Chapter 263

chapter263

After arriving home, Mackenzie headed straight for her bedroom, the firm click of the door signaling her clear intention to remain undisturbed. It was evident she wasn't ready to bridge the gap between them.

Emmanuel stood in the living room, feeling a wave of helplessness. He knew his wife’s temperament could be intense, and while he valued their relationship, he struggled with her recent accusations regarding Claudette. Feeling the weight of the unresolved tension, he eventually retreated to his own room for the night.

Inside her room, Mackenzie’s frustration simmered. She noticed he hadn't made a move to de-escalate the situation. He really is as stubborn as they come, she thought with a sigh. Does he expect me to be the first to reach out? Why is he so difficult to read? She wondered, not for the first time, what her grandfather had seen in him that she was still struggling to fully understand.

The next morning, Mackenzie emerged to find Emmanuel already busy in the kitchen, laying out a breakfast spread. Despite their two-day cold war, the familiar routine brought a subtle sense of stability back to the household.

“Breakfast is ready, Ms. Quillen,” he greeted her calmly. Even when they were at odds, Emmanuel’s sense of responsibility never wavered.

“Got it,” she replied briefly.

Mackenzie was privately moved by the gesture. She had hoped he might use the opportunity to offer a sincere apology or a kind word to break the ice, but Emmanuel remained formal, maintaining a respectful but palpable distance.

After he finished eating, he checked his watch. He only had a few minutes before he had to leave, so he addressed the most pressing matter. “My sister’s wedding ceremony is this Saturday. I’m hoping you’ll attend with me, Ms. Quillen.”

Since they were legally married, he felt it was important for her to be there. Not only was it a matter of family respect, but he also didn't want to raise any suspicions among his relatives about the state of their marriage.

“That soon?” she asked, surprised. “I thought they only recently started dating.”

“It is fast,” Emmanuel admitted with a small, weary smile. “Though perhaps not as fast as our own arrangement.”

Mackenzie gave a sharp huff. The reminder of their own hasty marriage only added to her current mood. “I’ll have to see what my schedule looks like on Saturday,” she replied noncommittally. She wanted to see if he would make an extra effort to ensure her company.

Emmanuel sighed internally. Communication really shouldn't be this hard, he thought. Still, he hoped that once the wedding festivities were over, they could finally have a real conversation about their future.

As he headed out on his scooter, his path was suddenly blocked by a luxury SUV that pulled out of a side street. Emmanuel felt a pang of apprehension. He knew that by standing his ground recently, he had likely made an enemy of Quintus.

Unlike some of his other acquaintances, Quintus was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve and acted on his impulses. He was a formidable presence, and Emmanuel had no desire for a long-term rivalry.

The car door swung open, and Quintus stepped out, looking every bit the imposing figure his reputation suggested. Standing well over six feet, he cast a long shadow across the pavement.

Emmanuel, drawing on his own discipline and training, forced a calm expression and nodded. “Morning, Quintus.”

“Don’t ‘morning’ me!” Quintus shouted, his voice echoing through the quiet residential area. “If you want to settle this like men, you’ll stop making excuses and face me right now!”

His roar was loud enough to attract the attention of the nearby security guards. One of the younger guards started to step forward to intervene, but a senior colleague quickly pulled him back, whispering urgently. “Stay back. This isn't a normal dispute—look at the tension in the air. Let them handle it, or we’ll just get caught in the middle of a storm we can’t stop!”