Ch. 151..160

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 151-Emmanuel nodded in response.

Ryder was about to leave when he sighed and said, “Manny, cherish your wife. Ms. Quillen is an excellent woman.” Emmanuel rubbed his nose and smiled. Definitely way better than Abellyn!

Mackenzie, who had reached the entrance, had actually heard Ryder’s advice for Emmanuel.

A secretive smile played on her lips. Even his dimwitted cousin recognizes what a great woman I am. I wonder if that imbecile is aware of it.

Soon, Emmanuel caught up with Mackenzie, and they returned home together.

“Ms. Quillen, why did you walk into the residential area? Which car did you use to come back?” Emmanuel asked with concern after closing the door and walking in.

“Why? Why does it matter to you whose car I took?” Mackenzie snickered, casting him a smug glance.

“Well“-Emmanuel nodded- “I’m worried for your safety since you’re a beautiful woman.” The words that flowed from the dork’s lips had a surprising effect on Mackenzie, stirring something deep within her.

He always had an air of uniqueness about him, distinguishing him from other men, even in the way he expressed himself.

Noticing her lack of response, Emmanuel pressed on, “Did you take a cab to come back here? If so, the service must have been terrible for them to drop you off outside the entrance.” Amused by his incessant chatter, Mackenzie chuckled and said, “Emmanuel, are all men with the surname Lowe so eager to please their wives? Aren’t you -afraid of ending up like your cousin, being overshadowed by me?” Emmanuel shook his head and replied earnestly, “Ms. Quillen, please don’t compare yourself to Abellyn. It will only diminish your true value. I know for a fact that you possess far better qualities than she does!” “Well, you never know!” Mackenzie feigned displeasure although secretly she was pleased to hear what he said.

She took pleasure in teasing him and making him dislike her. It served as her defense mechanism, guarding against the possibility of him developing strong feelings for her and refusing to agree to a divorce.

Yet, despite her indifferent attitude, Emmanuel still felt she was better than Abellyn and was not mad at her.

When he was alone, he began to contemplate Mackenzie’s words earlier.

Have I been too accommodating toward her? Oh, well, I guess it doesn’t really bother me.

The next day, Gautier knitted his brow as he noticed a specific expense in the company records.

He promptly dialed Hubert’s number and reprimanded, “Hubert Verkade, have you lost your mind? Why would you spend money on boosting such a trivial matter to make it a trending story? Does it even work?” The Verkade family was an extensive family with numerous branches.

Gautier could not even recognize some of his cousins and relatives, let alone remember their faces.

However, he was well aware that the enemy lurked within the family. Many individuals had their eyes fixed on his CEO position in Verkade Group. Any misstep would surely reach his grandfather’s ears. That idiot took half a million from the company and spent it on publicizing his romantic gesture of confessing to Mackenzie at Terence Group. Has he lost his mind?

“Didn’t you personally tell me not long ago that you support my pursuit of Mackenzie? I’ve been running low on funds lately, so what’s the big deal about using five hundred thousand from the company? You always teach me to be a man with vision, to look at the bigger picture, and not to dwell on temporary gains or losses! If I can successfully win over Mackenzie, we’ll secure the position of leading the Verkade family!” Gautier was bereft of words.

Fierce competition and covert struggles were not uncommon among the direct heirs in prominent families. However, that dynamic did not exist between Gautier and Hubert.

Hubert had never been ambitious and always had a soft spot for beautiful women. He had never considered competing with his brother for inheritance rights. Gautier had never been on guard against him. He even wanted to use Hubert to deal with Mackenzie.

Gautier had never expected his younger brother to be so naive as to go through with such a plan.

He found himself at a loss on how to react to his brother’s words because Hubert was using the same arguments that Gautier had previously used to persuade him.

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 152-Hubert did not want to argue with him anymore. After all, he knew Gautier would handle the matter well. It’s just half a million, anyway.

He clicked on his phone again, eager to see if his trending topic had reached the top of the charts.

Upon a quick glance, Hubert felt satisfied seeing his story reach the third position. However, his contentment turned into explosive rage when he looked at the top spot.

The top story was about Emmanuel.

Emmanuel, the person at the center of the incident, had already pushed aside the memories of how he had ruined Hubert’s romantic confession two nights ago. He could not care less about the potential consequences of his actions.

Early in the morning, Claudette came to the hospital to consult him.

