His Bride: Being the Mafia's Princess

"Hello everyone, I'm home!" Lillian screamed happily and her parents came climbing down the staircase immediately.

"And my darling daughter is here." Mrs Helen said in a wide smile as she immediately embraced her daughter.

"I miss you so much mom." Lillian said embracing her tighter than before.

"Don't I also deserve a hug?" Mr Jeffrey who was standing behind them asked making Lillian and her mother chuckle. She left her mom and went to give her dad a tight hug.

"I missed you my old man." She said as she hugged him and he chuckled. So, she still remembers that name.

Don't be confused. Lillian and her dad had this beautiful father and daughter relationship and 'my old man' was the nickname she gave him when she was still staying with them.

Mr Jeffrey didn't really expect her to call him that after so many years.

"And I missed you more my little princess." Mr Jeffrey replied and Lillian released herself from the hug with a pout.

"I'm no longer little, I'm now a big lady." Lillian said and twirled round making her parents laugh.

"Nevertheless, you're still my little princess." Her dad said making Lillian frown a little.

"I don't want that name any longer, I need a new one." She said with another pout.

"Alright, I'll give you another one. Happy now?" Her dad asked and she smiled.

"It is enough now. Sweetheart, come on, let me show you to your room, so you'd freshen up and come downstairs, I already prepared your favorite." Her mom said in a smile, interrupting the father and daughter's moment then climbed the stairs.

"Okay mom." Lillian replied and followed behind.

The maids that were standing there all these while, watching their little drama carried the luggage and also followed, leaving Mr Jeffrey who went to sit on the couch behind.

MINUTES LATER*

ON THE DINING TABLE*

"So, how was Spain?" Mrs Helen said breaking the silence.

"De eso estuvo bien." Lillian replied in Spanish making her parents laugh.

"And what does that mean?" Her mom said in between laughter.

"It means it was fine." Lillian replied with a smile.

"I'm glad it was." Her dad said in a chuckle.

"But it was boring." Lillian said and rolled her eyes.

"Why was it boring? Didn't you make any friends there?" Her dad asked in a puzzled look.

"I did but like they say, no place like home." She replied in a shrug.

"What?" She asked in a cute smile after seeing the looks on her parents face.

"We're just amazed that you missed us this much." Her mom voiced out.

"Yeah." She said quietly.

"But not to worry, now that I'm back, I'm going to make up for all the boring moments and you both would help me achieve that." She said again and her parents chuckled.

"Anything for a princess." Her mother said and she gave a lip tight smile.

"Do you need more food? You know, after your long flight." Her dad said as he took a sip of his juice.

"No. I don't want to get fat."

"Why?" Her dad said in a questioning look.

"It will make me look ugly and I don't want that." Lillian said and her dad smiled.

"You sure cherish your beauty so much." Her dad mumbled audibly as he shook his head.

"Of course I do. I'd want to remain beautiful everyday and everytime just like mom." Lillian said as she dropped her cutlery and touched her face, making Mrs Helen smile.

"But being fat doesn't make one ugly." Her mom tried to justify.

"To me, it does and I don't ever wish to be." Lillian said stressing on her last statement. Mrs Helen smiled and shook her head.

"Where is Fred by the way? I didn't see him since I came back or has he decided to play some dirty games with me?" Lillian said again and gulped down some quantity of water.

"Dirty games?" Her mom asked in a chuckle.

"Yeah, who knows if he hasn't quit those things." Lillian confirmed as she rolled her eyes and her parents burst into laughter. She lifted her juice and took a sip.

"Actually, he went to take care of some things in the company. He would be back soon." Her mother replied when the laughter died down.

"Oh! I thought otherwise." Lillian muttered.

*********************

"Gosh, I'm so stressed out." Lillian said as she fell on her queen sized bed.

"Can't believe I'm finally back to my family and hometown." She muttered to herself and sighed. The door opened and her mother came in. Lillian sat up and her mother went to sit beside her.

"Do you like the room? Or should I change it?" Mrs Helen asked.

"Of course I do, it looks beautiful." Lillian complimented as she stared round the room.

"Glad you love it, I was scared you wouldn't, considering how long we've been apart." Her mother heaved a sigh of relief as her expression changed.

