Taken By The Mafia Lord

The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch when Marcel finally settled down. It was so thick that one could slice at it with a knife. In fact, Clara began to question if it was a mistake to reserve the whole place because the emptiness made everything more uncomfortable.

But she had been aiming at privacy, especially with her Father-in-law, Daniel present. Clara wanted to have the conversation comfortably and to impress him with her great organizing skills as well.

"Now, what's the reason for this special occasion?" Marcel asked before turning to her, "You didn't tell me that this was a double date, only that my father is missing a partner," He was being sarcastic.

"Marcel..." Clara warned him. She did this with good intention, why couldn't he appreciate that.

But he chuckled, "No, can you blame me? With how close the both of you are right now, if anyone stepped in at this moment, they would probably think the both of you are on a date while I'm the third wheel,"

At that comment from Marcel, Clara's jaw dropped. How could he make such an assumption? She was highly disappointed in him.

But Daniel laughed heartily instead,"I didn't know it was a crime to spend time with my daughter in law, " He tsked, " But of course, if I had been younger, I would have snatched her away from you and taught you how to treat a good woman better."

Daniel intended that to shame Marcel and never expected him to retort,

"Yeah, like you treated my mother better? " He snarled.

At once, there appeared a tick in Daniel's jaw and Clara found it harder to breathe with the increasing tension in the room. Father and son were staring into each other's eyes and she could see the lightning match in them.

She had to do something. Tonight was supposed to be all about her for crying out loud.

"How could the both of you do this to me?" Clara said in a broken voice drawing both of their attention.

"The purpose of the gathering today was to discuss the engagement party, but none of that is happening and instead, I'm dragged into the middle of your war." She squeezed tears from her eyes and unlike his father who grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket, Marcel was stoic-faced as usual.

Who was she kidding? She pushes the blame on them after she heaped the firewoods that were used to light the fire. Marcel was not deceived by her crocodile tears. He has seen better acting.

"I'm sorry, Clara." His father Daniel coaxed her to calm down while Marcel watched them.

He just couldn't understand it, something didn't make sense. Why was his father so cordial towards Clara? Why was he so obsessed with the royal title?

Truth be told, aside from the respect he would gain from their union, Clara and her royalty were not beneficial to him. Their world was so apart. If anything, it would even put him in danger since he'd be under the scrutiny of the public once they get married. And the public's attention was the least he needed.

There were a lot of Mafia families that were dying to have a political marriage with him. Such union alone would give them a stronghold in the underworld yet his father turned down such a golden opportunity. Didn't he say he bore the welfare of the family in mind? But now, all Marcel saw was him achieving his selfish interest.

When Daniel was through with comforting Clara, he turned to his son, "This fine lady here sought me out so we can speak about your engagement party."

At the mention of "engagement party?" Marcel felt bitterness in his tongue, no, nausea rose to his throat. What were they saying? He knew something was up when he saw his father here, but to think that Clara was plotting behind his back didn't sit well with him.

"Engagement party?" He muttered, tasting those words on his lips. Instead of his heart missing a beat as would other couples in this situation, his heart only grew colder and harder.

"Yes, it was time the whole world knew about you already. However, I came up with a better idea." Daniel said delightfully.

Marcel clenched and unclenched his fist, knowing whatever his father was about to say wouldn't favor him.

"Instead of having an engagement party, it's better you both got married."

Now, Marcel wasn't the only one shocked by the suggestion, Clara was too. But unlike her fiancé, she was quick to recover from the surprise, and did she mention that she liked this. Of course, her father-in-law was the best.

Marcel felt his head throb heavily, his brain was close to exploding with the number of thoughts running there.

Get married to Clara soon? Of course, it was not like he could deceive his father. The man was smart enough to know that he was plotting to get his sister back. The only problem he had now was how much he had left?

Marcel knew he couldn't reject the marriage offer, that was the deal with his father for not hurting Chloe. But that was one thing he could do, bargain for time.

"That's a good plan." Marcel agreed with the arrangement and Clara whipped around in shock.

Did Marcel just say that? The man was confusing her. One moment he seemed to care about her and the next, he was just being… Marcel?

"You think so?" Daniel had a deep look as if trying to figure out what his son was up to. He expected Marcel to be against it.

"Yes. It would save us time, you know that I'm a busy man after taking over your position," Marcel landed an indirect slap in his face.

For someone who was just insulted by his son, Daniel didn't get angry, instead, he chuckled, "That's right, I forgot that and you've been doing well. So, to save your time then, why don't the both of you get married next week. The earlier, the better. Don't you think so?" His father retaliated.

Marcel's jaw clenched and there was a fire in his eyes as he stared at his father. Only one of them would emerge victoriously from this fight today.