Chapter 701

chapter701

“Enough!” Driven to a desperate last-ditch effort, Ashton pivoted her shoulders and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick toward Emmanuel.

The force of the exchange was immense. As Emmanuel neutralized the strike with a precise defensive maneuver, the sheer kinetic energy caused Ashton’s tactical gear to tear, leaving her in a disheveled and compromised state.

She landed on both feet, momentarily stunned by the intensity of the struggle. Realizing the state of her uniform, she let out a sharp cry and hastily moved to adjust her clothing, her face flushing with a mix of indignation and shock.

Emmanuel, however, remained completely professional. Having a background in specialized training and medicine, he maintained a clinical detachment that allowed him to focus solely on the facts of the situation. His eyes weren't on her predicament, but on a specific detail that had been revealed during the scuffle.

On Ashton’s neck was a distinctive pattern. Emmanuel narrowed his eyes; he was certain he hadn't made a mistake. That mark was identical to the one he had seen on the Snake Master. This wasn't just a simple disciplinary dispute anymore—it was a matter of national security.

“What is going on here?” Sage Payne, having just escorted two visitors out, rushed back into the room upon hearing the commotion.

The scene that met him was one of total chaos. A man and a woman stood amidst the aftermath of a high-intensity fight, their clothing in disarray. Emmanuel looked grim and focused, while Ashton was visibly shaken. It was a sight that demanded an immediate explanation.

“Ash, are you alright?” Lexi rushed to her cousin’s side, her mind racing to piece together how a routine questioning had turned into a physical confrontation.

They were in a police station, yet the tension in the room felt like a battlefield. Mackenzie, standing at the doorway, glanced at Emmanuel’s torn sleeve and then at the tactical officer. Her analytical mind was already processing the scene.

“Lexi, this man crossed a line! He completely disregarded protocol and attacked me!” Ashton, still trying to regain her composure, pointed a finger at Emmanuel.

“Stand down!” Sage shouted, his voice echoing with authority. He knew Emmanuel better than anyone. Emmanuel was a man of strict discipline—a former elite operative. If a fight had broken out, it was because the situation had escalated beyond words.

“Captain Payne!” Ashton looked as though she had suffered a great injustice, but the weight of Sage’s command forced her to stop.

“We’ll be taking our leave now, Captain Payne,” Mackenzie said, her voice dropping to a chilly, resonant tone. She stepped forward and gently held Emmanuel’s arm. “This is my husband. I know his character, and I am confident that his actions today were a matter of necessity, not impropriety.”

The revelation hit the room like a physical blow.

Sage stared at Emmanuel, momentarily speechless. He had always admired his former commander as a man dedicated to his duty, but he had no idea the "Ice Goddess" of Yeringham was actually his sister-in-law. The realization sent a shock through his heart.

Ashton looked at Mackenzie with disbelief. She couldn't understand why a woman of Mackenzie’s status and intelligence would stand by a man who seemed to court trouble wherever he went.

“Lexi, let’s go,” Mackenzie said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She walked out of the station, her arm still linked with Emmanuel’s.

Lexi, finally finding her voice, gave Ashton a lingering, worried look before hurrying after them.

The journey back to the Yociam Residence was filled with a heavy, uncomfortable silence. Emmanuel remained quiet, his thoughts still focused on the pattern he had seen on Ashton’s neck. Lexi and the driver, Wally, dared not speak, sensing the storm brewing between the couple.

It wasn't until they were behind the closed doors of their home that Mackenzie finally spoke. Her voice was cold, yet it held a layer of hidden concern.

“Emmanuel, I think it’s time for an explanation.”

While she had defended him in public to protect their dignity as a couple, she knew that today’s events were far from ordinary. She didn't believe for a second that Emmanuel had acted without reason, but she needed to know the truth behind the conflict—and the woman he had been fighting.