Chapter 29: He buys, she buys

Justine's POV

After the woman wrapped the dress for me, I faced her son. I grab a thousand dollars of cash inside my husband’s wallet and smile at him. "Buy some cake and fried chicken for your family. Take care and be a good boy for your mommy, okay?" I whispered.

I hope the mother didn’t hear it. I place the money in his pants pocket. I stood up and noticed that my husband was already holding the paper bag. "Take care, little man. Fight for mommy, okay?" he says. He patted his head a little and we walked away. His mom shouts thank you after coming back from the other counter. I smiled sweetly.

"I’ll pay back that money. That’s a huge sum. I took a thousand dollars in your wallet," I remarked. "Didn’t I tell you? You can spend my money in every way you want it," he says.

I stopped walking and looked at him. He was smiling differently. I know he’s not mocking me, though. "Then why are you smiling?" I ask.

He turns his body to face. "Nothing. You’ve never changed and I’m glad for that," he replies.

I watch him as he walks away first. I don’t get him. What did he mean by that? Is it because I’m still kind and it reminds him of the girl they bullied for almost ten years?! I scoff and follow him.

"Yeah! I never fucking change!" I roared. He looks back and gives me his hand instead. "Come on," he says.

I was too stupid because I ran to him and grabbed his hand. The people who heard my scream suddenly laughed. I look down because I feel embarrassed because of what I did. He suddenly drags me into a store. I look at the name and it’s Tiffany & Co. A famous jewelry brand in the world.

"Can I have a pair of earrings that will match a red dress, please?" he asks.

The sales lady smiled while looking at me. "She will surely be stunning in red, sir. Wait a second. Let me bring the collection that will make her more gorgeous with her red dress," she says. After a few minutes, she arrives with three boxes and shows them to us.

"This white gold earring will fit Madam’s feminine look. It will also make her neckline sexier and it will complement the color of her dress. We called these double long link earrings."

She showed the other box. It's red clover leaf earrings, and it also has gold. I think a long type of earring was indeed better for the dress that I chose. "Love, what do you think?" he asks.

"I will be taking the first one. It suits better for the dress that I’ll be wearing," I remarked.

The woman smiled. I opened my husband’s wallet and took his card. We followed the lady to the counter and paid for the earrings. On my left side, I saw a cufflink that caught my attention. I went to that side and looked at it. I smiled.

"I want this cufflink as well. Can you wrap it for me as well? Thank you," I remarked.

I love its simplicity. It was rectangular-shaped and made of gold but there’s a line in the middle that is made of tiny diamonds. I grab my wallet in my pocket, then give her my car. "For the cufflinks, use this card," I stated. My husband looks at me with strange eyes.

"What? You said I could spend your money however I wanted. So I will spend my money on whatever I want for my husband. No negotiations allowed," I stated. The woman chuckles because we have to bicker with one another. I blushed because of that. She places the two boxes in a single paper bag.

"Have fun. Marriages where husbands and wives bicker all the time will last for decades, believe me. Also, a gentle reminder, say yes to her always. Charge from my experience."

She raised her hand and showed us her wedding ring. My ears became hotter. I can’t believe she noticed how childish we are. Oh my goodness! "I have been married for 30 years. Anyway, thank you for purchasing from our store. Have a nice day, young couple," she stated. I smiled.

"You too. Thanks!" I replied. I grabbed my husband’s arms and we walked out of that store.

We are supposed to go back to the parking lot when I embarrass myself more. My stomach growls! I think he heard it. "I think we should have some snacks. Spend the rest of the day at a spa. You have to get ready for tonight’s party."

I didn't listen much to what he said. I dragged him into a famous pizza restaurant and grabbed a seat right away. I look at the menu and choose what I want to order. I chose a pepperoni pizza with lots of pepperoni and cheese. I ordered a whole bottle of soda as well.

My husband looks at me. "Is that yours alone?" he asks in a monotone voice. I nodded right away.

"I'll just take three slices of the same pizza as hers. That’s it."

The waiter smiled and looked at me flirtatiously. She left and my wife chuckled. "Well, that was our dear Casanova and ruthless basketball player way back in high school and college days. You still have that scary charisma," I sarcastically remarked.

His expression became bland. I raise both hands. "Sorry. Anyway, before I forget to ask this, Did your ex and cousin attend this meeting? He’s our mayor, right?" I simply ask.

He looks at me with his cold gaze from those smoky silver eyes of his. "What do you think?" he answers.

I sighed and shook my head, making a tsk-tsk sound. "I see. My bad. Why did I even ask an obvious question anyway?" I mumbled, talking to myself because Lawrence will suddenly give you a cold shoulder without telling you the fucking reason. Why?!

Our food was served. I just spent time eating my pizza instead of prying for whatever reason he had because he switched into an irritable person at the time that I least expected. That lunch was the longest I ever had!

I thought that 40 minutes was like a year! We have already headed to the parking lot. As soon as we got inside his car, I coughed a thousand times. He turns around and looks at me weirdly. "Are you sick or what?" Lawren asks.

"Nope. I just want to know if I did something wrong, because you’re acting pretty cold again. You also did that when we’re still in Switzerland," I explain. I have to know the reason why he suddenly spaced out and then became grumpy and grouchy.

"Nothing," he replies.

My expression turns sour after I hear what he says. What should I do to make him realize that his actions are pissing me off? Isn’t that obvious already? My gosh! He starts the engine but before he can maneuver the car off the parking lot, I stop him, grabbing his wrists.

"Damn it, Lawrence! You keep on fucking around and giving this cold treatment out of the blue. I just don't get you!" I yell.

I look at him and make sure he realizes how mad and confused I was. I just don’t know how to handle or be ready whenever he throws a fit. I feel like I’m raising a stubborn child instead of a mature man and husband. I can’t just take it anymore. If I have to ask him upfront, then I will ask him right here!

"Because I don’t know! That’s the reason why! My head had been messed up and I just did that to calm myself. Can’t you just understand me without asking, huh?!" he roars at me. My lips agape after I heard what he just said.

I think my husband was experiencing a type of mental illness. "I think you’re sick."

"I'm not crazy! Cut it out, ok—" he paused. My phone is ringing.