Betrothed to the Mafia heir

I watched my mom bring out the fancy utensils we had in the kitchen. She was wrapping them up, both the used ones and the brand new ones, all for sale.

"Mom, why do you keep selling most of what we've got here? I understand that things aren't really smooth right now, but we've been good. Why are you suddenly selling most of our stuff? Yesterday was our expensive chaise and now our kitchen stuff, including our oven."

I didn't even want to mention that she sold my dad's car last week. If she's so worried about our weekly feeding and all that, the money from the sale of my dad's car should already be enough!

This whole act was driving me crazy as our once cosy and furnished detached apartment turned scanty in the space of two weeks.

"Honey, things are getting worse by the day. We need money to feed and clothe ourselves more than we need these properties" my mom said after about a minute of snubbing me. I won't believe these tales anymore. The money she's gotten from most properties that she'd sold are enough to take care of our feeding and clothing for like three months! And meanwhile, she's been keeping that money in a big bag like it's not even for us. Then, a question struck me . I decided to ask.

"Mom, tell me the truth. I'm your daughter. "

She quivered at my statement, like she's anxious to hear my next lines.

"Are you owing anyone? You don't act like you're selling these properties for our needs. You seem to be selling them because you're owing someone a huge amount of money. Tell me, mom. Do you owe anybody?" I finally let it out. I looked at my mom, but her countenance had fallen as if to truly respond that she's indeed owing someone. And all of a sudden , her countenance changed again into a kind I can't explain.

"Yes. I'm owing myself....my health"...

What was even the meaning of that statement? I wondered.

"Mum, what do you mean by that? Are you sick?" . She nodded, bending her head like she didn't want to look me in the eyes. I froze. I immediately felt bad for thinking she's owing someone.

"What kind of illness, mummy? Why didn't you tell me about it? Was dad aware before he passed?"

"Yes honey. He was aware " she paused.

I couldn't even say how her facial countenance was. She seemed to be thinking of what to say next. Maybe, she doesn't know how to tell me what kind of illness she has.

"Mom, speak up." I whispered .

She still remained silent.

"Lorna, it's nothing okay. I'll be fine. Here's the thing, I'll be needing fifteen million dollars for my treatment. That's why I've been selling some of our properties"

I gasped when I heard the amount of money. We haven't even gotten up to five million dollars yet, if that's the case.

"Mom, what illness is this? I need to know please. " But, why the rush for the money? I wondered again.

"Talk to me, mum. Do you have limited time to pay this whooping amount of money? please say something mum."

But the reaction i got from her was unexpected. Mum continued to pack our expensive pots, spoons and our oven. She acted as if she didn't hear me.

"Mom, talk to me. I know you feel bad, but please tell me the sickness. I want to know. "

"Lorna, I'll tell you after I've sold these. Look, I have just a week more to get this money for...for my treatment " she stuttered while she said the last sentence and started calling her buyer.

I sat on the stool close to her. My mind kept racing with thoughts. I was wondering the kind of illness my mom has that warrants that kind of money for treatment. The time duration is not even enough...how on earth will someone be able to raise fifteen million dollars in two weeks! "If she doesn't get it after a week , what will happen? Will all our properties even sum up to that amount? most of them aren't brand new anymore. " and these were my thoughts.

When my mom finished her call, she began to package these stuffs. Obviously, her buyer would be coming to take our kitchen tools.

"Mom, are you going to die?" was what I heard myself ask next.

My mom stood at a spot. I could hear her heartbeats increase at a pace. Her eyes turned glassy as tears welled up in those grey colored eyes of hers. She hugged me tightly and I suddenly felt emotional.

"Mom, I don't want you to die. We've lost dad when I was 18 and I'll be 20 in a month time. I can't bear to be an orphan "

"I'll die, If you ever leave my side" I heard her whisper through my orange-red hair.

I looked at my mom. I would never think of leaving her. Even if I get married anytime, she will stay with me.

"I will never leave you, mom. Never!"

"And I won't let anyone take you away from me, baby" she hugged me passionately as I felt her tears dropping on my hair. Was someone trying to take me away from my mother? Never! I won't let that, I said to myself, though my mom is yet to explain that.

Suddenly, a knock was heard while I and my mom was still in our hugging position. None of us was ready to entangle from this warm hug. The knock came again, and this time sounded louder as if our door would be pulled down next.

"it must be my buyer. She came so fast" my mom said, as she disengaged from our hug, wiping her eyes.

"I'll get the door, mom" I stood up and walked to our door. While I walked towards the door, the knock became louder again

"We're coming " my mom said as she already kept the packaged items on the dining table.

I opened the door and I was driven aback at the sight I met. This can't be the buyer! A huge blonde young man clad in black suit and dark shades stood in front of our door. Then, I noticed a man who should be in his mid fifties behind him, also wearing black shades. I couldn't speak. Shivers ran down my spine.

