Heart Darkness
Chapter 123 Because of Love ....

The atmosphere of the room at breakfast at the Durante family home was so gloomy in the morning. Reinha exhaled heavily repeatedly and she looked uninspired. She wanted to know her husband's news but was helpless.

"I'll take you to school. Listen Enya, your husband is ...."

"True reliability and he'll be fine," Reinha's cut sounded bored. "Yes, okay. I'll drive myself to school with Marya. Didn't you have an important meeting this morning?"

"Yes, you're right but I can't see you messing around, Reinha Durante. I'll take you two to school and pick you up later."

Maribella walks into the dining room scowling a little when she sees Abner recalling their quarrel last night. Marya observed that the two men were unable to curl an amused smile when they remembered Maribella's chatter about Abner and Luna Hugo. He finally burst into unexpected laughter so everyone noticed him.

"Marya?!" reinha's reprimand was confused.

"I am so sorry, Enya. Ii'm sorry. I just watched something really funny last night and didn't stop feeling funny until this morning. I'll be back later" Marya said apologetically and blurred as Abner's gaze rained heavily on her.

"Eh?! Marya?! You have to have breakfast! What's wrong with her?" asked Elgio in astonishment and saw the sour face of Abner and Maribella, Elgio was sure Marya knew something.

"Young master, I've prepared some menus and I wonder if Young Master agrees with me or not," maribella said at breakfast that she hoped Elgio would side with her because Abner looked like he was really going to strangle her.

"Maribella, since when did I protest at your cooking? Hmm?" elgio asked Maribella but squinted at Abner. "Did you have a fight with Abner last night, Maribella? You guys look like the enemy?" look at Elgio again when he saw the mimic Maribella who did not look at Abner, did not respond when they almost touched.

Maribella did not say a thousand words. Elgio frowned and turned to Abner.

"Abner?" Demanding answers.

"Do we need to argue in the morning, Elgio Durante?" attack Abner. Later his temperamental attitude was contagious to Abner. "We're going to the office starting meetings and auditing the financials of some of the divisions. You know our income is dropping this week drastically but I'm sure someone's dredging money ...."

"Are we gonna talk about this at the dinner table, Abner?" attack Elgio sharp and as if dissatisfied he asked again sound forced to get an answer. "Did you and Maribella make a fuss last night, Abner Luiz?"

"I'm not surprised anyway, I'm sure Marya knows something," Reinha added.

"Yes exactly," complained Abner flatly. "You can ask your wife, Elgio Durante!"

"Oh please, Mr. Abner. You don't need to involve Miss Marya in our debate. After all, that stupid prank came from my mouth!" Maribella put the spiced rice with the chopped meat in the cabbage leaves in front of Reinha, nodding at the girl telling her to eat immediately before seriously challenging Abner.

Abner babbling. "To be precise, your very stupid babble - very indecent, which you take for granted but seriously hurt my pride as a good man. I can't believe you're saying such an unworthy and sadistic thing in your conversation."

"I just ...." Maribella thinks of the answer and Abner cuts her words.

"Are you very upset with me and Luna, Mai? You know what you said last night was body shame, Maribella! You verbally assaulted my girlfriend" Abner said, and they seemed to be unwilling to avoid another fight.

"Oh please, that's a private conversation between me and my daughter, Mr. Abner. You could say you eavesdropped. Just when you attacked me and Hansel you did it in the dining room, in front of a lot of guests," replied Maribella as sharp as a meat-cut knife.

Abner took a long breath. "I'm watching you today, Maribella, and you know the consequences if you dare just one of the scorpions, I'll finish you off."

"Just do as you please, sir! I'll get out of here and you can bring your girlfriend here! After all, the children are grown and they have married to take care of themselves. Our problem is done." Maribella's fierce answer managed to lure Reinha who gawked earlier. His two nannies never quarreled. Just today the tail was probably from yesterday.

"Eh, what's wrong with you two?" reinha asked as Elgio lost his appetite. He noticed that two adults who suddenly looked like teenagers were frowning and smacking each other face to face and might end up in a riot.

"Aunt Mai?" elgio's reprimand was not in wonder. "Are you guys still fighting?"

Maribella's breath was seen hunting resistant annoyed while Abner cried fiercely at her.

"Take your breakfast!"

"Abner?!"

"Let's go, I'll eat in the cafeteria!" abner said coldly and got up from there.

