Chapter 5: The Woman He Doesn't Want

Angelo's face darkened, his pride gone in an instant.

Livia inhaled deeply, maintaining a professional smile. "Is there anything else you need?"

His eyes narrowed further, and he said curtly, "Well played."

With that, she had managed to chase Angelo off.

Livia suddenly realized that Angelo seemed to be easily angered around her, a reaction she hadn't noticed before. Perhaps she hadn't been this defiant in the past.

She had been keeping an eye on Luke. After all, he was her ex's nephew and warranted some extra attention.

Luke had no love for studying. Once class began, he'd be sprawled out and asleep at his desk. He didn’t get along with his classmates. Even when others tried to reach out to him, he'd simply ignore them. He was just like Angelo.

Livia planned to have a serious talk with him in a couple of days.

On Friday after school, as Livia was still in her office, a teacher came running in. "Miss Ashcroft, that new student in your class got into a fight off-campus."

Luke had dislocated someone's jaw, leaving the kid with a swollen face and a black eye.

After sending the victim to the hospital, Livia instructed Luke to call Angelo. Luke made the call, but the other end went unanswered.

Annoyed, Livia pulled out her phone and dialed the number that didn't need saving – it was already etched in her memory.

Amidst a din, the call connected. Livia frowned, "Mr. Bradley?"

"Who's this?" A deep, magnetic voice laced with unfamiliarity came through.

Hearing the noise on the line, Livia simply hung up.

She covered the medical expenses upfront and explained the situation to the injured student's parents before taking Luke to find Angelo.

As they pushed open the VIP room door, they were met with a room swirling with smoke, excess, and a sight too indecent to behold.

Livia had Luke wait outside, wary of exposing him to the adult scenes within.

Men and women inside paused to stare at Livia as she entered – the music from the sound system the only thing that continued uninterrupted.

A brief scan of the room and Livia spotted Angelo sitting in a dimly lit corner.

He was smoking, the light from the ember brightening with each drag he took, highlighting his sharp features that appeared even more formidable in the gloom.

As ash flicked from his cigarette, someone switched on the lights, and those intense, almost predatory eyes scrutinized her. "Who let you in?"

Whispers filled the room, with some considering intervening until a hushed warning cut through the air, "That's Angelo's business, don't be foolish."

Taking the cue, the patrons settled back down.

Unfazed by Angelo's cold gaze, Livia marched up to him. "Luke put someone in the hospital. As his guardian, you should probably check on that?"

"How much is it going to cost me?" Angelo said indifferently.

Livia was furious.

"This isn't about money. It's about Luke sending someone to the hospital. Shouldn't you go see the kid and apologize to the other kid's parents?" Livia tried to keep her cool, not wanting to come off as a teacher who lacked patience.

Angelo looked over at the gaudily dressed man. "Donovan, get them out of here."

The onlookers were shooed away, and the music was turned off.

Angelo lazily took a drag from his cigarette and leaned back on the couch. He blew a few smoke rings and glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "If it's something that could've been said over the phone, why bother coming to see me?"

’What?’ she thought. 'Would I have come if his place hadn't been so noisy, making it impossible for me to hear what he had been saying?'

Biting back her anger, Livia said, "You're Luke's guardian. He's been in fights at school, and now someone's in the hospital because of him. Shouldn't you at least go to the hospital?"

"It's not something that needs to be done right now. You came all this way in a hurry. Sure you're not just eager to see me?" Angelo suavely flicked ash from his cigarette.

Livia felt helpless, realizing it had been a mistake and a waste of time to come to him.

Just as she stepped outside, Angelo, who had grabbed his coat, glanced at Luke's bruised face and remarked, "Sending someone to the hospital isn't worth bragging about. If you're really tough, keep them from coming after you."

Livia heard every word as she walked ahead, shocked that he would say something like that.

Back when they were together, they never considered these issues. They never delved into deep conversations about raising children.

But now, it was clear to her: his approach to parenting was horrifying.

"Where do you think you're going?" Angelo walked up to the car, addressing Livia as she continued to walk ahead.

"I'm getting a cab," Livia responded indifferently.

