章節 37: CLASH

Nalani stood there, her arms crossed and with a determined look on her face. She couldn't stand the way this entitled woman was treating the saleslady. She was about to speak up when Brianca turned her attention to her.

"Who the hell is she?" Brianca asked, glaring at Nalani.

Nalani rolled her eyes. "I came here before you did. You can wait your turn like everyone else."

Brianca scoffed. "Do you even know who I am?"

Nalani couldn't help but laugh. "Who are you?" I finally asked exhausted from her loud mouth. She's been making a fuss out of nothing, and stressing out the poor saleslady.

"I'm Brianca, the only heiress of the Jonathans," Brianca said, sticking out her chin.

Nalani smirked. "So it's my bratty cousin? Small world."

Brianca's eyes widened in surprise. Who are you to talk like that?

Take a wild guess, Cuz. I said with an evil grin.

"Nalani? How is it possible?."

Nalani shrugged. "I grew up. You should too."

No, you're supposed to be dead.

Learn to respect people, Brianca, your parents should have raised you properly, I spat handing my card to the sales lady.

You're an imposter! She yelled catching the attention of the people around.

Oh! I'm I? I asked walking slowly towards her, and stood directly in front of her and said...

What do you see...? Fear was evident in her eyes as she trembled.

Nalani...

Good! I said with a sly smile. As I collected my card and the parcel for my Grandpa from the sales lady and walked out. Before I could reach the door I paused and said...

Breathe Brianca! And I left.

Brianca's friends looked at each other in disbelief, shocked that someone would talk to Brianca like that. This would make the news, Almighty Brianca being squashed in public by a woman claiming to be her long-lost cousin, who everyone thought was dead. The sales lady couldn't help but smile, grateful for Nalani's intervention.

AT THE JOHNSONS

"Good morning, my dear," Gramps said, turning and instantly beaming when he saw Nalani. "Oh, my gummy bear!" He rushed towards her with open arms.

Nalani hugged her grandpa tightly, feeling grateful to be back home. "I missed you so much. Why didn't you come and come back to

us?" he asked.

Gramps looked at her, pretending to be hurt, "What? Aren't we useful anymore?" he joked, leading Nalani to a sofa to sit down.

"I do miss you too. A lot just happened," Nalani said, hesitating to speak.

"I know, your brother told me," Gramps smiled reassuringly. "But I think there's more to it," he said, studying his granddaughter's face intently.

Nalani hesitated before opening up to her grandpa. "I didn't expect to fall in love," she finally said softly.

Gramps' eyes lit up, "Oh, a love story! Tell me more."

Nalani blushed. "It's complicated. He's amazing, but we come from completely different worlds. It makes things difficult."

Gramps listened intently, "Love is never easy, my dear. But it's always worth fighting for," he said wisely.

Nalani smiled, grateful for her grandpa's understanding and support. "Thanks, Gramps."

"So, who was that handsome young man at the event?" Gramps asked teasingly.

Nalani blushed again. "Grandpa!" she scolded.

"What? I'm just curious," Gramps chuckled. "Someone you love,e, I suppose?"

Nalani smiled shyly. "Yes, someone I love."

Well, bring him over sometime okay?

Ok, gramps.

Nalani settled on the sofa next to her grandpa, feeling both relieved and nervous to be back home. She had missed him dearly but was hesitant to talk about everything that had happened since she left.

"So, how's everything been here?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation away from herself.

"Oh, you know, same old same old," her grandpa replied with a chuckle. "I did finally take up gardening though."

Nalani smiled. "Really? That's great! How's it going?"

Her grandpa's face lit up as he launched into a detailed account of his latest gardening triumphs, from growing the biggest tomatoes he'd ever seen to successfully keeping the squirrels away from his prized rose bushes.

Nalani listened with genuine interest, glad to hear her grandpa sounding so enthusiastic. After a few minutes, though, he paused and turned to her with a more serious expression.

"I know there's more to it than just gardening, though. Your brother told me a little bit about what's been going on. Care to share?"

Nalani took a deep breath, unsure of where to start. But as she looked into her grandpa's kind eyes, she felt her anxiety slowly ease. Nalani felt a wave of washes over her as he narrated his gardening. In all the chaos of the past few years, she had forgotten that sometimes, all she needed was a kind, understanding ear to listen to her.

"Thanks, Gramps," she said softly, reaching over to give him a quick hug. "I'm glad I can talk to you about this stuff." I missed you so much.

Her grandpa patted her hand gently. "Anytime, my dear. That's what family is for."

AT THE ADAMS

Mum! You won't believe who I just saw. She yells.

Calm down Brianca, She says startled by her daughter's manners.

I can't Mum! Where's Dad? she says scanning the living room.

He went to the office, what happened? She asks.

Nalani is alive!

I don't understand, who's Nalani? She asks confused.

Uncle Johnson's daughter, the one we believed died with her parents.

Oh, ... She says horrified as she trembled and held the seat for support.

Mum, are you ok? Brianca inquires because her mother seems to be in too much fright. She looks drained.

Y... Yes, I'm fine, I'll just go to my room for a bit. I think I'm exhausted.

Let me accompany you, Brianca insisted with an anxious look on her face.

No, just go and see your father, he needs to know this. She said dismissively.

Are you sure she asked with a concerned frown?

Yes, please, don't let me bother you.

Okay, please get enough rest. I'll go and meet Dad.

Ok dear, take care. She said mounting the stairs and disappearing into the room. Brianca who has been watching simply looked at her and shrugged her shoulders, then turned and left the house.

IN THE ROOM

Hello...

Julia... He says with joy.

Don't you dare call me that name!! You were supposed to kill them all, why did his daughter survive? She asks in anger.

But...

Fix this!! It's the only thing you can do for her, she's your daughter. Julia says in an angered tone and drops the call. None of them was supposed to survive, first, it was Dave and now Nalani. He needs to fix this up quickly. She says in anger.