"Oh, please! I can't believe my two ladies fought over breakfast and ruined our appetite" Reinha looked upset at Abner. "I just left my husband and I wanted to fill my stomach, but it looks like I'm going to move to a flat and start living alone."

Reinha stood up and was about to pass from there with a sullen face.

"Reinha," cried Abner calling the girl's name all wrong. "I'll go, sit down and have breakfast!"

"Oh no, I'm sorry," exclaimed Maribella following Reinha with a guilty face. Stop that sulking girl.

"My husband's gone and you're going too, Maribella?"

"Oh no, I'm just upset. Besides, where am I going, miss? I don't have a house" said Maribella, grab Reinha's hand and kiss her gently to temper the girl. "I prepared 5 boxes of mongolian beef for you, Miss Marya, Miss Arumi, Miss Claire and the handsome Mr. Ethan Sanchez. You guys should have a good lunch. Hmm?" he rubbed Reinha's back hand.

"You'll make it for one school, Maribella," Abner grumbled from next door.

Maribella looked at Abner sharply not dizzy or they would start again. He led Reinha.

"I'll have breakfast at school, Aunt Mai."

"Well, I'll pack Sarmi and meat loaf for you and Marya. Eaten yes, I'm sorry to upset you, miss."

Maribella follows Reinha to a car with plenty of food and lots of messages.

Elgio looked at Abner Luiz's attitude. Elgio folded his arms and looked at Abner without a blink. It was suddenly strange and very emotional.

"Is something wrong?" ask Abner.

Elgio did not say, looking at the look of Abner who looks very wise when he thinks very seriously.

"Do I need to go to the office alone? You look troubled Abner Luiz and I think you need to fix that with Maribella. Talk to him and get your business done. I'm so bothered to see my two nannies fighting."

"Don't be silly! Finish your breakfast, get up and we need to get to the office! The management staff is waiting."

"Abner, you seem very possessive of Maribella. That look clear on your face? You've been fighting since Mr. Hansel brought Maribella on a date."

Abner looked at Elgio, did he look like that? He rejected Elgio's assumption.

"Sound boy! I'm dating Luna Hugo and I'm not interested in your nanny, okay? This will also be my last breakfast with you. I'll be with Luna from tomorrow."

"Oh no," complained Elgio. "You better not disappear in the morning and at night while eating. Or the three of us will interrupt your date, Abner Luiz."

"What's wrong with you guys? It's time I got a serious date."

"Not with Luna!"

"What are you afraid of, Elgio Durante?"

"Luna teases you, that's for sure!"

"I have principles in a relationship and as long as I hold on to those two principles, I'll be fine."

"What if Luna seduces you, Abner Luiz? Don't brag!"

"Abner, we're visual creatures. I'm not sure you didn't give up on cravings when Luna teased you with a lacy bra?"

"Are you going to be tempted if Luna does that in front of you Elgio?" attack Abner without further ado.

"No, I've got someone more seductive," Elgio's bell was quick and very sure.

Abner looked at Elgio sharply. "So am I, Elgio Durante!"

"So ... ?!" elgio Terka.

"Wake up slackers! Or you will meet alone with the spirits of office workers," said Abner made Elgio more curious.

They go to the office for a meeting while Marya and Reinha go to school and Maribella is busy preparing food for a meeting later in the afternoon. As the meeting was to be attended by many people, Maribella was forced to ask a girl from Durante Land to come to the kitchen of Durante's pavilion for help.

When the doorbell of the house rang, Maribella was astonished. Especially when he opened the door and Hansel Adelio stood there with a sparkling face expressing his heart.

"I can't wait to see you, Maribella."

"I'm busy, Mr. Hansel," said Maribella.

"Yes, I came to see, could it be that you need Maribella's help? We can finish your job and then I need you to help me out at the restaurant. We can go on a date after that" Hansel Adelio said.

Maribella looks at Hansel and thinks about the offer. Hansel was his teacher in the pastry class and the man ran the family restaurant.

"Work will be easily completed with four hands. I'll look at the menu and we can split the two jobs" she said again as Maribella looked worried.

"Emm, okay."

Hansel Adelio reads the menu on Maribella's list.

"I was grilling peppers to add to the shopska salad as an appetizer" Maribella said as they arrived in the kitchen.

"Alright, I'll make cucumber soup."

