Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“And aborting the child is the best solution?” He couldn’t believe him. Of all the people to suggest such a thing, he never thought Lukas would even think of it.
“Well, what do you suggest then? Because if I could remember clearly you’re supposed to be my advisor and all you have done so far is counter everything that I have said.”
“You want to hear my opinion? Then start by having a sleep!” Victor pointed at the clock, “This is three o’clock in the morning and we all have had a stressful day with devastating news. How do you expect to come up with a clear judgment when you’re running low on fuel?”
“I’m not running low on fuel,” He hinted at the coffee he had been consuming to keep himself up. Not that he needed it when the emotions were eating him up raw and keeping him awake.
“Others need it. You can continue being an arse but do not drag the rest of us into it. You’re not the only sad person, Lukas, Rhea was a friend to me too and it kills every one of us inside that we were unable to do anything as she was taken away. We failed her too. It wasn’t your fault or your sins to bear alone. Adele too needs the rest because she suffered the heaviest devastation.” He looked Lukas in the eyes and asked, “How would you feel if it comes to your knowledge that Rhea has been using you all this while?”
Wrecked.
That was the only word that came to Lukas’s mind. He wouldn’t be able to stomach such a betrayal.
Thanks to Victor, Lukas said to Adele, “This conversation doesn’t leave this room,” He warned her.
“Of course, boss,” She said to him.
“Does Elijah know of the pregnancy?”
This tone Adele didn’t answer with her words but simply shook her head.
“Good. Keep it that way for the rest of your life.”
Adele felt a stab of disappointment in her heart. So in the end, she would have to abort the baby. Although that had been her initial decision, being forced to do it was another issue. Adele felt aggrieved.
“You can leave now,” Lukas dismissed her.
He added when she made it to the door, “If it’s too late, you can sleep in one of the rooms, that would make it easier for us to talk tomorrow morning and I wouldn’t be blamed for anything if you were to have an accident as a result of stress.”
“Thanks for your kindness,” Adele thanked him and left. She needed this anyway. Being under Lukas’s roof would expel every thought of Elijah from her head and she would only think about the consequences, Adele hoped.
“What about you?” Victor asked his cousin after he returned from getting rid of his violated coffee Jug. He now pulled out a bottle of alcohol from his cabinet and sat down.
“What about me?” Lukas asked back nonchalantly, bringing the bottle to his lips and taking a sip, the alcohol burning down his throat.
“Are you just going to sit there and wallow in self-pity this early morning? Waste yourself?”
Lukas chuckled, “Sorry, but It’s called drowning my sorrows. Moreover…” His expression turned serious, “What do you expect me to do? Go after Elijah and demand he return Rhea?” He found it funny as he took another sip.
He went ahead to say, “You read the note, Victor. Rhea is living happily ever after with that woman, her mother. I think this is really the end for us.”
History Is Repeating Itself
Rhea woke up to blinding sunlight, barely stirring when the memories hit her and she sat up with a jerk only to be held back by cuffs.
“Alright this is beginning to get old,” She muttered, pulling at the cuff which wouldn’t budge. First it was big Joe, then Lukas and now Elijah. Wonderful.
She turned upon sensing movements.
“Hey, it’s okay…” Natalie told her cautiously when she sensed Rhea already pushing her body into an offensive stance.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Well, you’re not exactly persuasive,” Rhea hinted at the cuffs holding her down.
“I know it’s not exactly the best welcome gesture, but it’s for your own good else you hurt yourself….” Natalie wiped her face with both of her hands. It was just the both of them in the room now, having told Eric and the others to give them space. This was between her and her daughter and she had to speak to Rhea one on one.
“Yep, it’s not the best at all,” There was thick sarcasm in Rhea’s tone.
“See, Rhea, you have to listen to -“
…..
“I’m not listening to any bullshit!” Rhea yelled at her, finally losing her shit, “For twenty-three fucking years, I was made to believe that you were dead! I grew up without a mother and I was cool with it! You don’t just come out of nowhere and uproot me off the life that I’ve been living, all for what?! A family reunion?! An emotional reunion between mother and daughter?! Because trust me, happily ever after doesn’t exist in our case!” She said to her with emotions, panting heavily by the time she was done.
There was an awkward tension between them when Rhea finished speaking. Natalie was as pale as a sheet while Rhea glared at her, her lips pressed together as Mother and daughter stared at each other.
Natalie made the next move, pressing her hand to her chest as she asked with a hurt voice, “You think that I left you in purpose?”
“Whether you left intentionally or not, all I’m saying is that it’s none of my business anymore. I’m a grown-up now and I don’t need you in my life!” Rhea declared.
Why now?
After all those years when she needed a mother by her side, why didn’t she appear then? Although Rhea was curious to know what happened? How did everything turn out this way? Why did she get involved with Daniel? But she was blinded by anger and far too hurt to care!
Her Father already died while pining for her. You know, the last thing her papa had talked about before giving up the ghost was her mother. At first, Rhea had thought that her father was very happy about going to join her in heaven – she assumed her mother was dead then – who knew he simply missed her? How lonely must he be right now?
While all those things happened, her mother never one visited! Left her in the hands of her selfish and crazy relatives who almost ruined her life! So why must she accept her now? Why must she accept the woman back into her life all because she’s her mother?
“Would you just shut up and let me explain?!” Natalie said in an outburst, finally losing her patience.
After the little commotion the previous night, Natalie decided to take it easy on her. You know, explain to her with understanding, but then, the girl had a temper and acted like an entitled child. Yes, child, she was still a child. Her baby girl.
“I’m sorry about your father,” She said to her, “I know that’s who you’re angry about. I would be angry too if I were in your shoes. But I had no choice, your father and I knew that it was the best decision -“
“To keep me in the dark for twenty-three years and then spring the whole, ‘Surprise! Your mother is alive’ thing on me like some Halloween trick or treat? So yeah, it was really the best decision,” Rhea sassed, wiping away the tears from her eyes hurriedly. She didn’t want to show any sort of weakness in front of this stranger that calls herself her mother. But then, it was hard to do so while confronting that past.
“I’m still so sorry,” Unlike her daughter, Natalie let her tears fall freely and Rhea tried hard not to notice it. She refused to feel sympathy for her.
“I know that it’s not going to solve anything but I still want to tell you that. I loved you so much, my child. Your father and I dreamed so much of what our family would look like. We would love you so much and give you everything that life could offer. You were meant to grow up loved and protected. But at last, life had its plans. “
“No, I beg to differ. If you were sorry for missing out on raising me, then you would have left me alone forever. Your memory of being dead would have been much better than you suddenly coming back to life.” Rhea said through gritted teeth. Why must she come to dictate her life when she was living well?
“What mother would leave her child alone?!” Natalie shouted at her.
“Exactly? Why?! Why now?!” She shouted back at her, wishing that her hands were free so she could make her point, “Of all times that you could have come and found me? Why now?” Why now everything was going so perfectly for her.
“Because history is repeating itself!” She confessed.