22. He Has All The Power

Stellina was stunned when Diego's car stopped at a motel instead of the mansion where they lived. Diego's car engine had died after being parked on the motel grounds. At that moment, no one spoke to each other. Stellina and Diego were still trapped in an atmosphere of tension. Ever since the incident at Stellina's father's factory, she knew that Diego's resentment toward her had not disappeared. While unbuckling her seat belt, Stellina thought about letting the situation between them remain silent. But Stellina suddenly felt uncomfortable as she saw Diego's piercing gaze through the glass above them. "Why are you taking me to a motel? We're not going back to the mansion?" Finally Stellina, who couldn't help herself from the constant silence, spoke up. Unfortunately, Diego gave no reaction or answer. He was also in no mood to look at Stellina and was still unfastening his seat belt. Even the look on Diego's face was one of annoyance for who knows what reason. Stellina immediately sighed softly. Actually, she had guessed that Diego might not answer her question. Just because she was desperate to ask a question after not being able to stand the tension. "Come down now. I'll make a reservation," Diego said, not answering Stellina's question at all. In the end, Stellina was forced to comply with Diego's words despite her lingering curiosity. After opening the car door, Stellina followed Diego who preceded her without guilt. Truly, Stellina was at a loss to know how annoyed he was to the point of constantly silencing her. "Diego, aren't you going to answer my question?" she protested as she followed him. Since Diego's legs were much longer than Stellina's, it made his pace faster. Stellina had a hard time keeping up with Diego. Stellina was annoyed to realize that Diego didn't care that she was struggling. Stellina deliberately stomped her feet after finally arriving next to Diego. "Can you please respond to my words? Why don't you stop ignoring me?" Stellina uttered her irritation like a child. Diego kept his hands in his pants pockets, passed through the motel entrance without giving Stellina a second thought, and then ignored her again. Stellina's words were taken for granted, because in his heart now his irritation was still so strong. Diego couldn't talk to Stellina in the motel lobby. He could accidentally let his emotions out and scold Stellina in public. "Hello, ma'am. I've booked a room for one night," Diego said to the receptionist. The receptionist processed Diego's room order. Then she handed Diego the room key. Diego nodded his head in thanks. He turned around and grabbed one of Stellina's wrists. "Hey, why are you still keeping me quiet?" Stellina protested again, seizing the opportunity. Diego still held Stellina's hand as he led her along. The direction of his gaze was still forward, as if he did not notice Stellina beside him. This irritated Stellina even more. Mid-step, without regard for the three other visitors around her, Stellina jerked Diego's hand away. Stellina's steps stopped abruptly. Stellina's sudden action caused Diego to immediately avert his eyes. His steps also stopped to look at Stellina confused and annoyed. "What are you doing?" Diego asked in an accusatory tone. Stellina was annoyed with Diego, and she showed it openly with her sharp eyes. "Why are you asking me that? I should be the one asking, what do you mean you're keeping me quiet?" asked Stellina, who was immediately lashing out at Diego for being so annoyed in the first place. Diego frowned deeply, confused by Stellina's question. "I can't talk to you here," he replied later. "There are people who can hear. We'll talk when we get to the room." Stellina sighed heavily as she laughed sarcastically. "I know you're upset, but you shouldn't have kept me quiet for so long. We can talk at the mansion-" Diego suddenly moved closer to Stellina until their toes touched. Diego looked at Stellina sharply, bringing her words to an abrupt halt. "Then you want Arianna to overhear our potentially contentious conversation?" Diego cut in, his voice low but emphatic. Stellina immediately couldn't say anything else, let alone watch Diego's piercing eyes. Stellina's breath was held because she was so nervous. Diego's intimidating aura really shone through. "Don't say anything here now, let's go to the room and talk about the problem." Diego spoke those words in a firm but calm tone. Without much ado, Diego turned around. Still in silence, Stellina watched Diego's back move away. Stellina breathed a sigh of relief only after Diego stepped away from her. "Why is the aura so tense?" Stellina muttered, both grumbling and wondering. Not wanting to stall for time, Stellina hurriedly followed Diego's footsteps. The two of them did not walk hand in hand like a married couple. As they walked, Diego seemed to pay no attention to Stellina and tended to step ahead of her. It wasn't long before they arrived at the room. The door opened, they entered, and Diego pulled Stellina's hand away from the door. Before that, Diego had locked the door first. Stellina winced in surprise and pain at Diego's firm grip on her wrist. It was quieter now than in the lobby, and that made Stellina wary of Diego. "Are you out of your mind?" she asked Diego once again, placing both hands on her waist. Stellina paused for a moment, stroking Diego's grip marks. The look on her face was a little wary of Diego doing something to her-because right now, this guy's expression was downright creepy! "I don't know what you mean," Stellina replied. Her voice was a little squeaky with worry. "Don't understand?" Diego tilted his head slightly because Stellina was shorter than him. "We have an agreement not to reveal that you are Stellina. You have a responsibility to protect your identity so as not to arouse suspicion!" Hearing Diego's raised tone made Stellina somewhat surprised. Stellina closed her eyes and turned her face away in shock. "You didn't think things through at all," Diego continued blaming Stellina. His tone was harsh and sharp. Stellina did not reply. With her face turned the other way, Stellina held back her anger. She remembered that