CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

He is at the Gonzalez mansion now; he spent the night here because he will also get the DNA test tomorrow. He is uncertain about how to confront his cousin, who has long distanced himself from the Gonzalez family. 

How should I respond? Justine found himself questioning himself internally. He needs to be alone for now; he is also seeking evidence that he can use against Santiago. What he is also wondering is why he is acting secretly now.

What could that man be planning? He couldn't help but wonder in his mind. He just shook his head and drank the mild wine in the glass. He would leave early tomorrow, and then he and Lawrence would meet again to discuss their next move.

He went to the hospital early to get the results that he had requested from his acquaintance, a doctor working at that hospital. 

"Oh, it's so early." That's all he said to her.

He only chuckled softly. He was carrying an envelope. The doctor he was talking to just stared at him. Justine looked at the result, and since his father and uncle were no longer around, he also took a strand of his hair to see if it would match with the cousin he suspected.

The answer was in the affirmative, signifying that she is my cousin and my uncle's only daughter. He could only think to himself.

"Your DNA test sample of your hair and the participant's hair matched. Yes, she is your closest paternal relative." That was all the doctor explained to him.

"Thank you so much, doc." It was all he could say.

"You're always welcome, Drake. Alright, I need to go." The doctor told him.

He also sighed. What is your next move, Justine? He could only question himself in his mind. 

Her daughter Ashley is also my niece. Should I help and support her? How can I explain this? I need some advice. He could only say to himself that he was confused.

He felt a weight lift off his shoulders when he finally found his cousin, but now his problem was how to explain the situation. 

His phone suddenly vibrated, interrupting his thoughts. He immediately answered it.

"Are you coming here?" Lawrence asked him.

"Well, yeah, I'm going there." He just said it.

"Well, you should be; we have an unexpected guest waiting." Lawrence just sighed on the other line.

Unexpected guest? He couldn't help but wonder in his mind.

"Okay, I need to drive. I will call you when I'm getting close." He was just saying goodbye.

He immediately went to their agreed-upon meeting place, the Salazar mansion. He noticed that there was a car parked there, so he wondered who Lawrence's visitor was today.

He had already entered the mansion; there was indeed a visitor with his back turned to him.

"Hey, Lawrence." He called out to the man leaning against the wall, waiting for his arrival.

"Take a seat, Drake." His companion spoke, glancing back and forth between Lawrence and the visitor. There was no one waiting; they were in a private room now. He walked over to the round table and sat down. 

He caught a glimpse of his face, which made him furrow his brow as he looked at Lawrence.

Martin looked at him intently, and he couldn't help but smile at the man in front of him now. He felt that something unusual was going to happen in their conversation today.

Lawrence cleared his throat in front of the two.

"I thought it was just going to be us talking today, Lawrence? Why do we have a guest here?" he asked. 

"I thought so too, Drake." He just sighed and sat down.

"Explain the situation to me now, Justine Zach Madrigal." Martin looked at him intently as he spoke.

"I didn't expect you to be here too, Martin. This is my meeting with my client Lawrence; I can't have my clients overlap. I would rather not mix my work." He just shook his head.

He saw Martin mockingly smiling at him.

"Can you explain the situation? What kind of relationship do you have with Sheila? Martin couldn't resist his curiosity and asked Justine.

"So, you're here to find out our relationship with that woman?" He clarified the question that was thrown to him.

"And also, what were you doing at the hospital, and why did you visit Sharlene?" He heard another question to the man he's facing now.

"Oh, you're very territorial of your women, Martin." He said mockingly, shaking his head. Lawrence simply shakes his head while he listens.

"Tell me directly." He has gathered some photos and information. 

He has a talent for uncovering truths. He just smiled.

"What is your relationship to the Gonzalezes?" Martin inquired. Martin asked him. Are you Justine Zach Madrigal, or is your real name Justine Drake Madrigal-Gonzalez? Is that correct?" Martin asked him directly.

"So, you're not here to punch me over your women." Justin smiled at Martin. 

"Yeah, I'm Justine Drake Madrigal-Gonzalez. Who am I? I guess I'm the last one left in the Gonzalez clan," he thought to himself. "No—let me correct that. There are actually two of us, Gonzalez." He even laughed at that.

"Drake, have you found your cousin?" asked Lawrence, surprised by what he said.

He looked at Lawrence. "I'm here to hear from you how I should talk to her because you are his childhood friend, and" Justine glanced at Martin.

"Ex-wife of this bastard." He could only say...

He saw the shock on Martin's face, and Lawrence could only sigh.

"Hey, Lawrence, why weren't you surprised?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, but I know you really have a relationship with Sharlene. Despite her current memory issues, Sharlene still recalls her name and her parents." Lawrence, explain the situation to him. 

"I didn't tell you because I would rather not break my promise to her." He ended up telling him the truth.

"Geez, I thought you'd be surprised now, but you already knew." He just sighed.

"Where is your evidence that Sharlene is blood-related to the Gonzalez family?" Martin questioned him once more, remaining unconvinced.

"Do you want evidence?" He immediately handed over the DNA test result that he had just taken a while ago. "That is my evidence, Mr. Francisco." 

Martin immediately looked at the result and saw the shock in the eyes of the person in front of him.

"No way," Martin said in disbelief. 

"By the way, I'll expedite the process of your divorce papers, and I'll also make her sign; she's not deserving of you." He just sighed.

"Look who's talking now," Martin said to him. "Do you think I wouldn't know that you and Sheila are in a relationship?" 

He erupted into laughter once more. They are here now, and he will finally reveal everything face-to-face, especially since he knows who his cousin is. He will make sure that no one will hurt his cousin anymore.

"You are funny, Martin. If only you had also found out why I did that. I'm not interested in Sheila. Do you want to know why we have that kind of relationship? Because this is a cover for my two faces." He said and just smiled.

"By the way, Martin." He just said it. "Do you know the relationship between him and Raymundo Santiago?" He threw the collected photos.

"She has this carnal desire for that old man, and also, the funny thing is, her sister Angely does too—that sibling thing is really something." He could only shake his head.

Lawrence frowned and looked at the photos he had gathered.

"Maybe you also know Raymundo, right? I don't want to deny the reality that Santiago still runs through that woman." He said that back then.

"Everything is clear to me now. Thank you for explaining it, Justine." He said to him. 

"We're all here now, Martinez, Gonzalez, and Francisco; let's get to the bottom of this," he challenged his counterpart. "The Francisco clan knows what that scoundrel is up to; your family knows the secret that the man is hiding, doesn't it?" he asked directly.

Martin couldn't respond to his question. No more secrets; if they get into a heated argument now, he doesn't care anymore; he will continue to seek justice for his uncle and aunt.