-Is that how you talk in front of my wife, brat?! -Umberto gritted his teeth and kept his eyes fixed on him -That’s how you bully your sister when I can’t see?
Adrian unconsciously took two steps back.
-What do you want? Are you going to hit me? I’m telling you, if you hit me, I’ll call someone right away and have my mother kick you all out.
Umberto clicked his tongue impatiently. That’s why he didn’t like children, they sometimes didn’t realize that they had said or done something hurtful without realizing it.
He didn’t know if this boy had said anything to Albina, since she hadn’t revealed much to him, but he didn’t have to think about it to know it would have been something like that.
If Antonio, Bianca and Hector hadn’t been so enthusiastic and hadn’t shown their affection for Albina, he feared that Alina would have been sad.
-Hitting people is not the only way to teach them a lesson in this world,” Umberto laughed coldly at Adrian. Tomorrow I’ll get in touch with someone to send you a van full of exercise books, there will be enough for you to go to college and prepare beforehand.
Umberto counted and gave her an unpleasant smile.
-You’re in your second school year, including this year, you have five more years of elementary school, three years of junior high and three years of high school, so it’s not much, you only have to write eleven years of homework and exercises. What do you think? Are you happy?
Adrian shuddered unconsciously at the thought of the van loaded with notebooks and papers.
His heart was frightened and aggrieved, his eyes were red-rimmed and he was on the verge of tears.
These eyes were much like Albina’s, which used to make Umberto’s heart ache when they were red. But when the boy cried, Umberto was a little happier.
-Hey, now you’re crying, aren’t you a man? Why do you keep shedding tears?
This careless mocking tone completely pushed back the tears Adrian was about to shed.
He winced and looked at Umberto with reddened eyes.
-What the hell do I have to do to stop you from handing in my homework?
Umberto saw him compromise and smiled.
-It’s easy, apologize to your sister.
-What? -Adrian froze. Why should I apologize to her?
-Don’t you owe her an apology for almost pushing her down the stairs today?
Umberto’s gaze was bland and cold as he said this.
When Adrian found out, he flew into a rage.
-How could she be like that? Why did she sue me?
Umberto snorted coldly:
-So what? What’s wrong with my wife coming to me to complain? Do you have a problem with that?
Adrian didn’t dare anger him, he knew Umberto was more ruthless than Hector and his father, and he didn’t care about any affection.
Umberto saw him holding his breath and then said in a lighter voice:
-Albina didn’t tell me, it was me who saw the red marks on her arm, as if she had been beaten. She tried to hide it for you, but I don’t think you’re worthy of Albina defending you like that.
Adrian froze and pursed his lips.
“It’s true Albina wouldn’t tell on me. When Hector came and I didn’t hear her complain.”
Adrian gritted his teeth and finally uttered the words.
-Okay, I’ll go apologize.
Umberto nodded at the sight of him.
“He’s not a bad boy, just a little clumsy and rather childish.”
-Adrian, I have to tell you that a real man must not only be strong and unbreakable, but also have the courage to admit his mistakes. You have to admit when you’ve done something wrong and make amends. Running away is not manly behavior, it is the sign of a coward. I’ll be waiting for your apology.
Umberto walked away.
Adrian looked at his tall, erect back with adoration in his eyes.
He suddenly realized that his brother-in-law was very handsome, a bit ruthless, but really cool.
Albina strolled alone in the garden after lunch, a habit she had already picked up.
Besides, the Espina family garden is relatively well kept and, now that the weather was starting to turn colder, there were still plenty of flowers and plants vying for attention.
When the breeze blew, the floral and herbal scent was very refreshing and invigorating.
Albina was walking through the garden when a small figure came running up and suddenly blocked her.
She stopped and looked at the man in front of her. The chubby boy had his head down so that only the fluffy curls on the top of his head were visible.
-Adrian, what’s wrong?
At the sound of Albina’s soft voice, Adrian suddenly became less nervous, but mustered up the courage to look at her.
-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed you today. I’m so sorry you almost got hurt.
Albina froze for a moment.
“Umberto’s trick really worked?”
-It doesn’t matter, it’s not like you pushed me on purpose. If you were sober I wouldn’t have done something like that, would I?
Adrian nodded heavily.
-Yes.
No matter how naughty he was, no matter how much he disliked someone, he would never do something like that, especially not when Albina was pregnant.
-Then I forgive you.
Adrian froze for a moment, he thought Albina was going to give him a hard time, but to his surprise, she readily accepted his apology and graciously forgave him.
When he had accidentally dropped one of Diana’s diamond necklaces, he had apologized and the necklace had not broken, but she ignored him for days.
Adrian suddenly felt a little overwhelmed, remembering what Umberto had said about making amends.
-Well, then, do you need me to do anything? -He tilted his little face and looked seriously at Albina.
Albina’s eyes softened, she made a thoughtful gesture and suddenly her eyes lit up.
-I was just taking a walk, but it’s no fun to be alone. Since you were born and raised here, you can show me around.
-Good,” Adrian nodded with a sigh, looked down at his bulging belly and hesitantly held out his small hand, his cheeks a little flushed.
Albina looked at the small hand extended in front of her and questioned him with her gaze.
-You’re pregnant and it’s nighttime, so we’d better hold hands so nothing happens to you,” Adrian said uncomfortably.
This childish voice made Albina freeze a little.
But then she smiled and reached out to take Adrian’s soft hand.
-Then I’ll take care of our little man.
Adrian snorted, puffed out his chest and his other hand patted it cockily.
-Leave him to me!