Chapter 134 - Selfish

GOAL :

20 GOLDEN TICKETS (month) = 2 extra Chap.

200 Power stones = 2 extra. chap.

(weekly)

...

It was around midnight when Persephone quietly and sneakily left her room. In the darkness of the Marino mansion, she descended the stairs, skillfully evading the cameras. As her figure faded into the abandoned wing where Lucien used to reside, she let out a sigh. 

No one was aware except for the family members that no CCTV cameras were installed in Lucien's wing. It was weird and almost suspicious to hear why a part of the residence such as Marino Mansion would be left without installing CCTV cameras when almost every corner of the mansion was covered. 

But it was what it was! And only Don Marino knew the reason behind it. 

Persephone was not a very intelligent woman to begin with. Sure, she was smart enough to save her ass if she landed in trouble but she wasn't as intelligent as Isabelle, who was trained as an agent to transfer information from one place to another. 

She knew a fair share of schemes and manipulation techniques and it was the reason why she had survived in Marino mansion. Otherwise, why would Alessandro Marino let her live when her mama and brother were already dead? It was just her smartest that guided her to pretend to be mute dumb cow. 

From the moment she had seen that information which had most probably gotten her mother killed in the first place, she had been racking her brain to think where the other chip could be hidden? And for a second, if she believed that the necklace that she had gotten from Carina was meant for her in the first place, then the other one would be with Lucien? 

Since Lucien was dead and the necklace or perhaps whatever carried the chip was nowhere to be found, the right step would be to find traces or any kind of evidence that would lead her to the chip would be found in Lucien's place? 

Just as she believed, the wing was empty and abandoned. It needs renovation but unfortunately, Don Marino wasn't pleased with spending any of his hard earned cent on this place. It reminded him of the son that he had killed with his own hands. It probably reminded him of the truth that he got his wife killed for another man, who he was more than ashamed to acknowledge. How sad! 

"Ouch," Persephone winced when the scratched rim of the wooden door brushed her feet. It might be bleeding but she didn't ponder on the pain. The small torch in her hand fell on the door and she silently opened it ajar. 

As she had just entered Lucien's old bedroom, she heard the sound of someone opening and closing the drawers. She opened her mouth to shriek but a palm covered her mouth and the torch in her hand fell on the ground. 

In the darkness, her eyes widened in fear. She was shivering badly. Why did she take such an impulsive step? If not for anyone, she must have thought about her baby, shouldn't she? 

She tried to bite the hand but to no avail. She moved her leg to kick her in the groin but as if understanding the inventions, he closed her legs with his. 

"Don't even think about this,"A familiar raspy voice rang in her ear. It was only then she realised that the smells and the arms she was enveloped with were very familiar. 

"Why is it you?"Persephone whispered as soon as his palm loosened on her mouth. What on earth was this man doing here in the first place. It was Lucien's place, not a place where anyone can come anytime! 

"Shh!" His finger was placed on her finger as he looked behind to see out the window if someone was following them or not! "Keep quiet or your daddy dearest's men will come running for our lives!" 

"You were planning on screwing over Alesaandro Marino?" Realisation hit her hard. Now she understood why she found him creepy and suspicious. Everytime, he would be at their house, he would be studying everything and everyone. Initially, she thought he was just curious about the vintage Italian decor but no… 

He was studying everyone and everything from the very beginning. This whole situation was fucked up. Her papa truly considered Santiago as a very trusted ally. Suddenly, the thought that he was cheating her father was acting as an ice cube on her burned heart. 

"What does this have to do with you?" Santiago said, narrowing his eyes at her. 

Persephone scoffed at him. "You are at Lucien's wing. One shriek and the body guards will come running here. No matter how unfavourable I might be to Don Marino, he would still choose to believe my words than yours. And both of us know what kind of treatment his betrayers receive." 

Don Marino was a naturally untrusting man. He was the kind of man who shot his son dead just because he had doubts that he might betray him in the future. If he could do this to his son, then who was Santiago? Persephone just needed to sow a seed of mistrust against Santiago in his mind and he would take care of this cold and regal son-in-law of his! 

But the thought of Santiago getting hurt by anyone and anything was unsettling to her. 

"But I know you won't shout," The charming bastard said with a confident smile. How on earth could this simple smile of his affect her so much? Ugh, she must be crazy to think that his cancer-curing, Himalayas' melting and debt-settling smile was simple! 

Wait, this wasn't the right place to describe his smile! 

And why on this green green earth was she blinking her eyes? Someone stop it! 

"How cocky, Santiago about-to-screw-over-Don-Marino Vitello!" Persephone glared at him! 

"How creative." Persephone about-to-become-Vitello. He even pinched her chin after the unsaid name. 

"What were you doing here?" Persephone narrowed her eyes at him. Her green orbs were angry at him and he seemed to be loving this moment. Why was it that the girl could affect his every mood? 

"I can ask the same question, can't I?" Santiago questioned back. "But did I ask such a boring question?" 

Persephone gaped at him. She could get him killed anytime but look at his audacity! Instead of begging for his life, he was arguing with her. How insolent! 

"Go back to your room," Santiago sighed out. "This place is not safe for you." 

"Really?" Persephone said sarcastically. "You are thinking of hurting my family for some reasons that I have no interest in hearing and expect me to go back to my room quietly? What do you think of me? Do you think I will let you go now?"

"I'm gonna kill your father, right before your eyes. What are you gonna do?" Persephone's intention was to glare at him but when she saw the look of certainty and seriousness in his eyes, she paused. Would it be wrong of her to say that she could feel her eyes tearing up after reading the pain in his eyes? And why was her heart ready to believe him? He could be a faux. 

"What did he do to you?" Persephone whispered, her fingers tenderly running on her face. 

He closed his eyes and caught her hand. He kissed her wrist and murmured when he opened his icy blue eyes to meet her warm greens. "The same thing he did to you. He killed my family." It was Don Marino who got his parents killed, not the so-called accident, not by accident. He did it on the words of Lorenzo. 

"You are lying," said Persephone with a hard tone. "My family is alive." She wouldn't admit the truth before an outsider. 

"Come on, Red," Santiago scoffed. "I have enough proof to prove that Alessandro Marino got Penelope Marino and Lucien Marino killed. If you don't believe me, I can always show you the evidence but your eyes tell me that you are testing me. You know the truth but won't want to admit it." 

"You know nothing about me," Persephone said, getting out of his hold. 

"I don't think anyone knows you or can know you better than me," Santiago whispered. In a loud voice, he added,"You know the truth and it's up to you if you want to admit it or not! We can be allies and you can avenge your family." 

Persephone turned her head to look at him in hatred. "Can't you see that I don't want to avenge anyone?! I just want to survive! I never wanted anything to do with this family but I am still stuck here! The dead can't come back even if I avenge them at the cost of my life!" 

"Aren't you selfish? Still you only know how to survive!" Santiago mocked her. 

If getting herself away from the power struggle and the game of revenge meant that she and her baby would be safe, she was happier to take this selfish step.