Chapter 38

chapter38

“What’s the matter? Are you going to start checking up on me from now on, Ms. Quillen?” Emmanuel joked casually. In the past, Mackenzie had never taken much interest in his whereabouts.

Mackenzie clenched her fists momentarily before forced a thin smile. “I don’t have time to monitor you. I simply wanted to establish a rule: you are not permitted to return home after eleven in the future. Whether you are out with friends or colleagues, you must respect the schedule of this household. Understand?”

Emmanuel nodded, though he felt a strange undertone in her voice. Why do I feel like she’s implying something else? I was only at a banquet tonight.

Mackenzie felt a flicker of annoyance, convinced he was being evasive. Typical. He acts like a gentleman, yet he’s clearly keeping secrets. Perhaps my initial skepticism about his character was right all along.

Ding! Ding!

Her phone buzzed with several incoming messages. Assuming it was an urgent work matter, she unlocked the screen immediately, only to find a series of photos sent by her sister, Beatrix.

The images showed Emmanuel and Roselynn at the banquet, standing close together and talking animatedly.

Emmanuel inadvertently caught a glimpse of the screen and froze. After a long silence, he spoke up, “I thought you said you didn’t care who I spent my time with. Did you actually hire someone to follow me?”

Mackenzie looked into his eyes, momentarily speechless. “I didn’t arrange for this,” she replied after a pause. But as she spoke, her embarrassment turned into a defensive coldness. “How can you act so familiar with another woman so soon after our marriage?”

“Why shouldn't I?” Emmanuel asked, looking amused. “That’s the woman I care about most in this world. What’s wrong with attending a banquet with her?”

“You...”

Mackenzie felt a surge of indignation. How shameless! He actually admits to favoring another woman right in front of his legal wife.

Seeing her genuine anger, Emmanuel decided to stop teasing. He smiled frankly and said, “In the future, if you really want to know what I’m up to, just ask. Also, tell whoever took these photos to be more professional. They’ve wasted their phone memory taking pictures of me and my sister.”

“Your sister?”

Mackenzie was taken aback, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. She realized Beatrix had made a massive blunder, and she had just made herself look foolish by getting jealous over a sibling interaction.

“That’s right. Her name is Roselynn Lowe. I can show you her ID if you’re still skeptical,” Emmanuel offered, reaching for his phone.

“How boring,” Mackenzie muttered, turning away to hide her flushed face. She was the composed CEO of the Terence Group; the idea that she had just participated in a petty domestic misunderstanding was mortifying.

“By the way, Ms. Quillen,” Emmanuel interrupted her retreat. “Are you related to the famous Quillen family here in Yeringham? I heard the eldest daughter of that family was at the banquet tonight. Since you share the same surname and work for the Terence Group, is there a connection?”

Mackenzie found a strange sense of satisfaction in his ignorance. It was like a high-stakes game where she was winning by keeping her true identity hidden.

“Of course we’re related!” she said over her shoulder.

“Really? In what way?”

“She’s my boss.”

Emmanuel was stunned. For a moment, Mackenzie felt a quiet pride in successfully tricking him back.

“Thank goodness,” Emmanuel sighed with relief.

“You don’t want your wife to be the daughter of the wealthiest man in the city?” Mackenzie asked, genuinely curious now.

“Of course not,” Emmanuel said sincerely. “I already feel enough pressure being with you now. If you were that wealthy, the gap between us would be a chasm. As it stands, I feel that if I work hard enough, I might eventually be able to stand on equal footing with you.”

Mackenzie couldn't resist a small chuckle. A man with an annual salary of eighty thousand thinks he can catch up to me?

“What’s so funny?” Emmanuel felt her smile was a bit patronizing.

“Nothing. I’m not looking down on you,” she said casually. “Do your best.”

As she headed toward the bathroom to prepare for rest, Emmanuel called out, “I knew you couldn't be her. People say the Quillen heiress is incredibly difficult and probably hides her face because she’s not much to look at.”

Mackenzie’s grip tightened on the doorframe. You haven't a clue! she thought irritably.

“Are you going to take a shower now?” Emmanuel asked as she stepped inside.

“Obviously!” her frosty voice echoed back.

“Wait—did you bring a change of clothes? Or do you plan on waiting for me to bring them to you?”

The door swung open two seconds later. Mackenzie glared at him, realized she had indeed forgotten her robe in her haste to end the conversation. In the past, living alone, she had been casual about her routine, but she had to remind herself that the house was no longer hers alone.

“And another thing,” Emmanuel added as she grabbed her things. “I noticed you’ve been very organized lately. If you have laundry that needs doing, just leave it in the basket. I’ll take care of the household chores as I promised.”

“I can manage my own things,” Mackenzie replied warily, clutching her fresh clothes. She wasn't used to anyone—especially a man—offering to handle such personal domestic tasks. She decided then and there to keep a closer eye on her belongings, unsure if his helpfulness was genuine or just another part of his puzzling personality.