The Otherside Of Love || Sadistic Billionaire

Daniel’s POV

The confusion overwhelmed me and filled my heart when Natalie called to inform me that the Merrin Group might be facing bankruptcy. From a technical perspective, that scenario seemed implausible.

The Merrin Group had deep roots in the industrial world, with countless industries and companies relying on them. Their shareholders included some of the most renowned brands globally, and they even owned original brands that had been established for over a century. If the group were to face bankruptcy, it would have far-reaching consequences, potentially leading to the downfall of thousands of businesses.

Even though I wasn’t a fan of Rafael, I felt compelled to step in and address this issue for Natalie’s sake. I knew that it would affect her in some way. But first, I needed to delve into the root of the problem and understand it fully.

Over a year ago, when I received that late-night call from Merrin’s family lawyer and learned about her marriage, I assumed she would end up with Rafael as his rightful legal wife. On the rare occasions I saw her, I couldn’t help but notice her striking beauty and allure. I believed Rafael wouldn’t be able to resist such pure beauty. However, news of his engagement party made me reconsider and feel compelled to intervene to protect her.

I can still remember her stepfather’s words when I visited him in the hospital before he passed away, “Natalie is alone. I can’t rest in my grave unless she marries my son Rafael. He will protect her; I know he will.”

I sighed back then and mumbled, “Why won’t you let me take her back to my family? Maybe her father was a jerk and an asshole, but she’s still my cousin and a member of the family. I’ll do my best to give her the good life she deserves.”

He coughed violently and struggled to speak between labored breaths, “No, please. I must honor Serein’s wish. Just assist them in making this marriage successful.”

“What if they don’t get married?” I asked him, filled with uncertainty.

“They will. He loves her. I know my son. But I’m afraid he’ll realize that too late,” Matt said, struggling to breathe.

“I promise to do my best. If I have to give him a good smack to wake him up, I will,” I said, attempting to lighten the mood and make him smile. But his face remained pale, his lips dry and tightly drawn.

He looked at me with pleading eyes and stuttered, “I’m sorry. I know this might affect your relationship with your girlfriend.”

I looked over at Maya, my love, who was standing beside me. She smiled warmly and reassured me, “I trust this fool man, and I’ll do my best to keep my jealousy in check for now.”

A knock on my office door brought me back to reality. The door swung open, and my secretary entered, saying, “Mr. Morris, Miss Natalie has arrived.”

“Let her come in!” I instructed.

Natalie hurried into my office room and promptly took a seat at my desk. “What should I do?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

I smiled, trying to reassure her, and said, “Please, tell me everything they told you from the beginning, in as much detail as possible.”

She squeezed her trembling fingers on her forehead, as if trying to recall every detail and ensure she didn’t miss anything.

“Customs has been informed of the seizure of the next shipment on its way to the port, which will take a few weeks to arrive, and they suspect that it contains heroin,” Natalie began, her voice wavering slightly. “Mr. Mackenzie informed me that The Red Wine Mafia orchestrated this to frame the Merrin Group, as part of an old vendetta between my stepfather Matt and them.”

Something was fishy, and I had a gut feeling that something didn’t add up in this story. It struck me as odd that Rafael wouldn’t be aware of such a significant issue. The thought added to my suspicion that there might be more to the story than what Natalie was telling me.

However, I knew some members of this Mafia, and they were known for their straightforward approach; they wouldn’t orchestrate such a scheme behind someone’s back. This discrepancy only deepened my sense of skepticism about the situation.

“Why didn’t Mr. Mackenzie and his daughter inform Rafael about this? He needs to know before the government takes action against him and the company,” I asked genuinely, puzzled by their decision to keep him in the dark. It seemed odd that they would withhold such crucial information, especially considering the potential consequences for him and the company if the government took action.

“”They claim it’s not to his benefit if he knows,” Natalie said, her tone betraying her lack of conviction in their reasoning.

I frowned, sensing that there was more to the situation than met the eye. With a sigh, I inquired, “And what do they want from you?”

She rolled her eyes and sniffed, expressing her frustration. “That’s what confuses me,” she continued. “Mr. Mackenzie had already promised to take care of the issue himself. He said he has strong connections with the Mafia leader and will do his best to resolve it, especially since Rafael is his son-in-law.”

She sighed, her frustration obvious. “He asked me to encourage Rafael to proceed with the marriage before the agreed-upon date in exchange,” she added, her voice tinged with disappointment.

I raised an eyebrow and replied, “Well, “I’m not entirely convinced about that. I believe it’s best if you talk to Rafael and tell him what’s going on. Something doesn’t seem right about all of this.”

Natalie nodded in agreement. “Yes, I agree with you. I have a feeling they’re up to something,” she said, her voice reflecting her growing suspicion.

She nervously ran her fingers through her hair as she confessed, “I need more time before I can inform him. That’s why I’m here-I need to uncover what they’re hiding, and I need your help with that,” her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“I feel the same way. So, I’ll help you, and I suggest you should go along with their plan for now and see what unfolds,” I suggested, considering our options carefully.

At moments like this, I wish I could reveal the truth about our family ties to her. I’ve often wondered why Serein, Natalie’s mother, chose to change Natalie’s last name to her family surname instead of keeping our family name. Perhaps it was because my uncle was involved and posed a threat, which led her to make that decision.

Once Natalie left my office, I called my personal assistant and tasked him to investigate this matter. Could it be that the Nefson family was aware of Natalie and Rafael’s secret marriage? However, that seemed implausible, given Rafael’s extraordinary ability to keep his secrets hidden.

I exhaled deeply, pondering the strangeness of the situation, determined to unravel the mystery.

My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my phone, displaying Tobi’s name on the screen. Without hesitation, I answered the call.

“Hello!” I answered.

I was taken aback when I heard her request. She invited me to dinner, and hinted that I should seek Natalie’s hand in marriage from them! Who still does that? Are we living in the eighteenth century?

Nevertheless, I accepted the invitation, anticipating enjoying Rafael’s suffering. I was genuinely eager for the dinner, expecting it to be quite entertaining. This saga involving Natalie is becoming increasingly gripping.

I have to call Maya and update her on the latest developments in this drama, though. I’m certain she’ll find it amusing.