Chapter 8 Cousin's quarrel

We got one-hour preaching from Mrs. White about what happened earlier. It wasn't a big deal, but I was gotten into trouble because of him.

Mrs. White is the owner of the Diner where I'm working. She's like a mother lecturing her child about being ill-considered, causing trouble, and acting recklessly.

I admit that I acted carelessly, maybe because I woke up in bad shape, physically and mentally. I was tired last night, was lack of sleep, and also worried. Even the news from Nate slipped from my mind after that man enter the picture for only minutes.

That jerk crawled on my nerves.

Who would even try to act like that in public, it's harassment and that man is being a total asshole!

I did not calm myself enough, I was shocked and easily got flustered. I was pissed like a high schooler.

I sighed, we were been inside my manager's office for almost half an hour. Luckily Mrs. White did not fire me or even Sam who admitted that he was wrong. He's nervous even now.

I stared at Mrs. White, her behavior is way different from the past few days, she's happier than being a menopausal owner who's always mad. She is not also trying to send us back to work, she's busy smiling while counting money. I would also feel the same while looking at her, I was dire on money. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, I'll see myself and the kids sleeping on the street.

I averted my stares from her to an empty aquarium, there's no fish, but there's water. What's with this thing?

While looking at it, I remembered something. It's still bothering me, my punch easily caught by him. I didn't put too much force yet he instinctively cached them even without looking cause he is busy pissing me.

"The two of you, go back to work!" I brush my hair using my finger and stand. Sam also does the same.

My shift ended at 5:00 pm, I cover the working hours that I wasted when Mrs. White preach to me in her office. After my shift, I change my clothes and drove my scooter to my apartment.

Mrs. White gave me leftovers, I don't know what happened to her, but she's acting weird since this morning. Her attitude changed. She's terror and selfish, but her behavior change, opposite from her usual attitude.

Never mind, maybe she hit her head somewhere.

I arrived at my apartment faster as I could. I feel sticky and my body wants to take a cold shower. When I arrived, the sun is already setting and the breeze is already cold.

I stopped a few meters when I saw a familiar BMW outside the building of my apartment, the hardtop is already closed while every people who passed can't stop but look at it and even take a picture of the car.

I close my eyes to stop myself from smashing the luxury car that being the center of attention. It takes a year after I saw his car parked again outside my apartment. I just changed the padlock last month, but he managed to enter my apartment while I'm out without a key. I parked my scooter beside his car.

I grabbed my stuff before walking to the lobby. I entered the elevator and press the seventh floor where my apartment was. After I arrived, I entered my two-bedroom apartment.

Nate was the first one I saw when I entered. Comfortably lying on my sofa and busy watching entertainment on the television while eating chips along with the kids, Tegan, Eya, and Luke.

I slump my bag in Nate's face making him groan, I rolled my eyes before talking. I scanned him, he has no bruises or any casualties that can lead him to death. I talked to him earlier via phone shortly, he called me while he was fighting someone. What is he doing right here? after a year of ghosting, he appeared to be okay and become even more lively.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked. His expression changed and brightly smiled at me.

"Lils!" I frowned.

"What are you doing here?!" I silently hissed at him, he just smiled and grabbed a snack on the table. I just noticed that there are so many plastics of chips and snacks scattered on the floor.

"I'm visiting, isn't obvious." I look at him sharply, I was about to curse him when Tegan run towards me.

"Lily! you're home!" Tegan hurriedly jumps and hugs my thigh tightly. My heart melted, I even forgot Nate's mess. When Nate disappeared I was eager to get rid of them because I'm too dire of money. They please me to let them stay, they cried and even try to blackmail me.

I look at Tegan, I remembered myself when I was with Silas. I always cling to him every time I saw him, acting like a total baby. I carried

Tegan and kiss his cheeks."Hello there, sweetie, did some bastard trick you again?" I asked and look sharply at Nate who was softly looking at us.

Tegan is already six years old, he was five when we adopted them. He's fragile unlike his other siblings, Eya and Luke who are both nine years old and healthy. Tegan has heart complications, he's an angel and I can't risk it.

After taking them in, It'd become more complicated, I learned that he was sick and that's when Nate went missing. The urge to pay the bills put me in a situation I wasn't prepared for, to have a roof under our heads, food on the table, and for Tegan's medication, I was working at night and was taking part-time for us to survive.

"What?" Nate innocently asked while hugging a pillow. I rolled my eyes and sat on the single sofa while holding Tegan. I look at the twins, Luke is busy reading book like he always does, while Eya is playing games using Nate's phone.

I noticed that Nate keep looking at my direction, "what?" I asked raising my brow

"You look pale and ugly." He commented.

I blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

Nate chuckled sexily. "You look exhausted and ugly," he said mockingly, "Are you even eating properly? you are so thin than the last time I saw you," He said and lick the lollipop he was holding.

"Don't overwork yourself, I have no plan to go to your funeral." He smirked and sucks the lollipop, he crossed his arm and distracts himself, "by the way, I already pay your five months' rent and I already get rid of your landlady," he said seriously.

"Thank you-- wait! what did you say?!" My eyes widened.

He averted his gaze to me and plastered a smile, "I already paid your five months' rent, you're welcome."

"No, after that..."

"It's nothing."

Nate Morgan is my cousin from my mother's side. He's a Morgan, he grow up with wealth and privilege and he sometimes takes that for granted.

"Whatever," I cross my legs and grabbed a snack.

"Seriously Nate, why are you here?" I asked again. Back then, five years ago, we rarely see each other since the both of us aren't close, the first time I saw him was when my brother is still alive and when he used to prank me.

He look at me, "You see, I going for an out of town tomorrow, and letting you wander around while he's aware of your existence is not good, he can strike anytime and shoot your skull" he said, I covered Tegan's ear and raised my brow to him.

"So?" I said, "As if I can't take of myself and the kids, you're gone for a year for Pete's sake!" I yelled I tried not to disturb the twins, but Luke was already watching when my eyes dropped on him.

"I was looking for him," he calmly said.

"Why?" I asked, I clenched my fist, "Without me?" I added. I promised myself that I'll never try to get involved myself when it comes to the organization, but emotions are stirring inside me, I can't think right and can't calm myself.

"You're still healing, I don't want to--"

"It's been five years Nate! c'mon!" I said, you're gone for a year and now you're here to warn me?" I spouted.

"It's my responsibility... I'm your cousin,"

"I never asked you to weigh everything with me, Nate,"

His face becomes more stoic but calm, "Let's not fight in front of kids, Lils."

I breathe heavily and look at Tegan who's also looking at me, I take off my hands from his ears and smiled at him, "Sorry about that sweetie, it's just an adult fight." I said, he smile brightly and nodded.

I look at Luke, he's now back reading his book while Eya didn't bother to look in our direction, but they heard us. I calm myself. Totally moved on my ass. I can't even control myself when it's about him!

Nate looked at me, "I'm sorry, I should have confronted you first."

I nodded, "I'm also sorry, I'm just exhausted," I smiled at him, but my smile vanished when Eya talked.

"You two were acting like husband and wife fighting in front of their kids, loosen up love birds," she said.

My mouth dropped, "What the... Eya, Nate, and I were cousins."

"I know," she said and smiled at us.

"But we're your parents," Nate said, "right, Lils?"

"Shut up, dumbass."