"My car’s right here,” he said.

Livia glanced at it and kept walking, trying to flag down a cab on the roadside.

Angelo couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

Luke watched the exchange with keen interest and said to Angelo, "You’d better charm her into it, man, or she's gonna give me grief."

Angelo shot Luke a glare of annoyance and advanced towards Livia, seizing her hand.

"Let go!" Livia demanded, trying to shake off his grip, yet he held on even tighter.

Angelo's gaze was unwavering. "Come with me."

"Mr. Bradley, if you keep pulling on me, I'll call the cops."

"Call the cops? Why didn't you think of that when I had you pinned to the bed?" Angelo taunted with ill intent.

Livia grew even more infuriated. Although she was usually articulate, facing him made her feel as if she had lost her voice.

Angelo didn't let go and pulled her toward the car. Livia glared at him, refusing to get in.

With a slight lift of his eyebrows, Angelo leaned in and whispered, "Miss Ashcroft, I'm sure you don't want me to kiss you in front of your student."

Livia's face flushed fiery red with anger, and she glared at him fiercely. She caught a glimpse of Luke sitting in the car, eagerly watching the scene unfold, which intensified her annoyance with Angelo's bold teasing.

Feeling pressured by Angelo's imposing demeanor, Livia reluctantly got into the passenger seat.

"Seatbelt," Angelo commanded tersely, exuding dominance.

Under his watchful eye, Livia buckled up, clearly against her will.

Angelo slammed the car door shut. On the road, he asked Luke why he got into a fight.

Luke touched his split lip, his tone defiant. "Because I look too good."

Livia frowned.

Angelo, steering with one hand, took a cigarette out with the other, lit it, and inhaled. "Don't cause Miss Ashcroft any trouble."

Livia pursed her lips, clearly unimpressed.

"I only hit back if hit first, that's what you taught me. They slap me, I throw a punch," Luke muttered rebelliously.

As Angelo saw Luke's reflection in the rearview mirror, he said, "I also told you, if you're not up for it, don't start it. Once you throw a punch, you’d better finish it clean. Don't make others clean up your mess."

Luke's arrogance seemed to deflate.

"Is this how you teach kids?" Livia asked incredulously.

Angelo glanced at her, "Got a problem with it?"

Only then did Livia realize she truly didn't know Angelo, despite being with him for three years. Aside from making love, she understood nothing about him.

At the hospital, the injured student's parents naturally demanded an explanation.

Livia mediated, asking how the whole situation started.

The battered student, with a swollen nose and freshly stitched chin, avoided eye contact after explaining.

Luke, on the other hand, was arrogantly defiant.

"You're sent to school to study, not to fight over jealousy," the man pinched his son's arm, "Pathetic. Let's go home!"

Angelo, hands in his pockets, sized Luke up. "Not bad, you’ve already got girls fawning over you on the first day."

Luke couldn't suppress a smirk. "Well, I guess I got that from you. I’m not going to lose to you."

Angelo tapped Luke's head. "Tone it down."

Luke rubbed his head and glanced at Livia.

Livia stated firmly, "Write an essay reflecting on your actions and hand it to me at school on Monday."

With that, she left.

Luke nudged Angelo, "Angelo, how well I do at school now depends on you."

"What's that got to do with me?" Angelo squinted at the figure, swiftly disappearing through the hospital entrance.

"If she's upset with you, she’ll take it out on me," Luke explained, patting his shoulder. "Do me a favor and treat her right."

Angelo's brow furrowed.

"Go after her, man," Luke urged, giving him a shove. "I'll take a cab home. You don't need to come home tonight, good luck."

Luke took off when Angelo raised his hand, looking back only to cheer him on. "Go for it."

Why should he care? She was just a woman he didn't want.

After returning home, Livia made some spaghetti. Just as she sat down, the doorbell rang.

Peering through the peephole, she saw Angelo's arrogant face. She took a deep breath and resolved not to open the door.

Her phone rang. It was him. She hung up, but he called again.

"What do you want?" Livia answered, her tone far from welcoming.

Angelo's voice was low and raspy, painfully magnetic. "Open the door."