Lillian could detect the sadness in her mother's tone and she took her hands into hers.

"Mom, you shouldn't feel bad. I already told you that I love it and that should be enough reason for you to be happy." Lillian said and her mom sighed again.

"Now put that that lovely smile on." Lillian said again but her mom still held a sad look.

"Smile for your lovely daughter, please?" Lillian pleaded in a pout that made Mrs Helen burst into laughter.

"Now that's what I'm talking about." Lillian smiled in fulfillment of making her mom laugh.

"We didn't have enough time to talk more on your journey but knowing you must be tired now, I would leave it for tomorrow." Her mother suggested.

"You guessed right mom. I just feel like laying down now and going to sleep immediately." Lillian said demonstrating with her hands.

"That's alright. You should get some sleep now. You had a long day." Mrs Helen said and made her lie on the bed. She placed her head properly on the pillow and tucked her well in the blanket.

"Sleep tight." She kissed her on the forehead.

"I will." Lillian replied in a smile and Mrs Helen left the room. She was about turning off the nightstand when the door opened again revealing her brother, Fred.

She immediately got out of the bed and jumped on him. He twirled her around till they both got dizzy and fell on the bed with laughter on their lips. Fred finally sat up and Lillian did same.

"How was your flight?" Fred asked after the laughter died down.

"It was awesome, especially when I knew I was finally coming back home after a long time." Lillian replied in a smile.

"Wow, I must confess you've grown really big and.......beautiful too." Fred said in smiles as he stared at Lillian. He still couldn't believe this was the same Lillian he knew years back. What was he even expecting?

"You can say that again and you don't look bad yourself. I wouldn't have recognized you if I haven't seen your picture before I came back." Lillian giggled and hit him lightly on the head.

"And you haven't changed that habit of yours." Fred replied in a grin.

"What habit are you referring to?" Lillian asked in a lopsided smile.

"The habit of hitting my head even though I'm older than you." Fred replied.

"Well, maybe because I'm sure you can't do anything to me." Lillian mocked jokingly.

"Really? Then I'd show you that I can do something." Fred replied pouncing lightly on her. He pinned her to the bed and started tickling her.

"I can do something." Fred said again as he continued tickling Lillian who was laughing really hard.

"Please stop,,,, stop." Lillian managed to say as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Stop it Fred, I promise not to do it again." She pleaded again and this time Fred left her. She hurriedly stood up from the bed, breathing heavily like she ran a marathon race.

"You son of the devil, you almost killed me." Lillian said after she finished catching her breathe and he hummed.

"You know what? Get out of my room. I'm tired and I want to have my beauty sleep." She said and glared at him.

"Alright then." Fred said standing up.

"Goodnight." He said again and blew her a kiss then left the room.

Lillian sat back on her bed with a great thud. She laid properly on her bed and went into her fairytale world.

AT 3:00am

Lillian got out of her bed and walked out of her room. She suddenly felt thirsty and needed to quench it. She yawned as she walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took a bottle water and a glass cup. She poured water into the glass cup and drank it.

When she was done, she kept them back and left the kitchen. She climbed up the stairs, going back to her room but stopped when she heard voices in her parents' room. She decided to move further but stopped abruptly when she heard,

"She would have to get married to him."

Huh??? Who were they talking about?

Lillian got up from her bed and stretched. She yawned and went into the restroom. She came out minutes later and saw her mother sitting on her bed.

"Good morning Mom."

"Morning sweetheart. How was your night?" Her mom replied as she became aware of her daughter's presence.

"It was beautiful, thank you."

"Has it been long you came?" Lillian said again.

"I just came in seconds before you came out." Her mom replied and she mouthed an 'oh'.

"Come and sit, I want us to talk." Her mom said again tapping on the bed beside her.

"About?" Lillian queried with a raised brow.

"Have a seat first." Her mom replied and Lillian did as she was told.

"So, what is this about?" Lillian asked now staring directly at her mother and Mrs Helen took her hands into hers.

"Lillian......" She stressed out making Lillian more interested.

"You do know we all in the family loves you, right?" She said again and Lillian nodded slowly.

"And we would........." The door opened interrupting her.

