Chapter 28. A Nasty Result

"I—" I tried to say something but couldn't seem to complete my words. How could I say no when he was looking at me like that? Like his request was at the expense of his life.

"I'll stay…" I sucked in a deep breath and resumed stroking his head as his smile widened.

"Thank you, Rose," he said as I nodded and looked up at his mother's picture. Memories of how she left him as a kid flooded my mind.

"I'll stay for a while and go to Vicente," I thought aloud and willed myself to believe everything would turn out well.

"Would you like to hear some of my memories with my mum?" He asked, pulling me out of my reverie.

"Uh? Sure?" I nodded, with a genuine smile. It was perfect; at least talking about the dead would block all the nasty thoughts she was having, while Valentino was laying on her lap looking like a devilishly handsome puppy.

Valentino sat up, his legs crossed as he started talking about different memories with his mother, jumping from one scene to another, smiling like a ten-year-o