°°° THE CLAN °°°
Finley's car comes to a halt. He steps down from his car, a smile on his face. His guards arrive a few seconds later. Not bothering to say a word to them, he heads in.
'' Someone is happy today.'' His mother commented with a smile
'' Oh mother... you can't imagine how happy I am.'' He collapsed into the couch, a big grin still plastered on his face. He starts to talk about Orleanna and how his day was with her.
''So you're having fun with an eighteen year old?" She asked with quirked eyebrows.
'' She doesn't look like an eighteen year old, mother. And besides, she's turning nineteen in some weeks. Maybe six weeks.''
'' You've made up your mind.'' she shrugged. She wasn't the type of mother who decided for their children. Even though she wanted the best for her children, she would let them choose what they wanted.
'' But Finley..'' she said before taking a pause
'' Mom...''
'' What about Reine? I know that she is on vacation with Lucy and Lucas and they will be back in some weeks. Maybe two or three... what will happen when she comes back? She is still the girl you...''
'' Mom!" He called to prevent her from finishing her statement
'' She is my mistress mom. Nothing more.'' he rolled his eyes.
Mrs Scott shrugged again and stood up.
'' You know I will always support you in every decision you take. But don't make decisions that will affect our lives."
'' Come on mom...you know how responsible I am.'' He gave her a smile and the woman couldn't help but sigh.
'' Of course, son. I know you are responsible and will never do something that will hurt your family but...'' she paused to pick up her glass of wine.
'' You know how obsessed Reine is with you. And you also know she can be cruel. So think twice before...''
'' You are talking about Reine ,mother.'' He couldn't help but chuckle.
''I don't have any sort of commitment towards her.. And if I decide to marry Anna that's because I want it. All these years I have never felt anything for Reine and I've always told her. I don't see my future self with her. So it's my decision and I...''
'' You don't have to give me explanations about what you have in mind or what you intend to do. I just want you to think it through. That is it.''
Finley stared at her for a few seconds and saw a sincere look on her face. He immediately approached her. He held her shoulders gently to make her look him in the eyes.
'' I will free Reine. She was a slave that I chose because I didn't want to be sleeping around and now that I want to get married to someone that I like, if not love, I will free her.'' he says and his mother caresses his hair
'' I can see that you have finally fallen in love.'' she said with a big smile. '' I can't wait to meet the lucky girl.''
'' You will meet her soon mother.''
°°°HOPPER MANSION °°°
Mr Harris alighted from the car, her expression filled with much hatred.
'' I asked you a question old woman.'' Archer asked with a mini snarl.
Ashlyn and Orleanna look at them surprised. They couldn't figure out where the old woman and the ruthless mafia knew each other.
'' You both go inside.'' Mrs Harris said and Ashlyn immediately went inside the mansion while Orleanna reversed her car.
Archer's eyes followed Orleanna till she parked the car. He so much wanted to remove the damn dress she was wearing.
'' Tell me something Archer...'' Mrs Harris started.
'' Are you stalking on me?'' she glared hard causing Archer to burst out into laughter.
"You have to be fucking kidding me'' he said while wiping invisible tears.
'' So I have nothing to do than to stalk the She-devil. A useless witch!'' he said while smirking. Mrs Harris gnashed her teeth in anger. Archer always got on her nerves.
'' How dare you Stephen?!'' She seethed through gritted teeth. She immediately raised her hand to hit him but he blocked her.
'' Don't you dare.'' He said with a menacing tone.
'' Now tell me what the fuck are you doing here?'' he questiones and Mrs HARRIS gulped.
'' I came to rectify your mistakes.'' she lied
'' Mistakes?"
'' Mr Hopper told me that you nearly stripped his daughter naked today at a restaurant. I came to apologize on your behalf.''
'' Are you kidding me....do I look like a fool to you?''
'' It's up to you to believe.'' She clapped her hands twice and her guards come running to her. They all bow to Archer and Lariat also comes running. She stands beside Mrs HARRIS and smiles at Archer .
'' Good day Master."
'' You even came with her.'' he scoffed
''Anyway I still have my eyes on you. It's obvious you can't come all the way to Canada just to apologize to one man.'' With one last glare, he turned around, got into his car and drove off.
She breathed in relief and her sweaty forehead.
'' That was so close.'' she muttered
'' I need to act fast. They are ruining my plans.'' she says
Meanwhile Archer flipped out his phone and dialed Lucy's number.
°°°'' I hope this is important Archer because I'm damn busy.'' she says
'' I saw Molina today.''
''Have some manners Archer. She is our grandmother!'' she scolded.
'' I thought she was in Italy with grandfather. What is she doing in Canada?''