"Good morning Lady Helen. Good morning Miss Lillian. There's someone here requesting to see Miss Lillian." The maidservant who came in said in a bow.

"And who is the person?" Mrs Helen asked as she and Lillian paid more attention.

"He said his name was Mark Norman." The maid replied and Lillian stood up immediately.

"Mark is here?" She said in a smile and not waiting for the maid to reply, she ran out. She walked hurriedly down the stairs, not minding if she trips or not. She finally got downstairs and walked forward to see the man that had always made her heart flutter during their childhood.

Mark was her childhood best friend and ever since she left Los Angeles, they've not been able to contact or see each other.

Mark stood up when he felt someone's presence behind him. He turned and there he found his little queen standing not far from him. Lillian not waiting to be told immediately jumped on him and he wrapped his arms round her, laughing and Lillian whose legs was now in the air, joined in and they both laughed like a maniac.

"Wow, my queen is finally a big lady." Mark said in a smile as he dropped her back on the floor, making Lillian laugh again.

"How did you know I was back?" She asked in a cheeky smile.

"Your brother told me about your arrival yesterday and that was why I came running this morning to confirm if it was true." He replied.

"Can't believe I'm finally seeing you after so many years. You know what? We have a lot of catching up to do. So, go upstairs, freshen up and come downstairs, we are going out." He said again making Lillian chuckle.

"I also missed you too." She replied in a sweet smile.

"Yeah, I know. Now, do as I said." He said and pushed her slightly.

"Está bien (okay)." She said in Spanish and even though Mark didn't understand what it meant, he still chuckled and Lillian ran upstairs to get prepared.

************************

IN A RESTAURANT (VIP SECTION)

Lillian occasionally stole glances at Mark and smiled as she munched on her crispy rice salad. Mark noticed this and couldn't help but to chuckle.

"You look really beautiful." He finally said breaking the silence and Lillian blushed. This was almost like the hundredth time he was saying this to her today and she has been blushing like never.

When they left her place in the morning, he took her to different places which included the couples amusement park, a museum, a video gaming store, and now they were in a restaurant.

After these, they would go to the cinema because Mark already bought their movie tickets.

"You know, we were having so much fun today that we forgot to talk about what happened in our various lives." Lillian said as she wiped her lips with the serviette.

"Yeah, you are right but I didn't forget. I just wanted us to have fun all through today then maybe we could talk about that later." Mark explained.

"But we've had enough fun." Lillian said pouting.

"Is someone tired already? Look, you better don't get tired because we're just getting started." Mark said in smile and Lillian smiled back.

"I wasn't actually tired on having fun. I just wanted us to get to know each other better." She suggested and Mark, knowing where she was headed dropped his cutlery and wiped his lips with the serviette.

"Alright." Mark said.

"So, do you have a girlfriend?" She asked the one question in her mind. She placed her two hands on the table to support her chin.

"I once had but we parted ways when we felt we were no longer compatible." Mark paused for a moment and although Lillian felt a little jealous at that instant, she still pretended to feel sorry.

"Aww! I'm so sorry about that."

"It's alright. It wasn't your fault anyways. So, what about you?"

"Me?" Lillian asked to be sure.

"Yeah. Do you have a boyfriend?" He repeated her question.

"Yes, I do." She said before busting into laughter after seeing the look on his face.

"I was joking." She corrected still laughing but Mark still wasn't satisfied with it.

"I'm serious Mark. I don't have a boyfriend and I've never had." Lillian said now serious and he heaved a sigh of relief, making Lillian bust into another round of laughter. Gosh, She never knew he would react this way.

"Why are you laughing?" Mark asked.

"Nothing but you're seriously funny." Lillian commented trying hard to suppress her laughter.

"I didn't even say anything funny." Mark defended.

"But your expression said so." Lillian stated the obvious. Her phone rang from her purse and she opened it and brought out the phone.

"Hello Mom." She said immediately she accepted the call.

"Lillian, where are you?"

"I'm in a restaurant with Mark. Any problem?"

"I want you to come home now."

"Ugghh mom, can't it wait?" Lillian said in a pout.

"No. Be home in ten minutes." Her mom said and hung up.

Huh?

