Taken By The Mafia Lord

It was the most awkward meal that she has ever had. Natalie didn't know how to behave around Daniel. At least, in the past, she hated his ass enough not to eat at the same table with him, unless forced, but now, she just doesn't know. And don't be mistaken, she still hated him, it's just that the feeling is a lot more complicated now.

Thankfully, he did not attempt to start a conversation with her until the meal was over and they were having their drinks.

"That was a nice meal…." He began to reach for his wallet saying, "How much would I need to -"

"You don't have to," Natalie stopped him right away, "It's on me. You can consider it a treat." Moreover, she didn't want to take his money. That was like accepting a gift from the devil.

"If you say so then," Daniel smiled at her, returning the wallet to his pocket, and then faced her. The both of them were back to staring at each other.

"What?" Natalie asked him when his staring became uncomfortable. The way he sounded earlier, she thought this would be a serious conversation, not him creeping her out with his intense looks.

"It might sound absurd to you, but I'm trying to make a mental comparison…" He gestured to his head, " of the woman you are today and the one that I know in the past. They're different."

"Alright, this is it." Natalie pushed the chair back with a squeak, "I'm taking my leave." She was about to stand when he said,

"I'm sorry for not sending you a wedding gift,"

Was he kidding her? Why would she require a wedding gift from him? That would be equivalent to jinxing her marriage.

With a big sigh, Natalie had no choice but to sit back down and said to Daniel, "Let's be frank here, what do you want from me? Stop beating around the bush and tell me why you're really here." She was dead serious and was not in the mood to play games with him.

"It's about the kids, Marcel and Arianna, what do you think about them?"

And at the mention of the both of them, Natalie squirmed in her seat like a fish out of water. She lifted her gaze and asked him, "What do you mean by that?"

"Arianna is pregnant for Marcel, till when do you intend for them to get married, or do you want a shotgun wedding?"

Bam!

An explosion went off in Natalie's head and she leaned forward to the table asking him seriously, "What are you talking about?"

Daniel's brows arched as he studied her and it dawned on him, "Wait a minute, you don't know of your daughter's pregnancy?" He leaned back into his seat amused, "And here I was thinking the both of you were an inseparable pair."

Natalie sat up straight, her face burning with embarrassment while she placed her trembling hands on her lap. Arianna clearly told her that she wasn't pregnant, so how was this possible? Unless her daughter had lied to her and Daniel was telling the truth.

Being embarrassed was an understatement, Natalie was mortified. To think that she would get to hear the news of her daughter's pregnancy from the mouth of someone she loathed - her enemy! It was shaming.

"You don't have to look so crushed, this is good news, not one to be sad over," Daniel said.

But even with Daniel's encouragement, there was not an ounce of a smile on Natalie's face as she asked, "When did you get wind of this? How did you know that Arianna is pregnant for your son?"

"When….?" Daniel thought about it,

"That should be the same time Elijah's identity was revealed. There was a meeting and the family demanded an investigation into Arianna's past relationship with your husband's brother. They were sure your daughter helped him infiltrate the organization by feeding him information. But then, Marcel cleared her and then announced the good news, the both of them were expecting a baby."

By the time he was done, what Daniel never expected was for Natalie to burst into laughter as if all he did was crack a silly joke.

"What is funny?" Daniel asked, confused. Something told him deep down that she was mocking him.

Natalie opened her mouth to say a word but the confession was too heavy on her lips and she laughed once again. It was just so hilarious.

Perhaps, it must be the change in Daniel's expression, but she abruptly stopped. Clearing her throat, Natalie adjusted her position on the seat and said to him, "Clearly, Marcel must have told you that Arianna is pregnant to save her ass from your family because I can assure you that my daughter is not pregnant."

This time, it was Daniel's turn to be befuddled by the news. He let out a disbelieving chuckle before asking her, "How can you be so sure of that? From what I've seen, your daughter hides secrets from you and this might be your ploy to refute the claims."

He added, "Don't lie to me, Natalie, I know you hate my son the same way you hate me and would do everything in your power to separate the both of them so our family wouldn't be joined together."

Hearing those accusations from Daniel, Natalie couldn't help but shake her word in sympathy. One would always think the worst of others based on how he viewed himself. Just because he was evil, he thought everyone was like him.

Natalie said to him," If I didn't want the kids to get married, do you think that the both of us would be seated here, talking amicably?"

She went on to say, "Do you think that I have forgotten what you did to me? You practically destroyed my life. You took away my family! I never even saw Arianna's father before he died! And my daughter, Arianna, grew up without a mother, all because of you! Most of all Penelope… "

Natalie didn't want to cry. She didn't want to show her weakness in front of that bastard, Daniel. But there was no way that she couldn't think of her friend without tears springing to her eyes.

"The least you could have done was to treat her well if you weren't going to let her go. But then, you didn't and made her life miserable. Do you know how much bitterness I feel inside my heart…." She beat her chest, "each time I remember her and you say what, I don't want the children to get married because I hate you, Daniel?" She said with emotion.

And while any other person would have been touched by her speech - and perhaps repent - Daniel said to her, "Don't you think that's more reason why the kids should marry? Their union would bury years of bad blood between the both of us and then when they birth a son, our family would become one. In one word, there's no need to dwell on the past."

Natalie could not believe him. Did he think that the union of their children would make up for his sins? Honestly, Natalie had no idea what she had been expecting from Daniel, but perhaps, a little remorse on his part or an apology for all the things he did to her and Penelope, would have gone a long way to set things right. And perhaps, she would have gotten the conclusion she wanted.

But no, she didn't get any of that. That was when it dawned on Natalie that Daniel was incapable of loving. He was toxic and would harm anyone close to him, even unconsciously.

"No," She said, "If our children are going to get married, then I don't want you anywhere near them. That would be my condition to Marcel. I don't care where you go, but you would have to stay as far away from them as possible, probably out of this country. That would be your punishment. You should feel the same pain I felt while being separated from my loved ones, and perhaps, you might become human after all. "

"You must have lost your damn mind," Daniel said in response to Natalie's condition, standing up to his feet.

What does she mean by he would have to go away for the children? He had a life here! He has built something great here. The thought of leaving Marcel to go far away sounded absurd to him. How would he leave his son and give up his authority in the family? Her condition was equivalent to banishment and there was no way in hell he was giving in to it.

Grabbing both ends of the table, Daniel leaned over, saying, "It seems that I made a mistake, coming to share ideas with you."

Natalie stood up as well and copied his posture, till she was staring him in the face and said, "You're too toxic and I hope you never find happiness because it would be at the expense of your partner."

Daniel snorted, a smirk curling his lips to the side.

"Goodbye, Natalie."