“No, no, that’s not possible. How do you know that she’s her daughter? Who said so? How does Natalie go from being a single woman to a woman with a daughter?! Is this some sort of sick joke or what?!” He was pacing up and down the room, trying to understand this, his brain full of activities.
“Elijah!” Eric shouted at the top of his voice and then caught him on the shoulder. Grabbing his head in his palms, he ordered him, “Calm down. Take long deep breaths. Yes, just like that.” He guided his little brother who wasn’t taking the news all too well.
“Now sit and let me explain everything,” Eric pushed him back down on his seat, directing him like a child nor did Elijah protest. He was too far gone in his thoughts to object.
“This is huge, but I want you to control yourself, Elijah, You’re a Draven and that’s what men in our family do, we stay in control.” He psyched him, preparing him for the secrets he was about to release.
When Elijah was calm enough, Eric began by telling him all about Natalie, her history with Edward, Arianna’s father, and then Daniel of course, and how everything went sour. He related the circumstances surrounding Arianna’s birth and then Natalie’s death, or so Daniel assumed and how their family came to her rescue.
By the time he was done, Elijah’s head was swelling with so much revelation.
He thought he knew about his aunt Natalie, or perhaps, Natalie now, but he was wrong. And to think he was in love with her daughter, Arianna, just how messed up was that.
Although there was no law prohibiting in-laws from marrying since they weren’t blood-related, however, that could mess up the family tree nor were some people accommodating to that. Heck, Elijah felt like he was going crazy from all of his thinking.
.....
“Natalie doesn’t know that I’ve found her daughter or the fact that the daughter she had given away to save her life is currently in the hands of the son of the man she loathes so much. Honestly, brother, I don’t know what would happen when she finds out,” Eric sighed, pinching the bridge between his nose. It was obvious that keeping this huge secret from his bride was taking a toll on him.
And yes, unlike his brother, Elijah knew what would happen if Natalie finds out about this, all hell would let loose. If he could feel this much rage over what he just heard, then Natalie would be a goddess of carnage when she hears her daughter is in the hands of the son of the enemy, Marcel.
Elijah always knew nothing good would come out of Arianna being with Marcel. He always felt it deep down in his bones that he wasn’t right for her, but like poison, Marcel was slowly seeping into her mind and she didn’t realize that. But not anymore, he now knew the truth and would get her out of there by all means, even if that is the last thing he would do for her. She would come to thank him later.
“We have to tell Natalie,”
“No!” Eric growled a warning. He dare not tell her.
“Yes, but not now! She barely survived the guilt of knowing she abandoned her daughter for years, Elijah. What do you think would happen when she realizes that all of her efforts had been for nothing? Years that she could have spent by her daughter’s side?” He tried to make him see reasons with him.
“You’re scared,” Elijah whispered, seeing through his brother, “You’re scared that she would call off the wedding plans, reject you and crawl back into her former shell.”
Eric clutched his shaking hands, feeling bare and exposed before his brother, and was unable to come up with an answer because it was the truth. He knew Natalie like the back of his hand and knowing the truth would break her.
Moreover, was it selfish of him to get what he wants for once? He wanted Natalie with every fiber of his being and he couldn’t stomach the thought of her rejecting him. A future without her looked bleak.
Elijah felt pity for his brother Eric when he saw the desolate look on his face. Having gotten a taste of it when he saw Marcel and Arianna together, he knew what it felt like and it wasn’t pleasant at all.
He stood up to his feet and went over to his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezed affectionately. Eric had always been a pillar of support in the family, hence his brothers would have laughed their asses off if they had seen this scene of him comforting him instead.
“I understand your concerns,” he said,
“However, you forget that hell has no fury like a woman scorned, and in Natalie’s case, not once, but twice. Do you think she would have the time to break down?”
Eric lifted his eyes to the sky, blinking away the emotions in his eyes,
“I hope so brother. I hope so.” He said.
“That is why we need to tell her now.” Elijah couldn’t wait for Arianna and Marcel to be separated. The more time she spent with Marcel the more he poisoned her mind. And what would Arianna say if he told her what her mother passed through in the hands of Daniel? Would she be able to look at Marcel the same way? How strong was the love she claims to have for him?
“No, not now,” Eric shook his head in refusal.
“Brother!”
“Not until we get her daughter back!” He barked at him.
“Let’s say you tell her everything, and then she comes to worry about her daughter?”
“Fine, we get Arianna back.”
“Exactly,” At least his brother Eric agreed with one of his plans.
“It’s literally my fault that Arianna is held captive by Marcel, but I already have a plan in place to get her out of there. However, I think I would be able to get her home faster if you lend me your help,” Elijah suggested, a smirk at the corner of his lips and that drew his brother’s attention.