moments ago, she had come to her father's printing company. Diego had told Stellina not to come to the printing company. But Stellina had to do it because she wanted to see how her father's printing company was doing. For Stellina, she was still her father's daughter, which meant that she also held the responsibility to care about the condition of her family's printing company. Stellina can't just leave it at that even though her father is currently hospitalized in Rome. Unfortunately, it was Stellina's actions that angered Diego. Not only because Diego was worried that someone might find out that Stellina's cover was blown, but also because Stellina denied Diego's orders. In the midst of the silence, without Stellina answering, Diego approached and tilted his head. Diego's face was already snarling in annoyance at Stellina. "Did you deliberately want to tell others about your disguise?" Diego asked in a low voice, almost a whisper, near Stellina's ear. Stellina, on the other hand, looked away from Diego and shook her head. "Not at all..." "Then why did you contradict my prohibition, huh?" Diego's glaring eyes froze Stellina's entire body. For a few seconds, she was tongue-tied and unable to do anything. Stellina gulped down saliva, her throat constricted. "I didn't mean..." Stellina's voice trailed off. "I didn't mean that at all. I am my father's son, and the company belongs to his family. Isn't it normal for me to want to check how things are going there?" Stellina was really nervous. But she also didn't want to take the blame. Whether Diego would believe her or not, she didn't want to make up false excuses. Hearing Stellina's words, Diego laughed sarcastically. His face retreated with his steps, slightly distancing himself from Stellina. "Oh my. That excuse sounds stupid, Stellina. You knew I'd be there, but you said that?" Diego asked later. His lopsided smile really showed that he underestimated Stellina. On the other hand, Stellina did not speak for a moment. For some reason, the figure of Diego in front of her now was different than usual. This was the first time Stellina had witnessed Diego's anger directly at her. "I'm telling the truth," Stellina retorted once again, now with emphasis-not caring if Diego would be angry with her. "It is my right to examine how you took over my father's printing company. I want to know-" "Stellina, don't you trust me?" interrupted Diego before Stellina could finish her sentence. Stellina stopped talking. On the other hand, she didn't know what to say to Diego. There was a feeling in her heart that she didn't trust Diego to take over her father's printing company. Stellina was also worried about the welfare of her father's printing company workers when it was managed by Diego. Although Stellina already knew that Diego was experienced in managing businesses because he was a well-known mobster, Diego was still a stranger to her. "You don't believe me," Diego said, widening his sardonic smile at Stellina. "You don't have to say it, Stellina. I guessed it from the look on your face." "Is it wrong that I can't trust you right away?" asked Stellina, finally saying what she was thinking. Diego looked at Stellina while shoving his hands into his pants pockets. The look in Diego's eyes was truly disgusted with Stellina. "You're still a stranger, Diego, despite your experience in managing similar businesses," Stellina added, no longer hesitating this time. "Then who are you going to hand over power to? Someone else?" Diego asked, but his tone challenged Stellina. Stellina fell silent. Suddenly her confidence dropped slightly as she shrank. "You don't have anyone you trust who can take over your father's printing company. Besides, it's an agreement between us," Diego said, deliberately alluding to their agreement. Stellina couldn't answer anymore. When Diego mentioned the deal, Stellina thought about her father's care being paid for by Diego. "I can't keep letting you do this," Diego's voice became firm. His gaze was sharp as he moved closer to Stellina. "I don't accept any excuses, Stellina. Since we made a deal, it's a risk you'll have to take when I take over your father's printing company," Diego added to his sentence, now pointing his index finger in front of Stellina's face. Stellina gasped slightly and noticed Diego's index finger in front of her face. "Listen carefully, one more time I see you act like that, I won't forgive you, Stellina," Diego threatened without caring how Stellina felt. "Since you've only acted once, I can accept what you did. But never once will you secretly visit the printing company without my knowledge!" "And remember, Stellina, I can cancel the treatment for your father at any time. After all, I hold more power than you." Stellina looked at Diego right in those piercing eyes. Again, there was silence between them. stellina did not reply for a split second, letting Diego's jaw drop in front of his face. "No need to threaten me like that, Diego," Stellina said. For some reason, Diego's threat just now felt offensive to her. Removing Diego's index finger from in front of her face, the already annoyed Stellina deliberately gave him a sharp glare. Replying to the sharpness of Diego's eyes in front of her face. Suddenly, Stellina's action of removing her index finger took Diego by surprise. Never before had someone dared to treat him like Stellina. "Why do you have to threaten me? I'm just coming over, but you're so scared." Stellina ended her sentence with a chuckle, laughing at Diego. "You shouldn't act like a child. I know what to do-" "You don't know what to do, Stellina," Diego interrupted. "Don't keep interrupting me!" growled Stellina as Diego seemed to only listen to himself. Diego was immediately taken aback. Not because he was scared, but because he didn't expect Stellina to yell at him. "You dare yell at me?" Diego asked incredulously. "That's because you're only listening to yourself, I've explained myself to you so many times!" Stellina raised her tone to Diego. Not to be outdone by Diego's stubbornness. Diego looked at Stellina sharply for a split second. And for that long, Diego remained silent as Stellina snapped at him.