Then the man behind the first guy, walked past the first guy and stood in front of me.

"Lorna, please let the buyer in already " I heard my mom say from the kitchen. She was already coming to the living room.

The man removed his black shades and I recognized him already! My dad's best friend who disappeared after my dad died. He wasn't seen after my dad's candle light procession at the cemetery, and whenever I tried asking my mom about him, she'll change the topic

But I felt excited that he was here...he's like an uncle to me.

"Mr. Draco!" I called his name in excitement and my mom immediately rushed to the door. She was shocked to see him, but the next thing she did was to pull me behind her and stand in front of Mr Draco. I saw his countenance change into a dark look. His voice was stern and I could see fear, yet resilience as well in my mom's eyes.

"Hello, Vivienne!" he said in the most stern and coldest voice I've ever heard.

My mom kept looking at him and I wondered why she pulled me behind her.

"What are you doing here? I've got a week more to do the needful "

"I only came to remind you and of course, to let you know that an interest amount has been added " .

He had a smirk on his mean face when he made that last sentence. I wondered if it was the doctor handling my mom's treatment that sent Mr Draco to remind my mom of the payment deadline. But why the word "interest amount" ? Is the treatment now a sort of business? I thought to myself.

I watched my mom's countenance fall, but she maintained a straight face again.

"This is not part of the deal. Why asking for interest this time ?" my mom said again.

Then, Mr Draco walked two steps closer to her. An angry look was on his face as he beckoned on the man he came with, who in turn, handed over a stick of cigarette and lighter to him.

"Vivienne, " he called my mom with a hoarse voice. She drew back a bit, immediately Mr Draco lit up his cigarette.

Puffing the smoke out of his nostrils, he asked ;

"Is paying me back part of the deal? Since you decided to pay back when I didn't ask for it, I've decided to add an interest rate. After all, it was a loan and it was given seventeen years ago. Which bank would give you a loan to pay after so many years, or not to pay at all?"

I was confused at this point and just then, my mom asked me to go inside. This is indeed, not a medical issue! I obeyed her and walked inside my room. There I stayed, battling with my thoughts.

"Draco! You're really trying to do everything possible for you to take my daughter away from me. I won't let that happen." Vivienne spat out.

"I see that you're equally trying to get on my last nerves, Vivienne. You're preventing her from knowing the truth. " he paused .

Turning his back on her, he said "You have a week to pay me Fifty-five million dollars or I'll take Lorna home forcefully. Let's go, Alex" .

He entered his limo and Alex drove out.

******

I overheard everything, but still I was confused. I just couldn't wrap my head around the whole thing.

My mom walked back to the living room and sat down on the nearest cushion. Her mood had changed. She looked defeated.

"Mum, what was Uncle Draco talking about? I overheard everything, mom"

"I thought I had asked you to go inside?" she asked and I noticed how faint her voice was.

"I did, but uncle Draco's voice was loud enough for me to hear it from the inside. "

She said nothing else and began to pack more kitchen equipment. She packed in our expensive oven.

"Mom, I asked you something just now. What was he talking about?" I was getting irritated by her silence and reluctance in replying to me.

It was already clear to me that this isn't about treatment at all. She might be really sick, but this is not in line with medical matters.

"It's nothing serious, Lorna. I'll fix it"

"Something about me isn't serious? Mom, am I really still a child to you? I'm 19 and will be 20 very soon!" I was almost yelling at my mother.

I didn't actually hear the amount Uncle Draco called as his interest amount. All I knew was that my mom seemed to be owing Uncle Draco...since seventeen years! I was even irritated by the fact that I was actually confused.

Then, my mom turned to me and said ;

" I have a week to pay him Fifty-five million dollars. I'm owing Draco...I and your dad actually, but he's now late" . Fifty-five what? I was getting confused again.

"I'm not sick, Lorna. We were supposed to pay Draco fifteen million dollars in a week, but he just added an interest amount. " she paused and continued "I'll have to pay him fifty million dollars by next week. That's the amount now"

Her voice was sounding teary.

How on earth are we supposed to pay that kind of money in a week? The former amount isn't even attainable yet and then, this!

What sort of loan is this?

"Mom, why didn't you and Dad pay fifteen million dollars all these years? You and Dad could have jointly paid it then!"

Or wasn't that the best option then?

I felt tense all of a sudden.

"He didn't want the money anymore. He gave it to us freely then. He only started requesting for it recently "

"Why?" I asked immediately.

My mom paused. I saw tears fill up her eyes, but she refused to allow them to drop .

I sat beside her and placed my hands around her shoulders and whispered "Mom" . I couldn't bear to see her that way. She was fighting the tears.

"Draco wants to take you away from me, Lorna " What?!