''That's exactly what I'm asking. And she was with a girl that looked like...'' he paused and sigh
"Looked like what?''
''She is a blondie just like you and...''
''Tania.'' she finishes and Archer hummed in response
'' Come on Archer you have to trust grandma for once in your life. If she finds Tania then she will have told me, I mean us.''
'' I trusted her but what did she do? You are trusting the wrong person Lucy. That old woman knew that the child aunt was holding that night was Tania and she kept shut and let her husband drag her to the orphanage. And you still go ahead to trust her.'' he frowns
'' What are you insinuating? She said that it was a mistake. She even helped me search for her.''
Silence reigned as Archer's mind drifted back to Orleanna. He started to narrate what happened at the restaurant to Lucy.
'' You are just dumb as Lucas. Like what the fuck do you think you were doing when you told your guards to strip a girl naked?!'' she half yelled
''Even if she is Tania you can't do that. She will hate you for embarrassing her. Use your brain sometimes!''
'' I was just...''
"I know! But you can't rush things like that.''
'' What do we do now?''
"Her hair dummy... We will run a DNA test without her knowledge.'' she stated
'' I didn't think of that before.'' Lucy couldn't help but chuckle
'' If she is Tania then... Finley can't marry her. It's impossible! He can't fuck my sister! The only girl he can fuck is Reine or someone else not my blood.'' she seethed
'' I can't let him have that kind of relationship with my blood. We can only be partners in crime and...''
'' What were you doing sis?'' he asks changing the topic
" None of your business idiot!'' she hung up and Archer sighed in relief
They finally arrive at the mansion. He alights from his luxurious vehicle, but not before ordering one of his men to find Finely.
Later on, Finely barges inside Archer's room and they stare at each other coldly like they were fighting.
''I already apologised right?'' Archer breaks the silence
'' You did but Anna was embarrassed.'' he rolled his eyes
'' She was shivering in fear till I dropped her home!''
'' It won't happen again. I promise. '' I swear on our friendship.''
he raised his left hand.
'' I won't ask you the reason why you behaved that way since you already promised that it won't happen again. But keep your promise.''
'' I always do Finley.'' he forced a smile and Finley's eyes widened.
'' Ok this is weird.'' he muttered before walking to his balcony, grabbing a bottle of whisky with him.
Archer followed him.
'' I have something to tell you Finley.'' he started.
'' You are crushing on me?'' he askes with wide eyes and a dramatic gasp. Archer only glared at him.
'' That's disgusting.''
'' Okay what do you want to say?'' he said now in a serious tone.
'' I saw Molina today.'' he startd
'' You mean Mrs Harris your grandmother?''
'' Show some respect to Archer. She is your damn grandmother.'' He said with a roll of his eyes.
'' She was with Anna in the same car. The girl was the one driving and she looked so comfortable with her...''
''That's impossible! Everyone is scared of Mrs Harris.'' Finley remarked
'' And what is she doing in Canada? I thought she was in Italy with the Don.''
'' That's what I thought too. But she is here...''
'' You didn't ask her what she is doing here?''
'' Of course I did. She said she was here to apologise to Mr Hoppee because I nearly stripped his daughter naked.'' he chuckles darkly
'' She is fucking lying* Finely said with gnashed teeth.'
'' I know.'' he simply said and turns his back at him
'' Do you know what I think Finley?'' he asked still backing him
'' What?"
'' I think she is the girl we're looking for and Molina is hiding something from us.''
'' Stop calling her by her name. Where are you manners Archer?'' Finley says almost yelling
'' Under my bed.'' he answered sarcastically
'' Why would she do that? She has no reason to do that. She is the Donna and she knows that her clan needs the girl.'' Finley replied with a frown.
'' That's why I want to clarify my doubts.'' he breathes out
'' By doing what?'' he asks
'' A DNA test. I will have to run a test like Lucy said.''
'' A DNA test?'' Finley asked confused
'' I think I'm missing something.'' He said while Archer turned to face him. He took in a deep breath before speaking
'' Actually Finley...the girl we are looking for is from my family. She is my baby sister...''
He then explains how his mother's health couldn't let her take care of his sister and they carried her to Kate's place and the sacrifice Kate made.
'' Molina knew the girl aunt was carrying that night was Tania but she kept mute and let them drag her to an orphanage. That's why I hate her. She is not the sweet grandma she pretends to be.'' he said with an exhausted sigh
'' You hid this from me?" Finley asks in anger and shock
'' You lied to me all these years?'' he said his eyes not leaving Archer's own
'' It was Lucy's decision.''
''So all these years you hid it from me because Lucy said so?''
