Diary of Fragile Heart (Spin of Loving You Too Long)

Morning came, and everyone gathered in the dining room. “What are your plans next?” The question came from Antony, Gladwin’s father-in-law and brother-in-law. “Are you going to meet Mama directly?” He asked again, looking at Gladwin.

Gladwin shook his head in response. “For the time being, only we know about Flavia’s pregnancy, and I intend to keep it that way. For now and for some time to come, people will still think Flavia has disappeared. It’s cruel indeed, but it’s all for Flavia’s and our baby’s well-being.”

“But, Brother. Mama will definitely be happy to know about Flavia’s pregnancy,” Claire objected. Gladwin’s twin sister had been trying to convince Gladwin to tell their mother about Flavia’s pregnancy, but Gladwin continued to refuse.

“Our mother will surely feel happy about Flavia’s pregnancy. But I’m the one who’s afraid if this news reaches Phoebe’s ears. We don’t know what she’ll do, so for the time being, let it remain our secret until I get news from my trusted source,” Gladwin replied again.

“What news?” Claire asked curiously.

“I hired someone to investigate Phoebe. And so far, he has some evidence. It will take a little more time to checkmate Phoebe.”

“I’m glad you made that decision,” Brianna said, shifting the attention of the people in the room to her. “Join us this afternoon. There’s something I want to give you, consider it as a wedding gift.” Brianna looked at Gladwin with her usual expressionless gaze.

“Mom?” Antony looked at his mother curiously. But Brianna just gave him a tight-lipped smile.

“I came back here not without reason, Antony,” his mother said again. The simple answer somehow sent shivers down the spines of the listeners. “Zio, Francis. Do you want to go out with Granny?” She asked her two grandchildren. With enthusiasm, Ignazio and Francisca nodded. “Later we’ll take Falisha and Geremia too. Granny will buy you anything you want.” Brianna’s words made Ignazio and Francisca cheer happily. “Now, call Uncle Altezza, tell him we’re picking up Falisha and Geremia.” She instructed her grandchildren. Ignazio and Francisca then left the dining table and walked away with their father’s phone in hand.

“What are your plans while waiting for news from your hired detective?” Brianna asked as her grandchildren left.

“I’ll take Flavia to her house because I’m not brave enough to take her to the apartment. For the time being, maybe Abigail and I will take turns staying there. Just to be cautious in case Phoebe also sends someone to watch over me,” he answered honestly.

Brianna shook her head. “She wouldn’t go that far. I think her financial situation wouldn’t allow her to hire a private detective.” She continued. Gladwin’s forehead furrowed even deeper. He himself was confused by the words just spoken by his mother-in-law.

How much did this woman in front of him know about Phoebe? Why did her impression come off as so mysterious?

“I’ll take Ignazio and Francisca to Altezza’s house. I’ll contact you later this afternoon. We’ll meet somewhere,” he said casually, which was only answered by Gladwin’s nod.

After Brianna and Benjamin left, Gladwin’s gaze immediately shifted to his twin sister. He looked at Claire sharply, as if asking for an explanation. His twin sister just shrugged with a flat expression.

“To be honest, I find your mother-in-law a bit… spooky,” he said, shivering. Antony chuckled while Flavia patted her husband’s shoulder, meaning to reprimand him.

“Anyway, she’s still your mother-in-law,” Claire interjected.

“Yeah, I know. But still, the aura she emits… you know, spooky!” Then Gladwin turned his head to Antony. “Actually, what does your mother know?” he asked genuinely curious. He hoped his father-in-law had an answer. But unfortunately, the fifty-year-old man just shook his head slowly. “Oh God. Seriously, dear. My heart is really racing right now, it feels like I’m about to jump from a five-hundred-meter height.” Gladwin turned his head to his wife, who was giggling at his words.

“Relax, honey. I’m sure Granny won’t bite,” Flavia rubbed her husband’s arm, soothingly.

Antony cleared his throat. “She won’t bite, but she’s the type of person who would pounce right away,” he replied meaningfully. Claire gave her husband a stern look, while Gladwin could only furrow his brow.

Altezza and Adaline arrived at ten in the morning. They were feeling relieved as the twins went with Brianna and chose to spend time together at Antony’s place.

The three couples, along with two toddlers-Rayyan and Meizar-now gathered in the backyard. They sat side by side with their respective partners while the toddlers were under the supervision of their caregivers.

