Chapter 277

We pulled up to Grandma Jo's house and relief washed over me like a cool breeze.

We were finally away from all of the chaos.

However, a small part of me was nagging that Grandma Jo's house might not always be safe. Eventually, reporters would figure out that Shana was staying here.

I shook my head, trying to tell myself that I would worry about it when the time came.

But as we parked, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. There was an unfamiliar car in the driveway, and it sent a ripple of unease through me.

I exchanged a glance with Shana, her apprehension mirroring my own.

"Do you know whose car that is?" I asked, my voice low with concern.

Shana shook her head, her eyes fixed on the figure emerging from the car. "No... I've never seen it before."

As the person stepped closer, I recognized him immediately, though his presence only heightened my sense of unease.

It was my cousin, Edwin.

God, he couldn't have picked worse timing. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now. Any conversation that I've ever had with him has always been an attack.

I had a suspicion this time would be no different.

His grin stretched across his face, but there was something unsettling about the way his eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Edwin?" I called out as we all exited the car, my voice tinged with suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

Edwin's laughter echoed through the air, sending shivers down my spine.

"Oh, just paying a visit to my dear cousin and his friends," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shana step closer toward me. Her hand wrapped around mine.

"You never just stop by to visit," I said coldly, hoping that he would get the hint that he wasn't wanted here.

Edwin's grin widened, his gaze flickering between me and Shana.

"Can't a cousin drop by to see his favorite relative?" he questioned, his tone oozing with fake innocence.

Shana stepped forward. "Yeah, but you're not exactly known for your friendly family visits, are you?"

I shot Shana a look, but Edwin's smirk only grew more pronounced. "Oh, I'm hurt, Shana. I thought we were getting along so well."

"We've never got along," Shana muttered. "And we never will."

Edwin's expression darkened, the facade of amusement slipping away to reveal something more sinister beneath. "Such hostility, Shana. You wound me," he retorted, his voice dripping with malice.

James, never one to miss an opportunity to lighten the mood, butted in with a mockingly serious expression. "Alright, who's this weird dude? Did you invite him, Lucas?"

Victoria shot James a warning glance, but Edwin's attention was solely fixed on me.

Edwin's smile faltered, replaced by a cold, calculating look

"You should watch your tongue, boy," he snapped, his voice laced with venom. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Shana shifted nervously beside me, her eyes darting between Edwin and me. I could sense her unease, and it only fueled the fire burning within me. "Enough, Edwin," I said, my voice firm. "You forget you're on my families property. I suggest you leave."

Edwin's eyes narrowed at my words, a dangerous glint flickering in his gaze.

"Your family's property, huh? Funny, I thought I was your family too," he sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

"You sure as hell don't act like it," I retorted, my jaw clenched tightly as I fought to keep my composure.

"Because you act like such a great cousin, too!" Edwin spat back. "You've never appreciated me or tried to make me feel like I was a part of the family."

"Is that what you're here for? A family reunion? A rekindling? I don't have time for this right now."

Edwin's lips curled into a scornful smirk. "You never do, do you? Always too busy playing the golden boy while I'm left in the shadows."

I felt Shana's grip tighten on my hand, a silent reassurance amidst the tension that crackled in the air.

"This isn't the time or the place, Edwin," Shana interjected, her voice steady despite the underlying apprehension. "Whatever issues you have with Lucas, you can discuss them some other time."

"Nobody asked for your opinion, Shana." Edwin barked at Shana.

His attitude and tone got the better of me and I had to stop myself from reaching out and grabbing his shirt aggressively.

I stepped forward, my fists clenched at my sides as I struggled to rein in my anger. "That's enough, Edwin. You're not welcome here."

Edwin's lip curled into a sneer, his eyes flashing with defiance. "Make me leave, Lucas. Or are you too much of a coward to stand up to me?"

Before I could respond, Shana stepped between us, her gaze unwavering as she faced Edwin. "We don't have time for this childish behavior, Edwin. If you have a problem with Lucas, you can take it up with him later. Right now, we have more important things to deal with."

I could see the conflict flickering in Edwin's eyes, but to my surprise, he relented, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Get to the point, Edwin," I demanded, my patience wearing thin. "What do you want? Why are you really here?"

But Edwin merely chuckled, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough," he replied cryptically, his words hanging in the air like a dark omen.

"Just spit it out, damn it!" Shana snapped. "We've given you so much grace, Edwin. Either tell us what it is you want or leave us alone. You're upsetting me, and you don't want to see me upset."

"You really don't," James said in a quiet voice. "She's scary."

Edwin's grin widened, his gaze flickering between us with a mixture of amusement and malice. "You think your little girlfriend can scare me, cousin? You haven't seen anything yet."

Shana stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with determination. "Try me."

Edwin's smile from seconds ago died down, replaced by a chilling silence.

It was unsettling seeing his face change so drastically in a split second. Sometimes, it was a miracle to me that the two of us were related.

"Fine. I just thought you might want to know... You should check on your father," he said, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

"What do you mean?" I demanded, my heart pounding in my chest.

But Edwin merely shrugged, a sinister smile playing at his lips.

"You'll see soon enough," he said cryptically before getting into his car and speeding off into the night, leaving us standing in the driveway, the tension still thick in the air.

"Wow," James said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "Remind me never to invite him to game night."

Victoria shot him a reproachful look.

I wanted to laugh at James's joke, but something told me that Edwin's warning was not to be taken lightly.

I exchanged a worried glance with Shana, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

Something told me that whatever Edwin was hinting at, it wasn't good.