"Any.... Problem?" Mark asked when Lillian dropped her phone.

"It's mom, she wants me home now." She replied as she put her phone back in her purse.

"But why?" Mark asked confused.

"I don't know but whatever it might be sounded urgent and I must go now." She replied.

"I'm sorry." She added and stood up.

"Alright then, I'll take you home." Mark said as he also stood up.

"Thank you." Lillian said in a small smile. Mark dropped some dollar notes on the table and they both left the restaurant.

SOME MINUTES LATER*

Mark drove into the compound and found a place to park.

"Thank you for the ride." Lillian said as she tried to get down but was stopped by Mark who held her arm.

"Mind if I come in with you?" Mark said as he stared into her silver coloured eyes.

"N.......n..no" Lillian stuttered out almost lost in his gaze.

"Why?" He further asked as he brought his hand to her face.

"Because I don't want to stress you." Lillian replied looking down at her purse.

"But I'm not complaining." Mark said trying to convince her.

"Umm..... please mark, I need to go now. I don't know what it is my mom needs me for." She pleaded and Mark left her.

"Alright, take care." He said as she alighted from the car. Lillian waved at him and went inside then he drove off.

She entered the living room and saw her parents sitting there but they weren't alone. There was four other people with them. It was a lady and three other men opposite her parents. The lady and one of the men were sitting while the other two were standing behind them. It seems they were all having a conversation but stopped when she entered.

Lillian took her eyes from them and focused back on her parents.

"Mom, I'm here now. What is it? You sounded so urgent." She said as she sat down on the couch beside her mom who now partially faced her.

"Yes, your dad and I want to talk to you about something important."

"Really? Then I'm all hears." Lillian said trying not to have eye contact with the people opposite her.

Her father cleared his throat and finally released the bombshell.

"You'll be getting married."

"Of course I'll get married when I'm ready dad." Lillian replied and chuckled thinking it was one of her father's joke.

"You'll be getting married Lillian and not when you're ready. Infact, as we speak, I already have someone for you, there he is." Mr Jeffrey said pointing to the man sitting on the couch.

"Dad, what are you saying? if this is a joke, please stop it. It's no longer funny." Lillian said wishing everything he said was a joke.

"I'm not joking Lillian. I mean everything I said. The man in front of you here is your soon to be husband. So, I'd advise you to try to get to know him better." Mr Jeffrey explained. Lillian turned to see the expression on her father's face and he looked dead serious.

"And as a matter of fact, you're getting married a day after tomorrow."

What?????

She immediately stood up, took her purse and stomped off without uttering a word.

"Lillian, Lillian." Mrs Helen tried calling her back but she didn't listen.

"Go and make her see reasons." Mr Jeffrey said and Mrs Helen nodded and left.

"Jeff, you know how much I hate stubborn ladies, so you better teach your daughter some manners." The man who was sitting on the opposite chair finally said.

"You don't have to worry about that Don. I promise her mother would talk some sense into her." Mr Jeffrey assured and Don scoffed.

Lillian entered the room and landed straight on her bed, dumping her purse beside her. What was her father saying? What did he mean by she was getting married? And to a person she doesn't even know? What was happening?

All these questions ran through Lillian's mind and she couldn't help to badly wish her dad was joking. The door opened again and her mom came in. She paused for a moment before finally going to join Lillian on the bed.

"Tell me everything dad said was a joke." Lillian said immediately with pleading eyes making Mrs Helen sigh.

"Please, just tell me he was joking,,,,,, that he was trying to pull my legs." Lillian pleaded further, now kneeling on the bed and holding her mom's hands.

"I wished but........" Her mom tried saying but stopped when she saw the tears gathered in her daughter's eyes.

"You're truly getting married." Mrs Helen finally said what broke Lillian's heart. Lillian immediately let go of her mom's hands and got down from the bed.

"Even you too?" Lillian asked with her voice cracking.

"You're also selling me off?" She asked again letting her tears flow freely.

"Darling, we're not......" Mrs Helen tried saying but was interrupted by a crying Lillian.

"Am I so much of a load to you both that you finally decided to get rid of me?" Lillian asked yet another painful question that rendered Mrs Helen speechless.

