Chapter 36: Time Is What She Need
They park in front of one mansion. She steps out of the car, looking at it jaw-dropping. It is so big like the twin blackhouse. Maybe this is the clan house. Alfano stands beside her. “Welcome to the clan house, Rosie.”
“This i–is it?” She asks.
He nods and ushers her to walk. The door opens, the light too bright making Liana squint her eyes. She closes her eyes and opens the back. There are a lot of men in suits or suits with white buttons walking around. Probably doing work. Once they notice the presence they have been waiting these whole years, they yell in happiness.Content © copyrighted by NôvelDrama.Org.
“THE PRINCESS!!!!” Liana flinches and hides behind Alfano. All of them immediately get on their knees and bow their head. “Welcome back, princess.” They welcome.
“W–What…”
“I told you we’ve been waiting for you. All of us miss our next leader.” Alfano chuckles. He claps his hands. “Okay. Enough. Rosie still doesn’t understand all of this. She was new to this. Please, give her space.” He states.
“Sir, yes sir!!” They salute.
This is too much for Liana. No one ever treats her like this. She felt Alfano pull her wrist to walk. She can hear those men awe and cooing over her. Just like how Leo and Enzo men do. Alfano pushes the big door open and people are hanging out, talking, and chilling out. This room is big and has a lot of games for them.
“This is the room where your father always hangs out with us. We might from his blood but he treats us like one.” He states.
One guy came and hand over a jar of biscuits. “You want one, my lady?” He asks.
“Umm… t–thank you.” She slightly smile and took one.
“We have a lot of enemies, Rosie. You have to remember that. Everyone can trick you and kill you.” Alfano takes the cookie and throws it away. “You can’t trust people.”
“Did y–you just… test me?” Liana frowns. She doesn’t even agree to be the next leader and yet they have already started doing it.
“I’m just trying. But, don’t worry. You still new to this.” He chuckles and gives her back the cookies.
The guy before scoffs. “This is Thaver’s daughter?” He points at her.
“Ash, behave.” Al firmly said.
The Ash guy looks at her up and down in judging. This weak look will be their next leader and the daughter of Thaver? He couldn’t believe it. “I expect more about her.” He rolls his eyes.
“Ash, you can’t say that. Each one of us has a different personality. You don’t even know her yet.” He scolds him.
“Al, are you sure you want to take her as the leader? I expect Thaver’s daughter has to be strong but…” Ash sighs and shakes his head.
Liana clenched her fist. She hates it when she couldn’t ignore the hateful comment. She just wishes she could be deaf for a moment. Alfano furrows his eyebrows and steps in front of the guy.
“Show your respect to her, Ash.”
“Respect?” He scoffs. “This softie girl wouldn’t earn my respect. I don’t think so.” Ash rolls his eyes and walks away.
The senior just sighs. He turns to her, “I’m sorry about him. He’s not always like that. Since Thaver’s and his wife gone, he changes.” He said while looking at Ash.
“I–It fine.” She forces a smile. Al can see that. “D–Do you mind if I–I walk around a bit?” Liana asks.
“Are you okay being alone? I’m afraid you lost.” Al jokes a bit to cheer her up.
Liana chuckles a bit. “Even I’m lost, y–you will find.”
“True though. Meet me in the living room once you are done with your tour.” Alfano pats her shoulder before walking away.
The girl went out of the room. She looks right and left, there’s no one. Her feet just walk without thinking about where to go. Every time a man pass her, they would bow as a sign of respect. It is awkward for her.
“Princess?” A guy stops her. Liana turns to face him. “Oh my gosh!! You came!!” He claps his hand like a child. Somehow, it is so cute. He looks so young.
“H–Hai.” Liana awkwardly waved.
“Oh–I’m sorry!! I shouldn’t have been like that. You are so stupid.” He mumbles more like to himself. Liana slightly smiles. “My name is Terry. I’m the youngest in here.” He pulls out his hand.
“R–Really? I’m Darliana.” She shakes his hand.
“Darliana? But, your name is Rosie. Aren’t you?” Terry frowns.
“That was before I–I know I’m Rosie.”
“Ah, I see.” He nods. His gaze looks at her up and down like how Ash did. Except, it is not in the judging method. “Is it me or do you look so young?” He asks.
“I’m 19 years–”
“WHAT THE FUCK!?” Terry yells with a big smile on his face. It makes Liana flinches once again and her smartwatch beeps for a short time. “WE’RE IN THE SAME AGE!! THIS IS SO EXCITING!! THE LADY BOSS HAVE THE SAME AGE AS ME!!” He jumped like a kid who got candy.
Liana can feel she will have a great interaction with this dude. She waiting for him to finish his happy dance. Once he finishes, he notices he embarrassing himself. Terry clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck.
“Sorry. A–Anyway. where are you going?” He asks.
“Nowhere.” She shrugs.
Terry holds his chin and seems like thinking. When he remembers this girl didn’t know anything about his father, he knows where to bring her. The room that only she can go in.
“Let’s go,” Terry said.