Hansel then moves agilely in the kitchen next to Maribella. Although Hansel looks very charming in the kitchen, I don't know why Maribella has a very strange feeling. He noticed Hansel and seriously the man while chopping herbs, processing spices and as he made cream.

"Maribella, when will you be finished if you keep looking at me?"

Maribella was embarrassed before continuing her work.

While the two men were busy in the kitchen, Abner returned to the Pavilion because he had to pick up some files left behind and he seriously thought about Elgio's words, he wanted to make up with Maribella. The atmosphere of the house was not conducive due to the quarrel between the two while Marya needed calm and Reinha needed support.

Abner went straight to the second floor office, checked some files before he decided to go to the kitchen to look for Maribella. He doesn't know how to make up but hopefully when he sees Maribella he stops being upset.

Oopss .... Abner held his breath stopping at the door leading to the kitchen. There's Polite Hansel in the kitchen and the guy keeps his eyes on Maribella who's busy stirring things up in the pot.

"Can you taste this cream sauce, Mr Hansel?" ask Maribella to gently scoop a small cup of sauces and give it to Hansel.

Hansel grabs Maribella's hand, dab the woman's thumb a little into the cup and sample the sauce from Maribella's thumb. That's something Maribella was surprised by. The woman reflexively pulled her hand and hid it behind her body while Maribella's face turned dark brick gray.

"You're amazing Miss Maribella. I'm really fascinated by you" Hansel said, giving two thumbs up for the sauce-flavored Maribella look. "You are the best" he continued.

"I wish Mr. Abner liked the food" said Maribella, breathing heavily.

"Oh, why don't you trust Maribella. Your cooking is so good. Unparalleled. Rest assured, Mr. Abner would love it so much."

"All right," nods Maribella but remains moody.

"I'm jealous of Mr. Abner, you seem to think seriously about his opinion," Hansel said, adding white cheese and stirring the salad before Maribella's tattoo immediately stopped. They look in the kitchen between the burst of sauce in a pot and the fresh aroma of vegetables.

"I like you, Mr. Hansel," said Maribella as if she was afraid Hansel misunderstood her. The statement made Hansel's lips smile wide but then in disbelief.

"You said you liked me but you were found very agitated by your own words, Maribella" Hansel responded intensely to the woman before him. Maribella. He is not good at lying nor is he good at hiding his taste. He kept saying he liked Hansel but he knew it was a lie and he felt guilty about Hansel Adelio. Hansel approached Maribella, touched the daydreaming woman's chin and said, "We'll know the answer, Maribella because a kiss can't lie" she said.

Maribella closed her eyes tightly, Hansel's finger touch on the end of her chin felt so wrong when touching the skin. So, before the man touched her lips, Maribella turned away. Hansel will know that he thinks of others. That's when Maribella found Abner floating in the face of the kitchen door. Maribella is immediately fixated and squeezes her apron firmly while Hansel sighs in disappointment at Maribella's temple.

Next is long-term silence.

"Tu, Aging Abner?!" maribella whispered quietly. Their eyes met and Maribella was sure she caught a glimpse of a flash of anger in Abner's ever-shady eyes.

"Mai .. I'm back because I'm going to get the files left behind."

"I ...."

"I think the cooking will be very delicious because it is cooked with love" Abner said.

"That's ...."

"Mr Abner, I stopped by because I thought Maribella needed help" Hansel said. "We'll be done in two hours and deliver food before going on a date."

Abner nodded in unblinking understanding looking at Maribella who looked extremely anxious.

"Well, I hope you don't leave Maribella at the stop again, Hansel," Abner said.

"My mom was sick at the time and needed help. I really regret that incident" Hansel said.

"I'll be back before dinner" said Maribella.

Abner raised the corner of his lips, spoke softly. "Mai, you can date till night. No one will ban you. The kids are grown and they can make dinner alone. Besides, I've decided not to bother you too much. I'll eat at the apartment from tonight."

"Abne ...."

"I'm leaving, have a good day for Mai" she told Maribella. "Mr Hansel .. I hope the food comes on time."

"All right, Mr. Abner. We'll be done."

Abner nodded before leaving and Maribella was still glued after Abner left. Why does he feel sad?

***

Wait me up ....

Writing about what Lucky Luciano did in the rebel camp, Author needed god-level concentration while I did more.

Just love this chapter first!