Chapter 58 - Daughter And Father-in-law

Marcel had a stoic expression on his face as he walked into his father's place. Although he looked straight ahead, his peripheral views did all the work for him.

He observed and mesmerized every turn and doors, noticing the newest alteration made to the house. Although Daniel was his father, Marcel had never for once slept over at his place. 

This city was not the place he grew up in, so there was no lingering feeling or attachment to the house. Moreover, the old man would never stay in a place contaminated by his mother's presence. 

However, there was another reason Marcel was interested in this place. His sister must be hidden here somewhere, he just had to find out where and come up with a plan to bust her out. Sadly, his father knew that was exactly what he would do, hence he made sure to keep her further away from him.

Chloe, Marcel's younger sister was not biologically related to him however, she was the closest thing to a family that he had left. His mother Penelope, was unable to give birth to another child - because her husband would not give her one. Yeah, what kind of husband does that? - decided to adopt one to make Marcel feel less lonely.

Marcel had no weakness except Chloe. He loved her so much that it was hard to discover that she was adopted at all. Unfortunately, his father knew that and of course, that was the only way to keep Marcel under control after he was made the new head of the Luciano clan.

So he took Chloe away and made Marcel agree to marry Clara Louise Alberta to climb up the autocracy ladder. Of course, that didn't sit right with Marcel but what could he do? He knew that crazy man would murder Chloe without blinking an eye. 

As much as Chloe was Marcel's sister by law and his dead mother adopted her, his father Daniel didn't care. The man is a cold-blooded animal and would go to any length to get what he wants.

Marcel understood the fact that his father hated his mother for reasons best known to him. However, what he doesn't understand is his obsession to be a noble. It just wasn't normal and he sensed there was a story behind it - not that he knows of.

His father was not exactly a fatherly figure and the only thing he grew up teaching him was not to be weak. Unfortunately, not being weak was equal to being emotionless, but his mother taught him better than that. 

Marcel mentally prepared himself to meet his father only and never expected to encounter her. It then dawned on him that this wasn't just a summoning, it's a date.

"Marcel," She said, standing up abruptly to acknowledge his presence even though he didn't command her to. 

"Clara," Marcel responded with a tone that wasn't so pleased with his finding. For sure, he loves surprises but Clara wasn't even close to the things he loves.

"You are here," Marcel pointed out even though she was standing right in front of him. 

"Yes, I am," Clara said and began to walk towards him which made his brows arch. What was the little witch up to now? 

However, Marcel wasn't prepared for when Clara hooked her arm around his neck and tilted his head, pressing her lips against his. 

What the fuck. 

Marcel stood still like a tree as Clara continued to kiss, no, abuse his lips. He had kissed a lot of women and none of them had ever tried to force a response from him the way Clara did. 

There was not a trace of excitement, not to talk of affection between them. He could feel her breast pressed flush against him and his soft lips on his, but that was just all. Clara was fucking hot, that was for sure, but she wasn't hot enough for him.

"Are you done?" Marcel asked when she finally pulled away, bored out of his mind. 

"Nope," She said, giving him one last smooch on the lips before taking a step back as Daniel arrived. Oh, he should have known. She was putting up an act for the oldman.

However, even with the presence of his father, Marcel didn't miss the words Clara whispered into his ears. 

"Do not mess this up," and she turned to face Daniel with a smile that could even shame the sun.

"Father, Marcel is here,"

Marcel rolled his eyes at the sudden change in her demeanor, Clara was quite the actress. As if his father doesn't have the eyes to sight him.

"Yes, he is," Daniel said, giving Clara a warm hug. It was quite obvious that his father was taken by his would-be daughter in law. 

But then, for someone who claimed she detested their occupation, Marcel wondered if Clara knew his father was a bigger monster than he was. Or perhaps, she was one big hypocrite.

"The way you two relate, people would think you're husband and wife instead of daughter and father-in-law. Although I'm not really against the both of you marrying if you change your mind on the engagement. After all, I'm of age so I can't be maltreated by my evil stepmother," Marcel intentionally teased them, erasing all smiles from their faces.

Their expressions were priceless - Clara looked as if someone threw shit on her face while his father's was so livid, he might shapeshift into a gorilla soon. 

"You son -!"

"Father!" Clara came in front of him before Daniel could take a step forward and he stopped to Marcel's shock. 

That gesture sparked something inside of Marcel. When his mother was alive, his father never hesitated for once even when his mother stepped in front to protect him. Yet he stopped for Clara - someone who wasn't his wife. Someone who wasn't related to him! Someone who doesn't deserve to get the love and affection he never gave his mother! 

As angry as Marcel was, he still tried to keep his emotions under check yet his hands couldn't stop shaking. He hated this! He hated everyone! He hated his life! He just…. missed his mother. 

"What am I doing here?" Marcel asked with a tone so cold he could freeze over a river. Even Clara was surprised at his tone, he was the one who pissed off his father - Daniel should be the angry one here, not him! 

"What do you think? I wanted us to have a meal as a family and what could be more exciting than breakfast with your wife," Daniel already concluded their future together. 

"You're being unfair on her," Marcel said. 

"What?" Clara asked this time, confused at the tense conversation between father and son. 

Marcel laughed crazily, "There would never be breakfast between us," 

"What?" Clara was dumbfounded. 

But Marcel was not speaking to her this time, all of his attention was on his father and there was a crazed look in his eyes. 

He went on, "Just the way you treated my mother, I'll give Clara a taste of it. Then, I would love to see how you feel knowing that the girl you choose for me would never be happy while you get all you wanted. Isn't that wonderful?" 

Although Clara couldn't understand what father and son were trying to get at, goosebumps still covered her arms. She was beginning to get scared. 

Clara didn't know much about Marcel's mother accept the fact that his mother was never loved by his father. The both of them lived in a loveless marriage yet never divorced till she died. But it seems there was more to the story now. 

The worst part? She was about to get into a loveless marriage with Marcel as well. Would she be so miserable in the marriage that she would die early like his mother? Questions like that gave her cold feet. 

Daniel noticed Clara's fears and at once glared at his bastard son that was about to ruin everything. 

"You wouldn't -" 

"I think this is a bad time and I should leave," Clara said and without even waiting for approval from the father-in-law she worked so hard to impress, left immediately. 

"How dare you?!" Daniel growled like a wounded animal, stomping over to Marcel and lifted his hand to strike him. 

"How many times would you grow tired of hitting me? It's getting old," He added immediately, "And not the face. That's the only way I see mother in me every day," Marcel weakened his father with just his words. 

Daniel's hands hung in the air, the desire to hit him melting away as soon as he brought up his wife. However, there was no way he was not going to teach him respect. 

So he grabbed Marcel by his shirt and pulled him closer to the point he was almost suffocating him, "The next time you pull up a stunt like this, I'll be sending your sister's pinky. How's that for a lesson?" 

Marcel gulped, making a mental image of the scene and his stomach churned. Chloe was too soft and fragile, she would be unable to take that amount of pain. 

"Do you understand?" Daniel demanded. 

"Yes father," Marcel said with so much scorn in his tone and gaze. 

"Now, you would go to Clara's and apologize with flowers, making sure the marriage goes as planned," He ordered him. 

"Yes, sir," Marcel said, just as his father finally let go, shoving him back in the process, and left. 

It took Marcel a few minutes to coordinate himself enough to mask his feelings once again. But then he received a text on his phone and for a fleeting second, he was able to breathe until he remembered…. 

Oh no.