diego's cell phone, it's a pity that the owner is waiting," Stellina said to end the conversation. Stellina's mother waved her hand. The camera was pointed at Camila so they both waved to Stellina. Their behavior made Stellina chuckle. Soon the video call was over and Stellina handed the phone back to Diego. "Thank you, Diego," Stellina said. With a confident expression, Diego nodded and accepted the phone again. "Yes, you should thank me. But-" Before Diego could finish his sentence, his whole body stiffened when Stellina suddenly hugged him. Diego was dumbfounded and couldn't help but feel Stellina's arms around him. This was the first time Stellina had ever made physical contact with him. Diego swallowed saliva with difficulty as his throat suddenly constricted. On the other hand, Stellina did not realize that she was holding Diego tightly. That is, until Arianna suddenly arrived with a doll. "Mama, papa, look at my doll!" Suddenly, Stellina pushed Diego's body away. Letting go of the embrace, Diego almost stumbled backwards if he couldn't keep his balance. Stellina was immediately overcome with awkwardness, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. "Hey, Arianna. Where did you show up from?" Oh my. Stellina even asked that ridiculous question.