Chapter 401

chapter401

Mackenzie ignored Beatrix’s lingering questions and walked out the door, her two security detail trailing silently behind her. As expected, Quintus was waiting by his Land Rover.

Seeing Mackenzie approach, Quintus immediately extinguished his cigarette. He quickly straightened his attire and checked his reflection, ensuring he appeared as professional as possible before walking toward her. He knew Mackenzie had little patience for the smell of smoke or any lack of discipline, and he was determined to make a good impression.

Mackenzie watched his sudden transformation with a cold, speechless gaze. If I didn't know his background, I’d think he was one of my own security staff with that level of rigid attention to detail, she thought.

“What is the purpose of this visit, Quintus?” Mackenzie questioned, her voice like ice. She had initially suspected he might be seeking some form of retribution or looking for a confrontation, but his demeanor suggested otherwise.

“I’d like to invite you to dinner, Mackenzie,” Quintus said, offering a practiced smile.

“Dinner? Is this an attempt to settle some perceived debt?” Mackenzie didn't like being beholden to anyone. She was prepared to offer a business concession or financial settlement, but she had no intention of entertaining a personal connection.

Quintus looked genuinely confused. “A debt? What are you referring to?”

Mackenzie’s eyes narrowed as she caught the sincerity in his confusion. “That night in the valley. You’re saying it wasn't you who coordinated the intervention against those two intruders?”

“Oh, that?” He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Emmanuel was the one focused on the rescue efforts. I was merely there to ensure my family’s interests were protected. Why would you think—?”

Before he could finish, he saw the sharp, cold glint in Mackenzie’s eyes. He realized he had said something that touched a nerve. He had hoped to present himself as a stabilizing force, a ‘prince’ arriving after her divorce from Emmanuel, but Mackenzie’s reaction was far from a fairytale.

“That idiot!” Mackenzie cursed under her breath, her frustration boiling over. She ignored Quintus entirely, storming toward her Bentley.

“Wait! Mackenzie, if dinner is too much, perhaps just a brief meeting to discuss business?” Quintus called out, but the car door had already slammed shut.

As the Bentley pulled away, Quintus returned to his Land Rover. He looked at Zane, who was sitting in the driver’s seat. “Did I miss a step? She’s a free agent now; this should be the perfect timing.”

Zane offered a small, neutral smile, wisely choosing not to point out his boss’s lack of social nuance. “The timing in these matters is always complex, sir.”

Inside her car, Mackenzie sat in a heavy silence. Her driver, Wally, waited until they were a safe distance from Quintus before asking, “Ms. Quillen, where to next?”

Mackenzie didn't answer immediately. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting reports. At that moment, Lexi called with an update.

“What do you mean you can’t locate Emmanuel?” Mackenzie asked, her voice tight.

“I’ve checked every reliable source in Yeringham, Ms. Quillen. There’s no trace of him. He’s either gone completely off the grid or he’s left the city entirely.”

Left the city? Mackenzie felt a sudden, hollow ache in her chest. Did he leave because of the divorce, or was the weight of recent events too much for him to handle? The uncertainty gnawed at her.

Just as she was about to give Wally a new destination, her phone pinged with a message from Quintus: “My sister is still in a stable but unconscious state after the incident. Since she was there for you, the least you could do is visit the residence.”

“Wait,” Mackenzie told Wally. She rolled down the window as the Land Rover pulled up alongside them at a red light. “Claudette survived? I thought the injury was fatal.”

Quintus leaned out, a proud smile on his face. “You didn't know? My sister’s anatomy has always been slightly unique—a rare condition where her internal organs are mirrored. The injury missed her heart entirely. She’s resilient, Mackenzie, but she hasn't regained consciousness yet.”

Mackenzie recalled Emmanuel mentioning that Claudette had a rare medical condition he was helping her manage. It was the reason they had spent so much time together, a fact that had caused so much friction between her and Emmanuel.

“Take me to her,” Mackenzie ordered.

“Of course,” Quintus agreed, “but follow my lead.”

Mackenzie hesitated, then exited her Bentley to join Quintus in the Land Rover, wanting to get there as quickly as possible. Zane watched the exchange, impressed by Quintus’s persistence, even if his methods were unorthodox.

By 9:00 PM, they arrived at the Lenoir Residence. Despite growing up in the height of luxury herself, Mackenzie was struck by the solemn, dignified atmosphere of the manor. Unlike Claudette’s private villa, this was the ancestral seat of Adolph Lenoir. The architecture was sharp and imposing, guarded by a security force that stood like statues in the night.

Quintus led her to a specialized medical wing. Through the support of the Lenoir family’s vast wealth, a state-of-the-art ward had been constructed. Claudette lay surrounded by advanced monitoring equipment, her breathing steady but her expression lifeless. A dedicated team of medical professionals remained on standby around the clock.

Mackenzie stood at the bedside, a wave of complex emotions washing over her. If it hadn't been for Claudette’s intervention, she might not be standing here. If Claudette hadn't moved to protect Emmanuel, he might have been lost as well.

She felt a deep sense of gratitude, yet it was intertwined with the bitter reality that these very events had shattered her marriage. As Quintus spoke quietly beside her, Mackenzie remained silent, her gaze fixed on the woman who had risked everything—a silent witness to the high price of the secrets they all kept.