Chapter 43
Upon receiving the loan, Emmanuel went to pick up
Alessandra in a taxi.“Mom, why did you come to Uncle Benny’s house?”Emmanuel asked Alessandra when she emerged fromBenny’s residential area.“I–It’s nothing! I wanted to inform him of your marriageand invite him over for a meal just to get to know eachother better,” Alessandra lied with a sheepish smile.In spite of that, Emmanuel knew that she must haveasked Benny for a loan. Moreover, she was hiding thefact that she was rejected in order for him not toresent his uncle.Emmanuel had no illusions as to what kind of personBenny was. Despite the latter’s wealth, he had neverlent them a single penny. If that wasn’t bad enough,Benny’s family, being cheap, would take whatever theyfancied every time they dropped by Emmanuel’s homefor a visit.“Mom, Mackenzie has given me thirty thousand. I canafford to pay for your treatment now,” Emmanuelinformed her once she got into the car.“What? You borrowed another thirty thousand?”The news shocked Alessandra.Previously, Emmanuel had told her about thesixty–thousand loan he had given to Frederick to pay for his mother’s medical fees. She didn’t blame himsince both of them were best friends. However, she didn’t want Emmanuel to lose his wife on the accountof his friend.“Manny, does this mean that you didn’t give her anybetrothal gifts? Or even something to seal theengagement with?”“No, I didn’t.” Emmanuel shook his head with a wrysmile. “Mackenzie has plenty of money, so this issomething that isn’t important to her.”“Are you silly?”The exasperated Alessandra poked his head. “There’sno girl in this world who doesn’t like presents. On top ofthat, who marries without giving a betrothal gift? Evenif the girl is rich, you still have to gift her something toseal the engagement!”Emmanuel sighed in response. Not getting Mackenzie a gift wasn’t his intention. He just couldn’t afford it for the time being. If he ended up getting her somethingcheap, he was worried that she would look down onhim because of that.Just as Alessandra wanted to press her case, herraging emotions caused her kidneys to hurt again.Cold sweat broke out across her forehead as she heldher upper abdomen.“Driver, please step on it!”After urging the driver to hurry, Emmanuel tried to easehis mother’s pain by applying pressure on heracupoints.Upon their arrival at the hospital ten minutes later, hedashed into the internal medicine department withAlessandra on his back.The scene caught the attention of many at thehospital entrance.Seated in the back seat of a Bentley, Mackenziecoincidentally caught a glimpse of them.Is the person Emmanuel carrying his mother? Whathappened to her? Her condition looks more seriousthan mine.“Ms. Quillen, we have arrived at the hospital.”Lexi quickly alighted from the driver’s seat and cameover to open the door.A short while ago, Mackenzie suffered a gastric attackduring work. Thus, Lexi rushed her to the hospital andwas now offering to help her out of the car.“I’m fine. I can walk by myself.”Mackenzie’s reply caused Lexi to realize the faux passhe committed.Given the former’s dominant character, she didn’t wantto enter the hospital looking terribly weak, for fear ofcreating an impression that she was a sickly woman inthe event someone recognized her.In spite of her concerns, Mackenzie, due to heroutstanding natural beauty, was still immediatelyspotted the moment she stepped into the hospital.“Ms. Quillen, it’s a pleasure to see you!”A bald middle–aged man with two bodyguards behindhim approached Mackenzie.In response, Lexi and Mackenzie’s bodyguards cameforward to block his way.“The pleasure is mine, Mr. Chamberlain.”Mackenzie was not only unwilling to shake his handbut also kept her distance. Nevertheless, shereciprocated with a greeting on the account the manwas an influential businessman.“Haha, it’s an honor that you still remember me, Ms.Quillen.”JWith a broad smile on his face, Joel Chamberlainprobed, “What brings you here, Ms. Quillen?”