Their conversation wasn’t heavy; it just revolved around work and politics. Then it shifted to pregnancy and baby-related matters. Flavia happily conversed with the two women, asking for tips and sharing pregnancy experiences. Gladwin just listened. Even when his father-in-law and uncle-in-law urged him to be an alert husband, Gladwin only responded with a nod.

He was happier seeing his wife’s usually radiant face. His hands never stopped touching her. Whether it was her head, arms, or the slightly rounded belly of Flavia.

“Gladwin is just like you.” Adaline glanced at Gladwin and then at her husband, while Flavia and Gladwin turned to the couple ten years their senior. The couple, in their twelfth year of marriage-which had weathered many storms together-seemed to be deeply in love. The looks and touches exchanged between them were enough to make anyone who saw them envious-of course, those who had partners. Because Gladwin himself didn’t feel that envy.

“Why is that?”

“You love to touch and always stick to your wife like a trapped mouse,” she replied, making Altezza chuckle.

“Don’t tease them. Let’s just understand, they’re newlyweds,” Claire replied casually.

“But I think I’d rather see Gladwin than Gian.” This time Antony chimed in. Gladwin smiled to himself at the mention of the other man’s name.

Antony, Altezza, and Gian were cousins from the same grandfather. The three of them grew up with different personalities. Antony, the expressionless one; Altezza, the friendly and easygoing one; and Gian, the playboy who tended to be lewd. Interestingly, when they fell in love, they became very faithful men.

Gladwin remembered how Antony fought to win Claire. Despite facing opposition from his mother due to his status as a widower with a child and their fifteen-year age gap, Antony never gave up and even made Abigail and Flavia a part of his plan to win Julie Hampton’s heart.

And what about Altezza Quirino? The man who spread smiles to everyone also had a quite complicated love story before finally settling on Adaline. He was once secretly married for five years and loved his first wife so much that he eventually proposed a contract marriage to Adaline. But who would have thought that he would forget his first wife and truly surrender to the petite and innocent Adaline. Even the trials that came a few years ago to their family didn’t extinguish their love. Instead, it only strengthened each other.

And Gian Quirino. The lecherous man who often professed love to every beautiful woman he saw eventually knelt before Joanna, Adaline’s best friend. His struggle was not easy either because Joanna was a stubborn girl who didn’t believe in love and even had a desire to remain unattached. And now-just like the last time they met-they also seemed clearly inseparable from each other.

That’s what made Gladwin feel happy to be in this family. Even his wife, the petite Flavia, had loved him since she was a teenager. While other kids their age-including Gladwin himself-thought it was just puppy love and would easily switch whenever they saw a handsome man, she held onto her love for Gladwin. And Gladwin felt touched, proud, and guilty at the same time.

He could only hope that his love with Flavia would be as enduring and romantic as the love stories of the other Quirinos.

Returning to the conversation, Gladwin reached for his vibrating phone and found a call from Brianna. Excusing himself, Gladwin answered the call. After hearing Brianna’s instructions, Gladwin asked Flavia to get ready.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

In less than half an hour of travel, they arrived at a mall. Gladwin led Flavia to where Brianna was waiting for them. Apparently, Brianna had asked the driver to take the children back to Antony’s place while the elders waited for Gladwin and Flavia’s arrival.

Gladwin and Flavia were escorted to a private area in a Chinese restaurant. Mrs. Brianna, Sir Arthur, and two men were already waiting for them there.

“Please, have a seat,” Arthur commanded Gladwin and Flavia. They sat at the round table, feeling a bit stiff because the atmosphere in the room itself was inexplicable to Gladwin.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Keanu and his partner Timothy are private detectives we’ve known for a long time. They’ve helped us a lot,” Arthur referred to the two men who nodded in acknowledgment. “After hearing Claire’s story about Julie forcing Gladwin to marry that obstetrician, we started asking for their help,” he revealed. “If only we had heard about this disturbance from the beginning, we’re sure everything wouldn’t have dragged on like this. Unfortunately, Antony, Claire, and even you chose not to tell us.”

“To be honest, we were negligent and didn’t monitor you like we did with Altezza before,” Arthur continued, making Gladwin tense up even more.

“Okay, let’s forget about what has happened. The reason I called you here is this.” Arthur Quirino handed three brown envelopes to Flavia and Gladwin. “We haven’t seen the contents ourselves. But from our conversation earlier, we could already guess what’s inside,” he replied.

Gladwin glanced at Brianna, Arthur, and the two hired men alternately before reaching for the envelopes and opening them one by one.

A gasp escaped from his wife’s lips. Her face also turned pale as she read the documents.

Gladwin read the paper in front of him, and instantly, his stomach churned.