Chapter Six

Edwina

"Edwina," Evelyn inquired, noticing my unusual silence. "Are you alright? You're quieter than usual." I know I'm not exactly the life of the party, but today, I'm just not in the mood for small talk.

"I'm fine," I replied, attempting to conceal my inner turmoil.

"I was just about to ask the same thing. Last night, when you returned to the room, you went straight to bed without a word. Did something happen?" Esther chimed in.

"Nothing," I replied, my tone masking my true feelings.

Evelyn, ever perceptive, asked, "Is it your period?"

"No," I scowled, irritated by the question. "I'm perfectly fine. I just have a lot on my mind. By the way, did you mention that Samantha's mother refused to pay you for the three tubers of yam she bought yesterday?"

"Yes," Evelyn sighed, frustrated. "She said since my mom still owes her for the cassava flour she bought last week, she won't pay up."

I clenched my fists, feeling my patience wane. Today was definitely not the day to test it.

"I threatened her with you, but she wasn't even shaken. I think the punishment you received for beating up Desmond has made everyone confident." Evelyn remarked.

"I have an idea for dinner tonight," I suggested quietly. 'We should have bean cakes. I'm sure we can get them for free from her. Since we have another mouth to feed now, a half paint of beans would do, right? We can always finish it tomorrow."

Evelyn, with a mischievous smile, whispered, "Do you think the handsome stranger would like it?"

"I think he enjoyed dinner last night," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He's so handsome, isn't he? I'm sure he takes after his father. His eyelashes are so long." Esther chimed in, giggling like a teenager.

"And his hair... My God," Evelyn sighed dreamily. "I can bet a thousand dollars that one of his parents is a foreigner. I almost cut off his hair to add to mine two days ago."

My sisters were known to be fangirls of drop-dead gorgeous men, but they hadn't encountered someone as handsome as Justice before. One time, Esther had almost lost her dignity because of Steven's cousin Bradley, whom she found attractive. But, she hadn't met Justice back then. 

I just hoped that she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of Justice too. We all froze like statues when Justice came around to the back of the house where we were, half-asleep and stretching his muscles, causing the hem of his shirt to slide up, revealing just a glimpse of his mouth-watering abs.

I didn't know what my sisters were thinking, but I desperately hoped he hadn't heard a single word they said. Last night, I tried to discern the color of his eyes; men who looked like him were usually blessed with incredible eye colors. 

My heart raced as my chocolate brown eyes locked with his striking gray ones,and it was like watching a storm brewing just before a heavy rainfall. I couldn't tell if I sighed dreamily like Evelyn had done earlier, but suddenly, he looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Uh... Good morning, ladies," He greeted us. I wasn't familiar with how people from the other side of the world spoke, but I figured he sounded just like them.

Evelyn, as if under the control of an invisible puppet master, rose from her stool and walked over to meet him, extending her hand for a handshake.

"Hello, good morning," She said, adopting a different accent that made me cringe. "We weren't introduced last night. My name is Evelyn. And you are?"

"Uh... Justice," He replied. From my vantage point, I could see her nearly breaking out in a dance as his hand enveloped hers. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Evelyn."

"Likewise." She replied.

I resisted the urge to facepalm at her actions; if she wanted to embarrass herself, who was I to stop her?

"Um... Do you need anything?" Esther flew up from her seat and hurried over to stand beside him.

"Um... A cup of water, please." He said.

"Right away." My two naive sisters hurried away to get him water.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched him walk toward the toilet door, hesitating before gingerly unlatching it. He opened the door and paused for a brief moment before going inside and closing the door.

"He's definitely not accustomed to this kind of life," I muttered, recalling my father's words from last night.

After their morning display of childish behavior, I had anticipated that the embarrassment would kick in, making them realize their foolishness. To my surprise, their antics persisted even after breakfast. Frustrated, I decided to leave them to it and headed to Samantha's house to collect payment for the tubers of yam her mother owed. 

Fortunately, I caught her just as she was about to leave for the market. I thought it best to address the issue privately at her home rather than causing a scene in front of a crowd at the market.

"Greetings, ma'am," I greeted her, halting in front of her as she prepared to descend the steps. 

Alice Williams, Samantha's and Desmond's mother, was notorious for her short temper, earning her the nickname 'short fuse' in my childhood memories. The only previous encounter I had with her temper was during high school when I defended my father's honor by confronting Samantha, her daughter. In the heat of the moment, I had mistakenly punched Samantha in the nose with a stone in hand, resulting in a serious injury.

Samantha was rushed to the hospital, bleeding profusely from the broken nose, and my father had to cover her medical expenses. I faced disciplinary consequences and would have been expelled if not for the intervention of Steven's mother, who persuaded the principal to suspend me instead. 

That incident caused me to miss my final exam, which, had I taken it, could have placed me among the top students eligible for a scholarship organized by the Royal family of Mercia. The scholarship offered an opportunity to study at the prestigious Mitchell Sebastiani University.

Due to Samantha Williams, I had to retake my senior year and ended up graduating at eighteen instead of seventeen. My consolation, if it could be called that, was that Samantha barely managed to graduate a year earlier, while I achieved the highest score in the entire school. I applied for admission at MSU but couldn't attend due to my mother's unexpected illness and the lack of funds to pay my tuition fees.

Mrs. Williams scrutinized me as though I were a nuisance, but I remained unfazed. Anticipating her question, I cut her off before she could speak, pressed for time.

"I'm Edwina. I'm here to collect the money you owe my sister for the tubers of yam you bought yesterday." I asserted.

"Is that so?" Alice sneered. "What about the money for my cassava flour?"

"It's just 1500," I informed her. "Those yams you bought were worth four thousand."

"Then I'll only pay you 2500 for it," She declared.

"Excuse me?"

"You owe me 1500, and I owe you four thousand. Deduct what you owe from what I owe, and you'll get 2500, won't you?" She demanded arrogantly.

"Mrs. Williams, I don't have the time or patience to calculate sums with you right now," I said, my voice tinged with anger. "Pay me what you owe, or I'll take goods worth that money."

"You won't dare." Alice warned.

"Oh, I promise you I will, and there's nothing you will do about it," I threatened firmly.

I had the money, thanks to Steven's generosity a few days ago, but I feared if I paid first, I'd never get my money back from Alice. She was notorious for avoiding her debts.

"Look, little girl..." She began.

"My name's Edwina, and I'm nineteen. I'm hardly a little girl, don't you think?" I interjected sharply. "Let's end this and settle the matter peacefully."

"Get out of my house," She ordered. "Or I'll report you to the King."

"Fine," I sighed. "Since you won't act like an adult, I'll help myself to goods from your storage." I climbed the steps, brushed past her into the house, and raided her pantry. As I packed items into a bag, she stormed in, wielding a small pestle.

"Leave before I use this on you." She threatened.

"I doubt what I have here is worth four thousand, but it'll do for now," I said, showing her the bag. "I'll be back for more if you don't pay up."

With a high-pitched scream, she raised the pestle over her head, attempting to strike me, but I swiftly dodged, maneuvered around her, and escaped her house. As I distanced myself, her shouts echoed in the air, but I couldn't help but burst out laughing. She should have realized I would indeed fulfill my threat.

I was, after all, Edwina Jonas. I confronted every obstacle with determination and pride, never retreating from challenges, and I certainly wouldn't begin now.