After a routine checkup, Emmanuel approached her with her report and spoke in a serious tone. “Ms. Lenoir, your cold syndrome is now well–managed. Continue to monitor your diet, and I believe it won’t recur in the near future.” “All right. Thank you, Dr. Lowe.” Claudette gazed at Emmanuel with affectionate eyes. He looked the most handsome when he wore a white coat.

He exuded an elegant and refined demeanor.

“You’re welcome. I’ll walk you out!” “Sure, thanks.” Claudette enjoyed spending time with Emmanuel. She even made a deliberate attempt to lean closer to his shoulder.

“By the way, Dr. Lowe, my sister told me about the incident at Draco City Hotel. I didn’t expect someone as gentle–looking as you to go all out to protect a damsel in distress!” Claudette looked into his eyes with adoration.

She had always known he possessed exceptional medical skills and a good character, but she had no idea he was also skilled in martial arts! There’s no other man in the world like him anymore!

Emmanuel replied modestly, “Ms. Lenoir, you’re giving me too much credit. I was just teaching a few thugs a lesson.” He remained humble, not showing any trace of arrogance. He considered himself fortunate to have a previous connection with the leader of the Wolf Warrior Society. Otherwise, given his capabilities, he might not have been able to escape from the situation that night.

“Those were no ordinary thugs. Only someone as formidable as you would dare to stand up against the Wolf Warrior Society,” Claudette continued to praise him with a smile, her curved eyelashes resembling two crescent moons.

Unlike Mackenzie’s ethereal beauty, Claudette exuded a gentle and virtuous aura, radiating a distinctly feminine charm.

Emmanuel kept mum, simply offering a courteous grin.

Just then, a male doctor wearing a white coat, accompanied by two nurses, walked past them.

Upon seeing Emmanuel and Claudette engaged in conversation and laughter, the male doctor felt a strong sense of jealousy. He adjusted his glasses and called out, “Ms. Lenoir!” “Um, yes?” Out of curiosity, Claudette turned around to look at the doctor and the nurses around him.

She had no idea who they were, but Emmanuel recognized him right away.

The male doctor was none other than Darren, someone Emmanuel did not see eye to eye with.

“Ms. Lenoir, I strongly advise against getting too close to this sc*mbag beside you. It could potentially harm your reputation,” Darren said bluntly.

Before Emmanuel could get angry, Claudette furrowed her brows and warned, “While I’m unaware of your relationship with Dr. Lowe, kindly refrain from hurling insults without cause. Such behavior reflects poorly on your character and manners!” Claudette’s voice resonated with determination and power, leaving a deep impact on Emmanuel and capturing the attention of numerous onlookers within the hospital premises.

Yet, Darren was not willing to back down. He persisted in reminding Claudette, “Ms. Lenoir, I’m not hurling insults casually. The man beside you made it to the top of the trending news!” Emmanuel and Claudette were struck dumb. What?

“He has no regard for his family, and he’s done all sorts of bad deeds. There are people on social media and articles providing all the evidence, so I’m not spouting baseless rumors here. There is concrete evidence! Ms. Lenoir, if you‘ don’t believe me, you can check the trending topics in Yeringham. The top story is about this sc*mbag!”

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 153-After saying that, Darren pushed his glasses higher smugly.

No one else in the hospital was happier than he to hear the news.

Emmanuel and Claudette inhaled sharply before whipping out their phones to check them. It was then Emmanuel realized that he had over ten missed calls from strangers while he was giving Claudette a checkup.

He never noticed them because he usually muted his phone while he worked.

Heartless Nephew Steals All Family Money And Lets His Uncle Die Abroad.

The second Emmanuel saw the trending topic, his heart sank. At the same time, he was feeling a tinge of anger.

Without needing to click on the article, he already knew that Hermann and Jamison were behind this.

He was not surprised that his grandfather’s family was full of vile people, but he was shocked that they actually managed to paint him and his sister as the villains on the internet.

Who’s the one backing them?

In the meantime, worried about Emmanuel, Claudette tapped into the trending topic, only to find out that the people were all cursing at Emmanuel.

Not only did they say that he conned his grandfather’s money, but they even said that he fought with his uncle because of gambling issues. In the end, his uncle was embroiled in a job scam overseas and held captive, but as Emmanuel’s grandfather had been conned out of his money by Emmanuel and Roselynn, Emmanuel’s grandfather could not pay the ransom for Emmanuel’s uncle. Thus, Emmanuel’s uncle ended up dying abroad.

To provide evidence for the incident, there were even photos and videos posted online.

After briefly reading the articles, Claudette turned to look at Emmanuel in disbelief.

