Protect Her For You

Marcel knew something was wrong the moment he got home. The atmosphere was contaminated and he knew just one person who could do that.

"Hello father," Marcel greeted him as soon as he entered his living room. 

His father had his back turned to him, staring with disdain at the large portrait of his mother. That photo hasn't been in the open until recently. If he were to suffer in the hands of Clara, his father should have a taste of pain as well, right? 

He knew how much his father loathed that woman, his mother, and did well to rub that on his face. His family was somewhat complicated and dysfunctional and it was not a secret to everyone around them.

His father, Daniel turned and before  Marcel could even brace himself, a harsh slap that resounded across the room landed on his cheek. His head whipped around from the impact and Marcel remained that way for almost a minute, trying to register what just happened before he finally looked up. 

Marcel dragged his thumb across his lips to wipe away the blood before flexing his jaw saying, "That is one odd way to welcome your son back home. Even a mother hen does a better job at it than you,"

"Y-you!" Daniel choked, going red in the face with his hand raised in the air as if to slap him again. 

Marcel didn't say anything nor was he even ruffled by the gesture. Instead, a cold glint appeared in his eyes as he said, "You can beat me up in other places but my face? It is a no-go area, father," He called him with heavy sarcasm. Everybody knew he treasured his face more than any other part of his body. 

The man brought down his hand with a deep breath, finally reigning in his anger. His grey ones stared into his son's lighter ones, he was full of resentment mixed with disappointment. 

The only feature his son inherited from him was his eyes, the rest was from his mother - and that made him angrier. Staring at him was like staring at that woman and it vexed him. 

"Clara called," Daniel announced. 

"Of course, she did," he already guessed she would make such a move. Clara was nothing but an annoying bug and lately, he's been feeling a great itch to squash some insects. 

"She was going to introduce you to her friends and you humiliated her!" Daniel said sternly. 

"Is that so?" Marcel asked, wrapping his arm across his chest, "How so then?" 

"What?" 

"She claimed I humiliated her, I need an account of how such humiliation happened and the evidence thereof," He was dead serious. 

"Marcel!" the man roared. 

"Father!" He retorted with the same intensity, "You should know by now how petty I can be," 

"It seems this position of power has filled you with nothing but ideas. Don't be mistaken, Marcel, I gave you this position and I can take it away as well," He threatened him. 

"Ohh, I'm so scared," Marcel acted exaggeratedly. However, the smile vanished on his face when he asked, "And give it to who? Your imbecile son?" 

At the mention of that, his father's face went red with anger and he raised his hand to hit him again but Marcel was much faster and grabbed his hand. 

"I told you, not the face," His grip on his father's hand was firm and the man couldn't pull away even as he struggled. 

Suddenly, he punched Marcel on the stomach, knocking the breath out of him and that made his son loosen his grip and he finally pulled his arm free.

Marcel didn't show much pain, father and son staring at each other fiercely. He knew he had touched his father's sensitive area and it pleased him. He wasn't that young Marcel anymore, he was grown and capable of defending himself - and his loved ones. 

"Fine," The man said, his chin lifted high, "I guess we'd call off the deal then and you would never hear from her again," 

At the mention of that, Marcel's face distorted and his fists clenched by his side. He was doing all of this for his sister's sake, what was the point if he won't see her ever again.

So he spoke through gritted teeth, "I never said I wasn't going to marry Clara," 

"Oh, really?" Daniel was smug, knowing he had the upper hand here, "I guess old age must be catching up with me," 

He took a step closer to his son, "I hope I won't have to make a second journey here," Daniel needed his assurance. 

"There's no assurance but you should know the marriage will go ahead as planned," Marcel said. He had no choice here, not if he wanted his sister to remain safe. 

His father, Daniel, patted him on the shoulder, "You've made a nice decision and a huge sacrifice for our Luciano family. You won't see the benefit now but I can assure you that your legacy would forever be remembered," 

Marcel only smiled politely knowing nothing good would come out from him opening his mouth. His father's hand lingered on his shoulder and seeing no other reaction from him decided to let go and he finally left. 

The moment he left, Marcel let out a fleeting breath. He rubbed his palm down his face before turning only to stumble into his mother's picture on the wall. 

Marcel didn't say anything, just stared at her picture as if it was the most beautiful thing in his life.

"Don't worry, you just rest, I'll protect her for you," He said and pulled the picture down, heading into his room with it.

He was wrong, his father doesn't deserve to see this - nobody does - not after what he had done to her. His mother's memory deserved to be preserved, not used like that. 

However, when he came into the room, Marcel saw a scene that made his lips twitch. Of course, he forgot about this part. 

Lo and behold, on his bed was a cute-looking chihuahua that was frozen in fear because on the floor lay a young well-muscled cat with a long body, large head, and short legs. This cat was no other than the famous lion called Samson that has been his companion since young. 

Marcel sighed upon seeing that the chihuahua had wet his bed from fear and he couldn't blame Macy for doing so because his bed was the only territory Samson wouldn't cross.