419 Threatening The In-law

Tension coiled in her body and Diana looked like a mother hen about to protect her chick from a predator ready to snatch it from the sky.

“Why are you against your daughter’s happiness?” Daniel asked, leaving her dumbfounded. How dare he accuse her of that?

“What do you know about happiness, not to talk of my daughter’s?” Diana’s words were between a growl and a sneer and that must have warned Daniel off because he apologized in the next minutes.

“I’m sorry if I was a bit rude, however, the children look happy, why do you want to ruin that?” He almost looked concerned about the children’s well-being. Only a fool would believe that.

“The children look happy? Do you know what happened the day the wedding planner came? My daughter broke down in tears,” Diana looked pained as she recalled that scene, “Your son Marcel doesn’t treat my daughter with respect, no...” She took a deep breath, “They don’t love one another,”

“Diana... ” Daniel called and reached for the woman’s hand as if to provide comfort or something, however, she pulled back immediately as if she was electrocuted, staring at him with wide eyes, and Daniel upon realizing himself, stepped back as well.

She and Daniel might be in-laws but they were not close enough to initiate such physical contact and she could count the number of times she had been with him like this, one on one to discuss the future of their children. No, now she thought about it, their arrangement was almost like a business transaction. God, what has she done?

“You were once in an arranged marriage,” Daniel said, moving her mind from what happened moments ago, “You of all people should know that it would take time for the kids to warm up to each other.”

“That is why we engaged them for over two months, hoping they warmed up to each other,” She reminded them that their engagement didn’t start recently, and yet, there was still no sign of affection between both of them. If anything, her daughter was the one ending up with unreciprocated feelings and was being treated like a fool.

historical

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“Maybe, they need more time...” Daniel was still saying when the woman shook her head stubbornly.

“My husband and I were engaged less than two weeks before we got married to each other. However, what made mine different? The both of us knew what we were getting ourselves into and were determined to make a future out of it, but your son, Marcel? I’m not even sure he regards my daughter as a woman.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll speak to my son and make him come around. I assure you that there would be positive results before the wedding,” Daniel suggested, his thoughts alive with different ideas he could use to fulfill that promise – and none of them were good.

“No, I want out,” Diana declared firmly, knowing this was now or never. Clara would not appreciate it when she heard the engagement is over and would be mad at her for days or weeks or months – or years – but it was for her good.

“My daughter is precious and needs to be treated by someone who knows her worth,”

“Diana,” Daniel chuckled, “You are clearly blinded by emotions and are not thinking clearly -”

“I want the engagement canceled!” Diana snapped and that shut Daniel up at once. Her face was taut and her eyes blazing with fiery intensity, told him that he was not going to win this battle.

The slump of Daniel’s shoulders as if he was exhausted told Diana gave her the illusion that she won and she was able to release the breath she didn’t know she had been holding in. Her daughter would be free.

A tensed silence pulled tight in the room until Daniel breathed, “I guess I have no choice then,”

Diana’s heart fluttered in excitement, guessing that he admitted defeat. Had she known that she would get her daughter’s freedom this easily, she would have let go of the damn tension and done it long ago when she sensed something wasn’t right between her and Marcel.

Why had she hesitated though? It was all because of the man standing in front of her. The closer she came to him, Diana realized she might have made a deal with the devil. Hence she thought he would threaten her or something. If only she knew she wasn’t far off with that thought.

“I guess we would have the wedding without you,” Daniel suddenly said.

Goosebumps broke out on her arms and her gaze narrowed at him when she recognized the subtle threat in those words.

“What do you mean by that?”

Daniel picked up his coffee and drank it all before placing the empty mug on the table, clearing the foam at the corner of his mouth, and catching her tensed gaze.

“You’re the only one against the wedding, don’t you think the problem would be solved once you’re out of the picture?” He smirked wickedly with his bright cunning eyes.

Diana shot up to her feet at once, eyes wide and furious, “Are you threatening me?!” She thundered.

“Depends on your actions, then yes, I’m threatening you,” He said calmly, as if she didn’t have her phone with her and would easily call the police – if he doesn’t kill her first.

Diana realized she was in a precarious situation however, she didn’t let it show on her face. She was an important personality, a past royalty, and her death would open up multiple investigations that would surely implicate him. He would not do anything to her. Daniel was all barks and no bite.

So she threw her head back and laughed hard, “And you think Clara would still marry your son when she suspects you have a hand in my murder? You think you can easily do away with me without getting caught?” She found it laughable.

“How is your anti-depressant going?” Daniel suddenly asked and her blood chilled immediately. How did he know about that?

“What do you think would happen when you accidentally overdose on those drugs or it gets switched with an identical yet deadlier drug?”

Diana wanted to run from this monster but the look in his eyes warned her not to and she couldn’t even feel her legs.

Daniel quietly stood up to his feet, a smile on his face, “Thank you for the coffee, it was nice even though I prefer mine less... sweeter,” He thanked her as if he didn’t just threaten to kill her right now.

And with that, Daniel left, having made his point already while Diana was stuck at the spot, her heart pounding in her throat.