The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 305: Family reunion

Chapter 305: Family reunion

Leave it," Beatrix whispered, her hand resting gently on Remo’s shoulder. "It’s all right, big brother." She cast him a defeated look, retracting her hand from his shoulder as she moved forward. Reluctantly, Remo stepped back, allowing her to approach Bolivar.

"What do you want now?" Beatrix hissed, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Forgive me, mia principesa," he began, his tone heavy with sincerity.

"Don’t call me that!" Beatrix’s retort was heated, edged with a sense of wounded pride.

"You’re right," he conceded solemnly, catching her off guard. Their eyes locked, and she searched his gaze, perplexed. "I’ve lost the privilege to address you so personally. My choice has shattered that bond. I thought that my decision alone could bring you happiness."

His words seemed to tug at Beatrix’s chest uncomfortably. She instinctively pressed a hand to her heart, as if physically trying to alleviate the pain. Against her will, fresh tears welled in her eyes.

"Don’t cry, mia principesa. I won’t stay long if it—"

"Don’t," she interrupted, her voice firm but her sentence remaining unfinished. Bolivar regarded her, an expectant expression on his face. Yet, she offered nothing more. He cleared his throat, about to speak again.

"I see you’re pregnant," he interjected, his tone changed, softer.

Beatrix met his gaze with defiance, her face set in determination as if ready to counter his every word.

"Yes, I am. And I have Damien and Rhys by my side."

A defeated smile curled Bolivar’s lips as he wiped a tear from his eye with his thumb and forefinger, his voice catching slightly.

"Are they treating you well?"

Beatrix was taken aback by his question, a sudden rush of conflicting emotions surging within her. She felt an urge to throw herself into his arms, to forget the past and its wounds.

"I thought you were against it. What made you change your mind?" she inquired, her voice a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

"What matters most is your happiness, mia principesa. That’s been my only wish, and you found it in both of them. Believe me, love, I wouldn’t have said it if I knew that it’d be the best option for you." He confessed gently.

"Don’t play this game," she protested, swiping at the relentless tears streaming down her cheeks. Bolivar edged closer, his hands hovering as if wanting to wipe her tears away. His eyes brimmed with desperation, a plea not to see her in pain.

"Am I hurting you? I could leave, amore. I never meant—" he started to say.

"Don’t come back here pretending everything’s fine. Nothing is fine. All I wanted was for you to be content with the choice I made—" Beatrix’s voice trembled.

"But I am happy, amore mio. I’m happy because you look so full, like thanksgiving turkey from noona," Bolivar’s nostalgic reference coaxed a small giggle from her. She averted her gaze, a fleeting moment of warmth lighting up her eyes. "That’s more like it. Let your smile shine, my little one."

Regaining her composure, Beatrix turned to him again, her eyes slightly swollen from crying. Bolivar pressed a hand to his chest. "You’re still the same little girl I first laid eyes on."

Beatrix remained silent, her gaze locked on his, a smile tugging at her lips, gradually transforming into a more pronounced expression.

"Can I at least have a hug from my grandchild before I go?" Bolivar’s plea hung in the air, his voice soft and vulnerable.

"I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness—" Bolivar’s words were cut short as Beatrix stepped into his embrace, enveloping him in a tight hug and burying her face in his neck.

"I’ve missed you, Papa. Won’t you at least say that too? Can we go back like how we were before?" her plea was filled with a mixture of longing and vulnerability. Bolivar held her close, his arms encircling her with a sense of protection, his face nestled in her hair.

"Mia principesa, I’m here as long as you need me. I’ve missed you so much, my child," he whispered, his voice tinged with emotion.

The tender moment was broken by Remo’s voice, injecting a touch of his characteristic sarcasm. "Well, now that we’ve had this touching reunion, how about we all head to Guillero for some chicken wings?" His wry grin earned surprised looks from the group.

Bolivar, however, walked up to Remo with a mixture of amusement and a hint of pain. "Come here, tough guy," he said, pulling Remo into an embrace despite his attempts to wriggle free.

"Let me go, old man. You ran away after a petty argument with your baby," Remo grumbled, folding his arms and turning away from the group. Laughter rippled through the others, and Matteo followed suit, approaching Bolivar and joining in the hug.

"Welcome back, father," his voice held a hint of solemnity.

"Thank you, Matteo," Bolivar replied, his smile revealing his genuine happiness. Matteo returned to Stella’s side.

"Ah Stella, good to see you again."

Stella smiled a faint blush taunting her cheeks as she extricated herself from Matteo’s grasp, moving gracefully towards Bolivar.

"Good morning, Mr. Quinn," her voice carried respect as she began to lower herself into a crouch. However, Bolivar’s swift action intercepted her gesture. His hands gently captured her elbows, halting her descent.

"Please, my dear, there’s no need for that," he spoke with genuine warmth, his eyes reflecting a sincere appreciation. "Merely seeing the one responsible for his smile is more than I could ask for." With a tender touch, he clasped her hands in his, extending a welcoming smile. "Welcome to the family, Stella"

Stella smiled, "Thank you."

"We’ll have plenty of time to get acquainted—unless your boyfriend decides to challenge me to a duel before he lets that happen," he added with a lighthearted tone as Matteo joined them, swiftly claiming Stella’s hands and encircling her in his arms.

"As the family gathering draws to a close, who’s up for some pappardelle?" Damien’s voice rang out as he led the group towards the cemetery’s exit.