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“You are not asleep yet, it’s late.” She told her.

“Oh that, I wasn’t able to sleep, and then I found out that you are back.” Arianna lied to her best.

“Why? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you able to sleep? What are you thinking about?” Natalie said, taking off her coat and folded it before placing it neatly on the couch. She wasn’t ready to retreat for the night yet.

“I don’t know,” Arianna shrugged, “I just couldn’t sleep.”

“I see,” Natalie said, heading to the kitchen while Arianna followed her like a lost puppy.

And speaking of a puppy, Arianna has not seen Redhead around and she knew that it was Rose’s handiwork. The girl had taken a liking to the chihuahua. Although Arianna didn’t know how to feel after Rose admitted that Redhead was a stupid name for such an adorable dog.

Its fur wasn’t even red, she claimed.

As much as Arianna agreed with Rose’s opinion, it was her boyfriend, Marcel that she supported in the end. Rose would understand her decision when she grows up.

.....

“Have you eaten dinner?” Natalie asked her while rummaging through the fridge.

“Yes, I have. Although… ” Arianna bit down on her, saying unsure, “If you want me to keep you company, why not?”

“Nice,” Was all Natalie said as she transferred the food from the plastic container into the ceramic dishware and put it in the microwave, setting the temperature.

While she waited, Natalie turned to her daughter and said, “If you find it difficult to sleep again, tell me and I’ll recommend you some drugs.”

“I don’t think I need benzodiazepine medications, I’m fine,” Arianna said without thinking much, but she caught the way her mother’s brows arched in surprise. What now?

“Indeed, you are my daughter, you never went to medical school and yet the love for science runs in your veins.”

“I only worked in an animal hospital for a bit of time, that’s all.”

“An animal hospital that treated criminals?” She reminded her.

“Fine,” Arianna sighed, “I know a thing or two about the human body, so what? It’s not like I would end up being a doctor anyway?”

“You could be,” Natalie said and Arianna scoffed,

“Where’s that coming from?”

“You could be my successor.”

Arianna froze.

Though she knew her mother had a hospital, it didn’t cross her mind that the woman would want her to inherit it.

“You are kidding, right?”

Natalie didn’t answer her, because her food was done and she got it out of the microwave before taking everything else she needed from the fridge and took a seat at the dining table.

Arianna joined her, complaining,

“I can’t be your successor, I’m not even qualified.”

“What does one need to be qualified? Education? Certificate? You would get all that in due time, Arianna. You are young and smart and I’m not going anywhere yet. I just want to be sure that my labors would be taken care of by my own blood and understand its worth.”

“You don’t even know if I want to be a doctor?” Arianna argued.

“Then what do you want to be?” Natalie put down her spoon and wrapped her arms across her chest, facing her.

“I’ll be twenty-four soon and get the money my father left me. It’s huge.”

“And?”

“I’ll start up my own business or anything that gives me lots of money?” She shrugged, “I just don’t want to ever be poor.”

“That’s a good dream,” Natalie admitted, nodding her head, “But then, you would let a talent inside of you that others would kill to have, die like that? You don’t even know what type of business you would do once the money comes in? Or don’t you know money grows when you invest it?”

“I would think of one before the time comes,” Arianna said nervously. She felt like a child who thought she won a medal only to discover that it was fake.

“And what about your family? Marcel is not stable and you think he would let you move around the world when you both settle down, especially when you give birth to a child?”

“I -” Arianna didn’t know what to say, she hadn’t exactly thought about it.

“I’m not against women fighting for their future, but you can invest into major companies and become a stockholder, that way you would get returns. However, you must never forget something, Arianna, you’re not with a normal man, Arianna. Neither are we a normal family.

“Danger lurks at every corner and freedom is not an option for people like us. What if one day Marcel is shot right in front of you and you are unable to save him because you never thought of upgrading your skills? My hospital caters to the well-being of my husband and his people and you can do the same for Marcel. We are their queens, Arianna, meant to support and protect our family and be prepared for the inevitable in the future. Because whether you accept it or not, danger will always come for us. That’s the price we pay for living like this.”

By the time Natalie was done, Arianna was nearly shivering from the fear and her hands shook so much she had to place them on her lap to hide them from her mother. Arianna had to admit that Natalie sometimes came on too strong and intimidated her. She was ashamed.

Her future was sure, Arianna knew what she wanted in life – money. She had planned to travel around for a while after getting the money while growing her business with Mimi. What business though? Not to mention that the plan was made before Marcel arrived in her life.

It was like a fairy-tale dream that has just been shattered. However, what scared Arianna so much was the thought of Marcel dying in her arms and her being unable to help him. The imagination made her heart wretch with pain. She didn’t want a reality without Marcel by her side.

But then, something hit Arianna at the last minute when she remembered her mother’s words.

She turned to her mother, wide-eyed, confusing Natalie with the look.

“What is it?”

Reeling from the shock of the discovery, Arianna asked,

“Are you saying that you give me the permission to marry Marcel?”