The girl is too lazy to ask so she just followed. They took a lift going to another floor. When the lift door opens, Terry pulls her out in excitement. “This floor belongs to the leader. This means, that only you can stop at this floor.” He said. As she looks around, there’s a huge frame hanging on the wall. There’s Thaver and one woman in their wedding dress.
Her parents.
“Here we are. Your father’s office.” He taps the door.
“Why y–you bring me here?” Liana looks at him in confusion.
“Well, you can get to know more about your father. Who knows you might find something there.” Terry answer. He has a point though. “I will wait here. You can go in.” He opens the door.
Liana hesitated to step in but in the end, she force herself. The office looks so formal and simple. A lot of books on the shelves, the playpen beside the desk, and everything is neat here. Who uses the playpen?
Her finger traces every single thing there. She pull out the office chair and took a seat. “This looks so comfortable.” She mumbles while looking around. Her hands couldn’t stop touching things there. It slowly slides down and down until it reaches the drawer of the desk. “Am I allowed to open this?” She asked herself.
She just shrugs her shoulder and opens the drawer. Nothing much in there except for the video camera. With a frown, she took it and before she could open it, the door burst open.
“What the fuck are you doing here!?” Ash snaps at her.
“Ash, she has the right to go in here.” Terry tries to stop him.
“No!! She has no right to this. Get out of this room, NOW!!” He yells making the girl immediately stand up.
“What’s wrong with you!? She’s Thaver’s daughter!! SHe will be the next–”
“Leader!? Fuck that title!! Don’t you see her!? She’s too weak and soft to be one!! I don’t believe she’s one of Thaver’s blood!! If she is the leader, she will only ruin this clan!!” Ash yells.
Before Terry could reply, she rush out leaving both of them behind. Yes, she was small and weak. Keep depending on people but what people don’t see is, her struggle to try to be independent and strong. But, what she doesn’t know is, that she’s a strong girl. She gets through all of the struggles by herself.
Without people warning her anything.
“Woah, Rosie!!” She bumps into someone. She gazed lift and saw Alfano with a worried look. “Hey, are you okay?” He asks.
“Y–Yes. Can I–I go home?” She looks away.
“Sure.” Al decides to shrug it off. As they walk, he asks, “So, how do you think about this?” His exciting tone can’t hide. But Liana’s answer makes his excitement less.
“I–I don’t know, Al.” She looks down.
“But, Rosie. We need the next leader. What are we going to do without you?” He asks in a sad tone. They couldn’t rely on someone else to take over this clan. They just want Thaver next generation.
“It too r–risky. I just… a w–weak girl.” Liana remembers what Ash told her and it keeps repeating inside her mind.
Alfano frowns. “What the fuck? Who told you that? Look, I know it is too risky but don’t you think you should give it a chance?” He stops walking and turns to her. “Don’t you want to protect the only thing your father left? You don’t know how much this clan means to him. You don’t know that.” The way he speaks sounds so sad.
Though, it didn’t change the girl’s mind. “I’m not the o–one for this. I’m sorry.” She sighs and walks away. Alfano clenches his fist and stares at Thaver’s frame picture.
“I’m sorry, capo. I fail to bring her back.” He mumbles sadly.
The phone rang making Enzo turn his attention to it. He picks up the call without minding to check who is it. “Hello?”
“My niece!!!” Their uncle’s voice makes his sighs.
“What, uncle Andreas?” Enzo asks.
“Aww. My niece was never happy to hear my voice.” Andreas makes a fake girly voice.
He sighs again. “King, is there something you want to talk about? Something important?? He asks. His uncle chuckles. Andreas is the one who likes a family to him. The one who really close with them since child. They have been calling him uncle which makes Andreas happy.
“I heard, you got Rosie Thaver. Is that true?” He asks, changing his tone to a serious one.
“Yes. Why?”
“Did you guys protect her because her father is one of your family lists?” The guy asks.
“No. Me and Leo found her in the first place without knowing she’s Thaver’s blood. Both of us took care of her and somehow, fell in love with her.” Enzo explains.
Andreas sighs. “En, is she agreed to be the next heir of her father’s clan?”
“Not sure. But seem like… no. I’m not confirmed yet. She is still overwhelmed with… all of this.” He said, standing up to sit on the couch in his office. “She just lost her foster family. You have to understand. She needs time to recover from all of this.”
“I know. I understand that. But, we have to hurry. Damien will do anything to take her and get revenge for his father. That rat can be a sneaky rat.” Andreas grunts.
Enzo pulls out his pocket knife, twirling it. “That bastard will have his blood on my hand once he touches her.” He said through his gritted teeth.
“Don’t be too absurd with it. You know he targeting you and Leo. If you both dead, he can get your position in a round table and Thaver’s clan.” Andreas spokes.
“I’m aware of that, king.”
“Good. I can’t lose you guys. Because I’m planning to give you my position soon. Once I’m retired.” His statement makes Enzo stop his movement.
“What?”
“Oh well. I will call you again for an update about Rosie. See you again!! I love you both so much!!” He hang up before Enzo could reply. No wonder why Leo doesn’t want to talk with him.
“Give his position to us? Is he a crazy old man or what?” He mumbles and went out.