Taken By The Mafia Lord

Music Recommendation: Grace:- Lewis Capaldi

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She does need her mother, Arianna realized that she had been fooling herself all this while. It's just that she had been alone all this while it felt like she was good on her own. But the truth is that she wasn't. It was nice to know that she had a family member, one that would look out for her; a mother that loves her.

But then, it was complicated at the same time because this mother of hers was a threat to her happiness. She didn't want her to be with Marcel and that alone was a hindrance. Arianna did nothing but lean on the woman's shoulder as she ran her hand soothingly through her hair. It felt so nice and she didn't want the moment to be ruined just yet.

Natalie began to hum that tune her father used to sing for her when she was little bringing tears to her eyes. Fine, she was wrong. She missed her mother greatly! She wanted to know what it felt like to have one! The both of them didn't meet in the best of circumstances but there were still chances to make things right.

She wanted her in her life.

Sure, she was mad at her mother, but if there's someone to be mad at, it should be Daniel for ruining her life. If not for his selfish cruelty, Arianna knew that she would have grown up with both of her parents, and perhaps, who knows, her father wouldn't have succumbed to his illness and he would be alive by now.

Thinking about it now, Arianna might be able to understand her mother's fear a bit. After what she experienced at the hands of Daniel, it wasn't surprising that her mother didn't expect much from Daniel's son and wanted to keep her away from him. But no one knew Marcel as much as she knew him. Marcel was not like his father and would never be him.

Although he liked to put on a mask so people couldn't see through him, unlike Daniel, Marcel had empathy and that was his greatest strength and the reason that she fell for him. People say you don't know what you have until you lose it, Arianna has been able to review all that Marcel's done for her now they're away from each other.

Honestly, she was too stubborn and not an easy person to love, but Marcel treated her with patience and loving-kindness. Even when he was supposed to offer her up for duty's sake, he didn't and instead made sure that she was protected from those that wanted her for their selfish interest. What did Marcel get in return? Nothing. She was difficult and messed things up for him.

She fucked up!

Arianna finally realized the level of damage she had done.

She was lost in her train of thought when Eric's phone rang, however, Arianna didn't give it much thought and only leaned into her mother's warm embrace. She needed a shoulder to lean on in this vulnerable time and her mother provided the comfort she needed.

It wasn't until Arianna heard Eric say,

"You must be Marcel." her interest was piqued and her ears perked up at once.

She pulled apart from her mother who looked confused as to the sudden change in her attitude as Arianna slowly got up to her feet. Her gaze was glued to Eric with a hopeful look in her eyes.

What was going on? Why was he speaking to Marcel? Did he have a sudden change of heart? Did he pity her because of her breakdown? Arianna didn't exactly hold Eric in high regard, but she could work on that if helped her.

"I didn't. It was Arianna,"

He said and Arianna turned to see her mother's lips pressed in a thin line. She figured it out and didn't like what was going on. Arianna's heart began to pound in her heart, hoping that Eric would give her a chance to speak to Marcel before she decided that it was a bad idea.

"I think you should ask her that yourself," Eric said, meeting her gaze and her heart soared. This was it! He was giving her a chance to speak with Marcel! Yes! The lord finally answered her prayer!

However, before Eric could hand the phone to her, her mother stood in the way, "She's not speaking to that boy! You of all people should know that!"

"Mom!" Arianna shouted out and silence descended. That was when Arianna realized what she did or rather called her.

Eric and Natalie looked at her with surprised expressions and Arianna couldn't say a thing either because she too was stunned - she didn't know when the title left her mouth.

Natalie's mouth was hung open, her eyes slowly tearing up as if Arianna had done her a huge favor - even though her cheeks were on fire right now. But then if calling her "mom" would let her speak with Marcel, she would do it over again.

Natalie was too emotional that she didn't protest when Eric handed the phone over to her and Arianna accepted it immediately else she changes at the last minute, putting a little space between them as she breathed,

"Hello, Marcel,"

Her heart was pounding loudly in her chest, her hands clammy with anticipation as she waited for Marcel to say a word. Although it was less than a day since she was taken, Arianna missed his voice. He was usually the first thing she woke up to, but not anymore.

"What do you want?" That crisp cold voice shattered every illusion that Arianna had about this moment. She immediately broke out in cold sweat. What had she been thinking? That Marcel would welcome her with open arms after what she had done.

She said to him, "I know that you're mad at me -

"Mad? I think that's an understatement, don't you think so?" He cut her with sarcastic laughter that made beads of sweat form on her face.

Arianna knew that Marcel had a mean streak but this was the first time that she was receiving it at maximum capacity and it made her uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, Marcel. I should have told you the truth, but I was scared. Moreover, when I finally made up my mind to tell you, there was no time and you were too busy to hear it until it became this late." She tried to apologize to him but Marcel's answer left her dumbfounded.

"Is that your excuse?"

And her throat went dry like sandpaper.