는 It was not that she did not have faith in Emmanuel’s character. She was merely stunned that news as fake as this could actually trend on the internet.

“Ms. Lenoir, now you know that I’m not lying to you, right?” Darren gleefully said. “Maybe it’s time for you to change your doctor. Otherwise, you might not be able to keep your visits private in the future!” It was defamation.

They were slandering Emmanuel’s character and professionalism.

However, the nurses and passersby knew nothing about the truth, so they were all on Darren’s side, insulting and making rude comments about Emmanuel.

“Rubbish!” Right then, an angry voice echoed in the area, louder than the other voices.

As it turned out, Frederick had arrived with other coworkers from the Department of Gynecology.

Agitated, Frederick snapped, “I know Emmanuel better than anyone else.

Fame and wealth mean nothing to him, so how can he be the person they say he is on the internet? Clearly, someone paid to get this topic trending on the internet. They’re telling tales to attack Emmanuel. He’s a victim!” Emmanuel, who had been overwhelmed by anger, was abruptly soothed by a wave of relief. He was glad to have a good friend like Frederick.

“That’s right. I, too, believe that Dr. Lowe isn’t someone like that.” Claudette was wise, and she trusted her own judgment. She uttered, “He’s a righteous man. He would reject me if I were to offer him hundreds of thousands, so why would he try to con someone tens of thousands?

Someone is evidently trying to destroy his reputation with these rumors!” Words from someone powerful like Claudette convinced the others better than Frederick.

Furthermore, Claudette was not lying. Emmanuel had treated her successfully, so she had told him several times that she wanted to reward him in private. Yet, the man had always rejected her offers.

“Hear, hear! Emmanuel has been working at the Department of Gynecology for over two years. How can we not know what kind of person he is? These articles are talking nonsense and full of loopholes. Only the ignorant will believe in them. We have faith in Emmanuel’s character!” The nurses and doctors of the Department of Gynecology also voiced their support for Emmanuel.

Not all trending topics were true. There were truths and lies on the internet, and things tended to have a plot twist.

4 “Thank you. Thank you so much for trusting me.” Emmanuel was moved, and tears nearly welled up in his eyes.

In times of adversity, true friends would appear.

Right then, Emmanuel’s phone rang again. When he realized that his sister was calling him, he quickly picked up the call.

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 154-“Manny, did you see what’s trending on Yeringham’s net? These disgusting people are unbelievable!” Roselynn was furious too.

A few days ago, their grandfather had come to them and asked for eighty thousand, but they did not give it to him. Later on, they found out that their uncle’s ransom was only thirty thousand, so Emmanuel gave their mother twenty thousand and left the decision of whether or not she was going to use

it as part of the ransom money to her.

Initially, her mother had tried to convince her to give their grandfather another ten thousand, but Roselynn refused.

Why would she?

Her uncle had yet to repay his debt to her, so why would she fork out another ten thousand for him?

She would rather have a douchebag like him die overseas instead.

In the end, their mother gave the twenty thousand and her salary from that month to their grandfather.

Regardless of everything, that was Alessandra’s father, and she was doing it as a last act of her duty.

Who would have expected their grandfather and his family to still be unsatisfied after receiving over twenty thousand? They ended up cursing and leaving, saying that they were going to teach the Lowe family a lesson eventually.

Roselynn had never seen people as shameless as them.

It was as if the Lowe family were their slaves and should be dedicating their lives to them.

At the start, Roselynn thought that those were just words said out of anger.

She did not think that they would actually carry out their plan. What ungrateful and heartless people!

“I saw it too, Roselynn. I knew Granddad and his family were ungrateful people, but I wonder how they pulled this off,” Emmanuel replied.

Roselynn was curious too. Would they spend hundreds of thousands to get this topic trending on the internet? Why? Is it just because they’re mad?

Moreover, if they’re that rich, why would they insist on getting eighty thousand from the Lowe family? Something is fishy about this.

“Hmph! Regardless of how they did it, I’m going to clear things up on the internet right now. I’m sure the people will know who’s right and who’s wrong!” “Roselynn, don’t.” “Why?” Roselynn curiously asked, wondering if her brother was planning to take the blame.

However, Emmanuel explained, “Let things worsen a little more. I’m sick of these shameless people. I’m going to settle all scores with them once and for all. I’m the only man in our family, and there’s no way I’m going to let my family be bullied by them!” The revelation only heightened Claudette’s perception of Emmanuel’s masculinity, leaving no doubt that whoever had the privilege of being with him would undoubtedly feel a sense of safety and security.

