Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
“You could be my successor.”
Rhea froze.
Though she knew her mother had a hospital, it didn’t cross her mind that the woman would want her to inherit it.
“You are kidding, right?”
Natalie didn’t answer her, because her food was done and she got it out of the microwave before taking everything else she needed from the fridge and took a seat at the dining table.
Rhea joined her, complaining,
“I can’t be your successor, I’m not even qualified.”
“What does one need to be qualified? Education? Certificate? You would get all that in due time, Rhea. You are young and smart and I’m not going anywhere yet. I just want to be sure that my labors would be taken care of by my own blood and understand its worth.”
“You don’t even know if I want to be a doctor?” Rhea argued.
“Then what do you want to be?” Natalie put down her spoon and wrapped her arms across her chest, facing her.
“I’ll be twenty-four soon and get the money my father left me. It’s huge.”
“And?”
“I’ll start up my own business or anything that gives me lots of money?” She shrugged, “I just don’t want to ever be poor.”
“That’s a good dream,” Natalie admitted, nodding her head, “But then, you would let a talent inside of you that others would kill to have, die like that? You don’t even know what type of business you would do once the money comes in? Or don’t you know money grows when you invest it?”
“I would think of one before the time comes,” Rhea said nervously. She felt like a child who thought she won a medal only to discover that it was fake.
“And what about your family? Lukas 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?”
“I -” Rhea didn’t know what to say, she hadn’t exactly thought about it.
“I’m not against women fighting for their future, but you can invest into major companies and become a stockholder, that way you would get returns. However, you must never forget something, Rhea, you’re not with a normal man, Rhea. Neither are we a normal family.
“Danger lurks at every corner and freedom is not an option for people like us. What if one day Lukas is shot right in front of you and you are unable to save him because you never thought of upgrading your skills? My hospital caters to the well-being of my husband and his people and you can do the same for Lukas. We are their queens, Rhea, meant to support and protect our family and be prepared for the inevitable in the future. Because whether you accept it or not, danger will always come for us. That’s the price we pay for living like this.”
By the time Natalie was done, Rhea was nearly shivering from the fear and her hands shook so much she had to place them on her lap to hide them from her mother. Rhea had to admit that Natalie sometimes came on too strong and intimidated her. She was ashamed.
Her future was sure, Rhea knew what she wanted in life – money. She had planned to travel around for a while after getting the money while growing her business with Mimi. What business though? Not to mention that the plan was made before Lukas arrived in her life.
It was like a fairy-tale dream that has just been shattered. However, what scared Rhea so much was the thought of Lukas dying in her arms and her being unable to help him. The imagination made her heart wretch with pain. She didn’t want a reality without Lukas by her side.
But then, something hit Rhea at the last minute when she remembered her mother’s words.
She turned to her mother, wide-eyed, confusing Natalie with the look.
“What is it?”
Reeling from the shock of the discovery, Rhea asked,
“Are you saying that you give me the permission to marry Lukas?”
She Would Show Her
“Huh?” Natalie looked taken aback by that question. It then dawned on her that she might have given her daughter ideas.
“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, Rhea 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. Rhea’s eyes were lit with excitement and it didn’t seem like she was going to give up anytime soon.
“Your words were these…” Rhea refused to give up, “And I quote, ‘And what about your family? Lukas 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?'”
Rhea 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, Rhea 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,” Rhea gave her a look that says she doesn’t believe her one bit.
Natalie rubbed her brows, “Stop giving me a look,”
“What look?” Rhea 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, Rhea 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 Lukas behind my back!” Natalie threatened her daughter but she didn’t take it seriously.
Rhea 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?”
Rhea 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 Lukas 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.