"First, you and my so called father made me stay away from Los Angeles, not bothering to come and see me. You forcefully took me to Spain, where I felt like a prisoner all the days of my life and now......." Lillian paused still in tears.

"You're both still selling me off to a strange person." Lillian finished, slowly falling to the floor.

"We didn't sell you off Lillian. We just want the best for you." Mrs Helen said trying to help her crying daughter up.

"Get away from me!" Lillian screamed at her face.

"Get out of my room now! Get out, I don't want to see your shameless face!" Lillian yelled with both anger and pain written on her face. Mrs Helen who was already hurt by Lillian's words sighed, stood up and left.

She went downstairs and saw their visitors were gone. She walked towards her husband who was now at the bar, sipping wine from his glass.

"How did it go? Were you able to convince her?" Mr Jeffrey asked immediately he noticed his wife's presence.

"I wasn't. She asked me out of her room." Mrs Helen said wiping the tears that were trying to fall and this time, Mr Jeffrey sighed.

"She was so angry at us and this time, I'm not sure she would ever forgive us for this."

BACK TO LILLIAN'S ROOM

Lillian threw her phone on the bed and groaned for the third time. She has been trying her brother's number but it wasn't going through. She just needed someone she could talk to and a shoulder to cry on.

How could her parents betray her this way? Forcingly sending her to Spain wasn't enough for them? And now, they decided to marry her off? No, she wasn't going to give in to this. She would do everything within her power to prevent this and that was for sure.

She picked up her phone again and decided to call another person. He picked at the first ring.

"Hello Mark!"

"Hey! I was trying to call you just now. So what was the problem?" Mark said from the other side.

"They want to marry me off to a stranger." Lillian said as fresh tears started flowing down again.

"What!!!" Mark said. It was obvious he was shocked.

"But why?"

"What else? Probably, they were tired of me staying with them and wanted to finally get rid of me for good." She said in a sad smile and sniffed.

"Oh my goodness. Where are you now?"

"Still at home but I can't stay here any longer. I want to leave, away from them. I don't feel safe with them anymore."

"Alright. Don't worry, I'll come pick you up now." Mark assured

"I don't think you can. They might not let you in." Lillian said knowing her dad wouldn't allow her go out now that this issue came up, just like he did eighteen years back.

"Lillian, do you trust me?" Mark said but she only whimpered.

"Do you trust me?" He repeated.

"Yes but......"

"No buts. I'm coming to take you away now." Mark cuts off and hung up. Lillian dropped her phone and hugged her knees to her chest with tears flowing down her cheeks.

******************

UNKNOWN PLACE*

In an old cranky room, a man was seen sitting behind a table smiling devilishly as he marked the pictures on the table for death. He continued doing this till the door opened and he stopped smiling but didn't bother to check who it was.

"Boss, there's news." The boy who entered said immediately.

"Good or bad?." He said as he lighted his cigarette and poured whiskey into his cup.

"Good boss."

"Then start spilling already." He said glaring at the boy as he smoked from the cigarette and drank from his cup.

"Lillian Blake is back, sir." The boy said and studied his boss's reaction but it was neutral. His boss continued smoking from the cigarette before finally breaking the silence.

"When?" He asked puffing smoke out from his mouth.

"According to our source, she was seen in Los Angeles yesterday." The boy replied making his boss scoff.

"And you're just informing me?" He scoffed off as he puffed out more smoke.

"I'm sorry boss but we wanted to confirm first, so we wouldn't give you any false information." The boy explained and he didn't say anything for awhile.

"How sure are you she was the one?" He finally said.

"We traced her back to the Blake's mansion." The boy replied and he remained silent yet again.

"You should know what to do. I mustn't tell you everything." He finally said after seconds of silence.

"Alright boss." The boy bowed and left. The man busted into laughter that echoed in the room and suddenly, he stopped laughing.

"Wow! After so many years of waiting, I finally get to meet you again little Lillian." He said in a deep frown that caused the skin on his forehead to fold but then he replaced it with an evil grin.

"This calls for a great celebration." He said again and he poured himself more whiskey and smoked from his cigarette, puffing smoke out from both his nostrils and mouth.

"Little Lillian is back home." He continuously sang with his rough deep voice as he celebrated.