'' I couldn't hide things from you, Finley. But you know how Lucy is. She said that you have a family you can't put in danger. But Lucy, Lucas and I have nothing to protect or lose. You still have your mother father and siblings and we can't afford to put them in danger because of an information.'' he explained. A dark chuckle escaped his lips
'' You gotta be kidding me Archer. Even if I didn't train my siblings how to defend themselves you know no one... I mean no single soul would dare touch them. That is a dumb excuse. Find something else to say.'' Archer placed a hand on his shoulder.
'' You need to understand Finley. It wasn't intentional. I know what we did was wrong but try to understand.'' he said quite calmly
'' Is there something else you want to say?'' Finley asked with a hard glare
'' If the test comes out positive then you can't marry her and you know why.'' he says with so much difficulty that Finley stared at him in shock
'' What do you mean Archer? Are you trying to say that I'm a beast who...''
'' No.'' he cuts him off
'' We both know that you can't marry my blood Finley. It's impossible. You know that...''
'' I'm out of here.'' he then storemd out in anger
'' Finley! But he was long gone.
'' I knew this would happen. Damn you Lucy!" he muttered, his hair completely disheveled.
Meanwhile Bracia stared at Finley's second phone and her eyes widen in shock. Orleanna's picture was on it?
She immediately ran to her mother with the phone in her hands.
'' Your brother's phone is not your phone Bracia. Don't get on his nerves.'' Mrs Scott said
'' Who is this girl on his phone?'' Bracia asked before handing the phone to her mother
'' I don't know.'' shereplked but suddenly, someone grabbed the phone out of the girl's hands.
'' How many times have I told you not to touch my phone?! he glared hard at Bracia
'' I'm sorry bro.'' she apologized while biting her lip
'' Who is she?''
'' The girl I love'' he simply replied and Bracia's eyes widen in shock
'' Oh she is beautiful.'' his mother commented
'' I know.'' he said before climbing up the stairs and leaving their presence.
'' No he can't marry her.'' Bracia muttered before running off.
°°°HOPPER MANSION °°°
Mrs Harris stood at a distance watching Orleanna. She didn't know how to face her because she knew the girl would ask questions.
She just has to prepare herself before going in front of her. She has to find solid arguments to make her loose interest in Finley.
She couldn't let her date Finley.
Orleanna was sitting on a couch in the living room her phone on the table and a glass of wine in her hand.
She stared at her ringing phone and rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to pick the call. It was Finley.
She shoved some potatoe chips into her mouth and turned her attention to the TV show she was watching.
Mrs Harris smiled before glancing at Lariat who stared at her confused. Why was the devil smiling now?
'' You look happy ma'am.'' Lariat asked.
'' Of course Lariat. Can't you see that Orlea is not picking Finley's call since she came back. Looks like the love story has ended even before it started.'' she chuckled and Lariat could only roll her eyes
This devil had made up her mind to ruin the young girl's life and happiness.
Bracia walks in soon after and Mrs Harris's eyes widen.
'' If this girl tries any shit I will...''
'' She is Finley's sister ma'am.'' Lariat reminded.
Mrs Harris could only grit her teeth and tried to listen in on their conversation.
'' You didn't tell me Anna.'' Bracia stared at her best friend, waiting for answers.
'' I just met him.'' Orleanna simply replied before facing the tv show back
'' Are you planning to... I mean... engagement... marriage... I mean... are you planning to take things seriously... I mean...'' she stuttered unable to form a sentence
Orleanna stared at her for a few seconds, her lower lip tcked under her teeth.
'' What do you want to say?'' she asked instead.
'' You can't marry him. He is not the man you think he is.'' She drops the bombshell and Orleanna stared at her confused
'' What do you mean?''
'' You can't date or marry him. He is not good for you.'' she says
'' Why...''
'' You just can't Anna. He will make you suffer.''
Orleanna and Bracia stared at each other and Orleanna chuckles.
'' You don't even know him Acia.'' she chuckled
'' He is my brother Anna.'' she says and Orleanna stared at her in shock
'' You can't marry him.''
She stared at Bracia in shock, blinking her eyes for a couple seconds. '' You lied to me?'' Orleanna finally said in disbelief.
'' I can explain Anna....''
''No!" !'' she yelled
'' You have been hiding things from me all these years?'' she exclaimed, her eyes dampening. Bracia was her best friend and it hurt her so much that she could live to her for so long.
'' I'm sorry Anna...''
'' Get lost!'' she said angrily before running up to her room. Mrs Harris only smiled to herself.
'' Wonderful! Just perfect! Someone else is doing my work for me without me having to raise a finger.'' She said with a sinsiter laugh.
TBC…