Similarly, Roselynn had always seen her brother as a dependable individual.

When she heard that, she found herself looking forward to what he would do.

“So, Manny, what’s your plan?” “Roselynn, you have the habit of posting on Twitter and Instagram, right? Do you still have the screenshots of our uncle asking us for money to repay his gambling debts?” “I do!” “Good. Those will serve as our evidence. That man revealed our contact details on the internet so that the citizens of Yeringham would come after us in a witch hunt. There’s no way we can let them have it easy. Once everyone in the city learns about this, we’re going to make a plot twist on this matter.

Let’s see who’ll die an uglier death!” As Emmanuel said that, flames of fury burned bright in his eyes.

He possessed a calm disposition, but that did not negate his capacity to feel anger.

This time, Hermann and Jamison had genuinely infuriated him.

So you don’t want us to be a sweet family, huh? Instead, you want us to be enemies. Don’t you know that I’ve never shown mercy to my enemies?

“Sure, Manny. I’ll heed your words. I’m going to get a new number now. Do you want me to get you one too?” Some suppliers, clients, and coworkers of Roselynn who did not know her well enough were starting to attack her, so she had to change her number and go into hiding for a while.

“Go ahead, Roselynn, but you don’t need to get a new number for me.”

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 155-Emmanuel’s gaze grew determined, and he announced, “This matter is too important; someone has to step up and resolve it. If we beat a retreat now, those nasty netizens will be all over Mom! Anyway, I’m handling the issue, and that’s final. I ain’t scared of any trouble!” Roselynn voiced her concern, “How can we leave you to face all of that alone, Manny?” “Trust me, Roselynn! I’m the man of the house. I need to defend our

household in times of trouble!” “F–Fine! I’ll get a new phone number and call you again!” “All right,” Emmanuel said and ended the call.

His phone almost immediately rang with a phone call from Ryder afterward.

By then, only Frederick and Claudette remained by his side. Everyone else had already left.

Emmanuel dismissed his best friend, “You should head back to work, Frederick.” “Okay. Just let me know how I can help, Emmanuel. I’ll do my best to help you.

That’s what best friends are for!” Frederick still had work to attend to and did not have the luxury of time to stay behind and listen to Emmanuel’s numerous phone calls.

“Ms. Lenoir, you should head home too. Thank you for your trust and concern!” said Emmanuel to Claudette.

She waved off his words and uttered, “I’m not working today, Dr. Lowe. Let me fight those cyberbullies with you. I bet it’ll be quite thrilling!” She seemed so excited to support Emmanuel to the end as he fought off the keyboard warriors that Emmanuel eventually allowed her to stay.

He picked up his cousin’s phone call, and Ryder’s anxious voice immediately filled his ear.

“What’s going on, Manny? Why are the Cadigans coming after your family again? Don’t worry, though! I’ll come forward and defend your innocence!” Ryder trusted Emmanuel implicitly. He had watched the latter grow up and knew his character like the back of his hand.

In fact, he also knew Emmanuel’s family matters better than most, which was why he was furious over the Cadigan family’s actions.

“I appreciate your offer, Ryder, but I don’t need your help now. Perhaps you should focus on resolving your and Abellyn’s situation first,” suggested Emmanuel.

He knew Ryder had enough on his plate, and he was happy enough knowing that Ryder had offered to help him.

Finally, Ryder conceded, “All right! I won’t step in first, but call me if you need help. Anytime.” Like Frederick, he was fiercely loyal to Emmanuel.

Meanwhile, Claudette stared at Emmanuel’s back with an admiring gaze.

The incident spoke volumes about Emmanuel’s character.

If he isn’t a decent man, his friends and family wouldn’t pledge such fierce loyalty to him in times of trouble!

Ryder ended his call, and Abellyn mocked him scornfully, “Ryder, you’re an utterly hopeless fool! That cousin of yours isn’t a good man at all! The whole city must know about it now. Even so, you’re still blindly listening to his lies and refusing to allow Robby to live in our house! Emmanuel only knows how to cut ties with family. Are you trying to follow his example?” She ended her long rant with an ultimatum. “Let me tell you. If you forbid Robby from living with us or attending an elementary school in the city, then we can call it quits with this marriage! You can live happily with your jerk of a cousin!” Ryder’s patience snapped, and he roared, “That’s enough, Abellyn! They’re two different matters! Not accepting Robby into my family was my decision alone! 1 may have vowed to support you when I married you, but that offer doesn’t extend to every Tom, Dick, and Harry from the Sheppard family!!

don’t want and can’t afford to feed an extra mouth?

