Chapter 107

chapter107

Emmanuel wasn't about to discuss his personal life in the middle of a crowded hallway. He waited until they reached the quiet of the Department of Gynecology before answering Frederick.

“It’s my wife’s car,” he said simply. “She’s letting me use it for a while.”

“Man, I’m so envious!” Frederick’s words were sincere. It felt like only yesterday both of them were struggling bachelors. Now, while Emmanuel had married a woman who clearly supported him, Frederick was drowning in the medical expenses of his mother’s cancer treatment.

Despite the contrast in their fortunes, Frederick wasn't bitter. He was genuinely happy for his friend. “Your wife is a hundred times better than Milani ever was!”

Emmanuel couldn't help but smile. Despite Mackenzie’s unpredictable temper, she was far more dignified and sincere than the women he had met on previous disastrous blind dates.

“By the way, I’m returning some of the money I owe you,” Frederick said, initiating a transfer of twenty thousand to Emmanuel’s account.

“Where did you get this?” Emmanuel asked, concerned.

“I managed to borrow it elsewhere. I can't let you empty your savings for me. Your wife has been so good to you; you should take this and buy her a nice gift to show your appreciation. I’ll pay the rest back slowly.”

It was the same advice he had received from Ryder. Emmanuel tried to transfer the money back, explaining that his arrangement with Mackenzie was only temporary and that a divorce was likely in six months. He didn't want her to think he had ulterior motives.

However, Frederick was insistent. “A good partner isn't easy to find, Emmanuel. You should cherish what you have before it’s too late. Keep the money.”

Emmanuel eventually relented. “Alright. But if you hit a wall with the hospital bills, you tell me immediately. We’re brothers.”

That afternoon, taking Frederick’s advice to heart, Emmanuel drove to the commercial district. Even if their marriage was a contract, he felt a sense of gratitude toward Mackenzie and wanted to offer a token of his appreciation.

The mall was packed, and the parking lot was a maze of circling cars. Drawing on the precision he had learned driving armored vehicles in the military, Emmanuel spotted an opening and expertly reversed the Maserati into a tight spot with ease.

Before he could even turn off the engine, a Honda Civic screeched to a halt beside him. A woman in a very short, tight-fitting dress stepped out, her face contorted with anger.

“Hey! That’s incredibly rude!” she shouted. “I saw this spot first. How could you just snatch it away like that?”

Emmanuel frowned, stepping out of the car. He noted the woman’s aggressive demeanor and her trendy, albeit overly revealing, attire. There was something familiar about her sharp features and the way she looked down her nose at him.

“Ruby, watch your tone,” a second voice called out from behind the Civic.

It was Milani. She had originally intended to play the peacemaker—mostly because she didn't want to offend the owner of an expensive Maserati—but she froze the moment she saw who was standing there.

“It’s you?”

Recognizing Emmanuel, the woman in the tight dress—Ruby Zimmerman, Milani’s older cousin—let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

“I was wondering who was being so bold,” Ruby sneered, her eyes raking over the luxury car with a mix of jealousy and contempt. “It turns out it’s just Milani’s old admirer. Since when do you drive a car like this? Did you steal it, or are you just running errands for your boss?”

Emmanuel remembered Ruby from his visit to Milani’s house. She had been one of the loudest voices mocking his modest income and lack of prospects. Seeing her again only reminded him of why his life was so much better now that those people were in his past.