Taken By The Mafia Lord

“I never said such a thing,” She denied it at once, picking up her spoon and sipping the soup noisily to drown out her daughter’s protest which would undoubtedly come.

As expected, Arianna did not let the matter go. This was good news – if she could get her mother to admit her words.

“You did say so,”

Natalie sipped her soup louder to block her out but it didn’t work. Arianna’s eyes were lit with excitement and it didn’t seem like she was going to give up anytime soon.

“Your words were these…” Arianna refused to give up, “And I quote, ‘And what about your family? Marcel is not stable and you think he would let you move around the world when you both settle down, especially when you give birth to a child?\'”

Arianna continued, “It definitely sounded like you were giving us your blessings. I didn’t know you were in a hurry to have a grandchild?” She said smugly.

At this point, Natalie knew there was no point denying it. Just like her, Arianna was persistent when she wanted something. For someone who doesn’t believe in her ability to become her successor, she sure has a retentive memory. Love was one good motivator.

Natalie set her spoon down and said calmly, “I was only making a reference, it doesn’t mean that I want the both of you to get married yet.”

.....

“Sure, sure, keep on saying that,” Arianna gave her a look that says she doesn’t believe her one bit.

Natalie rubbed her brows, “Stop giving me a look,”

“What look?” Arianna pretended not to have an idea what she was talking about.

“You know what I’m talking about?” She added immediately, “And don’t you go do something stupid. I’m warning you, I didn’t give the both of you permission to marry,”

However, Arianna was not listening because she already stood up from the seat with a smug smirk on the corners of her lips.

“I’m serious, I’ll disown you if you dare to marry Marcel behind my back!” Natalie threatened her daughter but she didn’t take it seriously.

Arianna instead playfully rubbed her hand over her belly, “In one word, you are going to disown your grandchild as well?” She said jokingly.

Natalie scoffed, rolling her eyes,

“What do you mean grand….” Her expression changed at once, “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant?”

Arianna choked, denying it at once, “O-of course, not!”

For some reason, the murderous look on her mother’s face gave her a feeling that Marcel might not survive tonight if that turned out to be true.

“Are you sure?” Natalie narrowed her gaze at her, scrutinizing her intensely and making her nervous.

“I’m telling you the truth! I was only joking around earlier. Marcel and I are very careful.” She laughed to cover up her nervousness. Being careful her butt! Marcel doesn’t even know the word, “protection.”

Keep up the good work, Arianna, she sarcastically told her lying self. God knows she was toast if it turned out otherwise. But she had no reason to get worried anyway, after all, she and Marcel had been trying to conceive the past months all to no avail. And she was beginning to have a feeling there was a problem with her. Not that Marcel would admit.

Even her careful friend, Mimi got pregnant easily. Although all bodies were not the same and there were many factors to consider, there was nothing, despite Marcel’s “great” effort. However, what Arianna couldn’t understand was why her mother was against her getting pregnant for Marcel. She thought they were good now.

“Good,” Natalie was able to relax after the intense scrutiny. She said to Arianna, “Things are messed up at the moment and it’s not a good time for you and Marcel to think about having a child with the conflict looming over both families. Aside from that, if Marcel values you, he would seek your hand in marriage the proper way, and then both of you can start a family legitimately. I’ll kill him if he dares knock my daughter up, do you get me?”

“Of course, I get you.” Arianna had a smile the entire time even though she was dying inwardly. At this point, she hoped a miracle doesn’t happen. Perhaps she and Marcel should have thought more about the situation at hand before going in. Arianna became anxious for strange reasons.

“What are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to bed?” Natalie roused her from her thoughts.

“O-of course…” Arianna stammered, about to leave when it suddenly came to her. She suddenly said to her, “I need your help,”

“You need my help?” Natalie was surprised and grateful at the same time. She liked the fact that her daughter was beginning to get comfortable with her enough to ask for favors.

She sat up straight, “What is it?”

“I want to learn how to use a gun.”

“What?!” That was not the favor she was expecting.

“You said it yourself, favor looms around and I at least have to be able to take care of myself, don’t you think so? You guys can’t protect me forever.” She said, without going into details about the threat upon her life. Arianna didn’t want to panic her mother else she restricts her freedom more in a bid to protect her.

Natalie thought over it and she was right. Her daughter needed to learn how to protect herself from bad people.

“Fine, we’d begin training tomorrow.”

“We?” Arianna pointed out.

“I’ll take you on that.”

“You?” Arianna had to stifle her laughter. Was her mother kidding her? She didn’t believe her mother was good enough to teach her.

Natalie noticed her expression and didn’t say anything, but her wry expression said it all. Arianna didn’t believe in her. But then, she would show her that she didn’t survive her hellish years on luck alone.

“See you tomorrow then,”

Arianna shivered slightly when she saw the dark glint in her mother’s eyes. Did she say something wrong?