Chapter 38: Her cousin

Justine's POV

I turn around. I heard a familiar voice. I laugh and embrace him. "Cousin! I can’t believe your home or... just a vacation?"

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. smiles. "I was on my way to your mansion when I decided to walk around here. I just wanted to reminisce about some memories when we’re still kids," he replied.

I smiled. I look at my husband. His expression was dark, as if he'd devoured my cousin. I cough. "Cousin, meet my husband, Lawrence Edwards. Honey, meet my cousin, Arnaldo Marquez. He’s my second cousin. His grandma and mine were siblings," I stated.

My husband grabbed Arnaldo’s hand but his expression didn’t change. Both of them were more than six feet tall. Have the same physique. It’s not as big as Dwayne Johnson.

I think he has the same physique as... RM of K-Pop group BTS? A little bigger, I think? I cough. I notice the intensity of their handshake. They let go of each other’s hands.

“Are you guys’s enemies or what?” I joke. I look at them and make sure to notice their expression. They both pulled a strange smile when they looked at me. “Just men communicating in a weird, weird manner, cousin,” Arnaldo says. I simply nodded, but I showed them that I’m not convinced. I look at the vendor.

“Can I have ten corndogs, please? Thank you,” I stated.

He nodded and acted like he wasn't listening to us. We move to the side and wait for my order. “How’s your work abroad? We’ve always been wondering if you’re still alive and such,” I utter.

He leans his back against the side of the corndog truck. “Well, I manage to stay alive. It’s part of the job that’s why I love it.”

My brow furrows. My expression shifts to a curious look. “Really? I feel like you’re hiding something. How is she?” I mumbled. His expression changed to sour and irritation.

I sighed. “Oh my gosh! Don’t tell me you came home because you wanna—oh boy.” I stopped. I shook my head and realized why he came home. I take a step backward and punch him.

He coughs. I hit the right spot in his stomach. I blow my fist and look at him. “If you can take such a blow, then better do something, cousin. You can’t just run away whenever you feel defeated or want to cool down. Do it when you can drive to her place within an hour,” I stated.

I heard a cough. It was the vendor. I turn around and grab my husband’s wallet inside his blazer. I simply smile and open it. I grab a ten-dollar bill and give it to him. I added another three dollars.

“Thank you!” I said.

I give Lawrence’s wallet back and hold his arms. I look at Arnaldo too. Before he could excuse himself, I held his arms too. They both look at me.

“Feed me,” I command. My husband sighed and grabbed the first corndog. I smiled when it reminded me of the food I loved to eat. It brings back memories.

“My goodness. You still have that smile and messiness when you’re eating your food,” my cousin says.

He was about to wipe the cheese from my lips when my husband stopped walking and claimed my lips. He licks the cheese that smudges on my lips. I was so stunned that I couldn't even react or scream. Shit!

“I can clean up every mess she can do,” he asserted sexily. Oh boy! I gulp. I can’t believe he did that when we’re in public.

My cousin scoffs and glares at him. “Stop being clingy already, Edwards,” Arnaldo says.

I disturbed them by suddenly biting the corndog that my husband was holding. They must’ve realized what I want from them. “Let’s find a place to sit,” I suggest. We found the nearest stone chairs and tables. We are all seated.

I put the food on the table. “You two. Eat,” I command.

They grab a corndog by themselves and take a bite. I lean my back on the chair. “Granny had been waiting for you to settle here already. You’ve been away for too long. You’re his only grandchild, too. Better be with your old woman, cousin,” I say.

Granny visits us from time to time but it's my wedding day, and she’s unwell. That’s why she didn’t come. My husband hasn’t met her yet. “I don’t know, cousin. Not until I achieve the justice that we both deserve,” he whispers. I understand what he means. I held his hand and looked at him in the eyes. I smiled.

“You don’t have to push yourself. Live the life that you deserve. You don’t have to try your luck and push yourself too much.”

Arnaldo sighed but his expression was telling me that he was determined to find the truth. That has been the reason why I made that decision as well. If my grandma didn’t beg me, I would pursue that job rather than being a businesswoman like her.

I saw a woman dashing in our direction. She grabs the clothes of my cousin behind him. I saw how my cousin turned pale. I let go of his hand and looked at the lady. The way she walks and her posture herself. I know who she really is.

“Why did you have to—never mind. There’s no sense in asking such a stupid question. What are you doing here?” Arnaldo asks.

I look at my husband. He’s not talking too frequently and I knew he'd be watching my cousin closely. Lawrence's way of analyzing Arnaldo’s actions and behavior was making me worried. My cousin totally noticed that and he just shut his lips.

“Are you hungry, honey?” I ask. Lawrence looked at me and shook his head.

“Let’s go back. They told me to bring you with me, sir,” the woman says. Her tone proves my hunch more. I look at the lady, then touch my watch on my wrist.

“Why don’t we eat lunch first before the shotgun wedding?”

I looked her in the eyes and showed her a side of me that I never show to anyone. She fakes her smile. “Hi, I’m Sir Arnaldo’s colleague at work. He suddenly filed for indefinite leave and it wasn’t approved yet but he’s here. I wonder why?”

This lady glares at my cousin. I chuckled. “I’m sorry. I never thought you'd be afraid of her. It’s quite refreshing to see, actually. Well, let’s all go to the nearest restaurant and talk about your concerns at a better table,” I suggest.

I stood up and moved my fingers after my husband was just staring into the hand that I offered him. “My wife is right. Let’s all eat together. I just want to prove something,” Lawrence says.

He keeps staring at him. They have no choice but to, as I said. I bring them to a familiar place where they’ll be comfortable speaking with us. We went to a restaurant where we could rent a room and just eat there. It’s just a few meters away from this park. As soon as we reserved a room, we all chose to order first.

The waiter wrote down our order and smiled. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I’ll place your orders right away. Excuse me," he politely says. I am currently in a bad position.

My husband was here and my cousin was too. Now, I have to deal with this woman too. What a day for me!! I shook my head and sighed deeply. "Cousin, meet my partner, Scarlet Nightwalker. Scarlet, she’s my cousin, the multibillionaire Justine Martinez. I mean Mrs. Edwards now," Arnaldo says.

He looks at me, then at my husband. I cough. "Nice meeting you, Scarlet. This is my husband, Mr. Lawrence Edwards," I stated. We all shake hands. The food arrives after a few minutes. It’s delish!

"By the way, why are you here, Scarlet?" I directly ask.