Chapter 287
The moment Marcel shouted out those words, Arianna stiffened and an awkward silence fell over them. It was made worse that they were sitting close to each other.
“So tell me...” Marcel finally broke the silence. He reached out and grabbed her face, but this time, he didn’t hold her tightly, as if she was fragile and would break if he were rough with her, “Do you even have an atom of love for me or am I that huge of a monster?”
Arianna opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t say a thing. She shouldn’t feel a thing for this man, he was the one who kidnapped her and made her life miserable. But then, Marcel wasn’t all that bad except that he was born into the wrong family and took on the wrong occupation.
However, Arianna was never going to tell him that because she actually pitied him and she was sure that wasn’t what he wanted from him.
“We’re not having this conversation when you’re obviously drunk,” Arianna said, already rising to her feet when he pushed her down to the seat and boxed her in.
“Marcel....” Arianna called his name with both caution and apprehension. She wanted him to remember their deal but she was scared at the same time as to what he would do when drunk.
“I’m not drunk...” He refuted her words and Arianna couldn’t tell between the drunk and sober Marcel, which one was better at the moment.
“Fine, you’re not drunk.” Arianna only agreed to please him so he could let her go.
.....
Marcel tightened his grip on her chin but not to the point it hurt. However, he turned her face from side to side as if he was scanning merchandise. So much for not being drunk. But for someone drunk, he has good locomotion.
“What’s so special about Elijah, huh? Why won’t you like me the same way you like him?” He asked without taking his eyes off her. Marcel might as well bore a hole in her head with his intense stare. The answer wasn’t written in her head.
“That’s quite an inappropriate question considering you’re about to get married, sir?” she reminded him. Arianna decided to be more formal this time hoping he respected himself and not attempt anything stupid. Being this way wouldn’t make her like him. He can’t force feelings on her, that’s not the way to win over a lady.
“There’s a possibility the marriage won’t hold.”
“Alright. Wait – what?!” Arianna was stunned by the news. If there was a possibility of the marriage being stopped, why was he being this way then? He should stop it already. And Arianna’s not saying this because she’s relieved by the news or something. No one deserves to live in a loveless marriage – except her uncle and his wife.
“If I can get my sister back, I have every right to reject the marriage,” Marcel confessed, without releasing her. If anything he was busy caressing her soft cheeks while Arianna worked hard not to relish the feeling. She’s in a hot spot.
“Your sister? I don’t understand?” Arianna breathed. This position is really not the best for a conversation. So she added, “And maybe if you can sit back down.... we can err.... have a nicer discussion. I can hear you out better....” She suggested, hopefully.
But that escalated the whole issue because Marcel shifted and now knelt in between her thighs. She had no choice but to lean back, not that there was much space. Thankfully, she was wearing shorts and not the nightgown she decided on earlier else this would have been much more awkward.
Seems like drunk Marcel wasn’t exactly the best at negotiation because his gray eyes darkened and narrowed as he asked, “Are you chasing me off?”
“Of course, not,” your highness, Arianna bit back the sarcasm. This was the first time she was dealing with a drunk Marcel and didn’t want to put herself in a precarious situation. She simply tried not to look at that chiseled chest staring back at him. Peekaboo.
“Perhaps, you should continue with the conversation on how your sister has to do with your marriage,” Arianna wanted to know the details. Who knows? It might come in handy in the future.
“My father, he took her. If I don’t marry Clara, he will kill her.” Marcel confessed and her blood ran cold. Arianna had a hard time trying to process that news.
“Y-your father would kill his own daughter to make his son marry....” This was one great dysfunctional family.
“She’s not his daughter but my sister!” Marcel was enraged at the fact she dared to call Chloe that man’s daughter. That man doesn’t deserve Chloe at all.
Arianna gulped, she really didn’t know how to handle this situation. His mood right now was uncertain.
“My mother adopted her, that man doesn’t acknowledge her as his. She’s not less than a stranger to him.” He explained.
Well, that makes sense. But even as annoying as Marcel was, he still released information. Perhaps, she can take advantage of his drunkenness and know more about his progress in finding Elijah.
No, Arianna, that’s a bad idea. She thought about it. Elijah’s name alone sets him off. He might really kill her if she tried that. So Arianna decided to respect herself and take whatever he gives her.
“So he’s threatening you with her life?” She asked him.
“Yes. I have to bring her back, Arianna.” Marcel said and surprisingly got off her.
Okay...? What now? She was already becoming wary of him.
That was not the end of the drama because Marcel took off his shoes and before Arianna could predict what he was up to, he laid his head on her lap and stretched out his long legs on the armrest.
“Oh.” That was all Arianna said, unable to refuse him.
“I’m tired, allow me to rest for a while,” Marcel said just before he made himself comfortable and shut his eyes.
Dude, you could easily sleep on the sofa! Arianna scolded him in her mind. In the end, she still let him be and before long, the soft rising and falling of his chest told her that Marcel was asleep.
For a Mafia Lord, he sure trusted her too much. Wasn’t he scared that she’d stab him in his sleep or did he look down on her too much?
Arianna sighed. She looked at him, brushing away a blonde lock from his forehead. She admired his features, “Such a waste of a handsome face.” She muttered and went on with her job as a watchwoman. This has got to be the most entertaining night ever.