“Y–You!” Abellyn sputtered in anger before screeching, “I’m done! We’re getting a divorce!” Then, she stomped out of the house.

Tommy was still at school, so Ryder did not bother going after Abellyn.

Manny and Ms. Quillen were right. Abellyn just wants to force me into a corner. If I give in and allow Robby into our house, Chloe and the Sheppards will only come up with more outrageous requests!

The atrocious things that Hermann’s family had done to Emmanuel’s family also alerted Ryder to the fact that some people were entirely devoid of conscience.

You must be ruthless enough to face off against such a foe, or you will end up as their puppet for the rest of your life!

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 156-Mackenzie remained unaware of the drama befalling her husband.

She was occupied with a routine meeting at the offices of Terence Group.

As usual, Beatrix secretly scrolled through her phone during the meeting, and her gaze suddenly landed on a shocking headline.

“What are you doing, Beatrix Quillen?” She felt Mackenzie’s razor–sharp gaze on her a second later.

Beatrix shuddered involuntarily, aware that her cousin was a fair and

fearsome boss who would chew anyone out for getting distracted in a meeting.

She hastily rushed to Mackenzie’s side and whispered, “I’m not slacking, Mackenzie! Look at this headline! Manuel’s being cyberbullied!” “What?” Mackenzie released a near–imperceptible sigh and swiped the phone from Beatrix’s outstretched hand. Once she read the headline, she stood up and declared curtly, “Meeting’s over. Dismissed!” She strode out of the conference room, leaving behind a roomful of bewildered management staff.

Lexi caught up to Beatrix and asked, “What happened, Ms. Beatrix? Why does Ms. Mackenzie seem so anxious?” “Hehe, that’s a secret!” Beatrix was determined to keep her lips zipped. Lexi will find out eventually.

As expected, Lexi was summoned to the CEO’s office a moment later, where Mackenzie handed over her list of tasks to her personal assistant.

Mackenzie boarded her Bentley shortly after and headed straight for Beacon Hospital.

She knew Hermann’s family was anything but good news. I told Emmanuel he shouldn’t have given them a single cent. Now look what happened! He gives them money, and they repay his kindness by turning him into a public enemy!

Mackenzie was worried about the well–being of Emmanuel’s family if the lies continued to be perpetuated by the cyberbullies.

I’m his family now, and I won’t allow this to happen.

Her car pulled onto the grounds of Beacon Hospital at lunchtime.

www Emmanuel had taken half a day off to lay low because of the cyberbullying incident. Addison agreed with his decision.

When Mackenzie walked into the Department of Gynecology’s building, she immediately spotted a group of colleagues surrounding and encouraging Emmanuel.

“We know you well, Dr. Lowe. The news on the Internet must be fake! We’ll never believe them.” “That’s right! The truth will prevail. You must stay strong till then!” Emmanuel was moved by his colleagues‘ unwavering support.

He would never insist on proclaiming his innocence because he believed his true friends would support him regardless. There was no point in explaining himself to anyone else.

Mackenzie could not help but smile at the sight. Who knew this silly man got along so well with his colleagues? Perhaps he wasn’t acting the part of a gentleman in front of Grandpa at all.

A sharp–eyed Frederick noticed Mackenzie’s arrival and discreetly elbowed Emmanuel to grab his attention.

Emmanuel promptly cut short his conversation with his colleagues and headed for the main entrance where Mackenzie awaited.

Instead of looking at her husband, Mackenzie’s gaze was affixed to the Lenoir family heiress, who followed Emmanuel around like a puppy.

“Why are you here, Ms. Quillen?” Claudette greeted Mackenzie civilly. The unspoken rules of high society dictated that she greet someone of higher standing in their social circles.

Mackenzie must be quite close to Emmanuel if she came to Beacon Hospital to meet him.

Mackenzie replied, “What about you, Ms. Lenoir?” Her gaze glinted with hostility. Why is this woman hanging around my husband all the time?

Mackenzie quickly sobered up when she remembered her marriage to Emmanuel had been kept out of the public eye. She probably doesn’t know that he’s taken. Does this mean she’s trying to pursue him?

She suddenly felt threatened.

Emmanuel was not surprised that Claudette and Mackenzie were acquainted, given both women ran in Yeringham’s upper society. However, he believed Claudette to be more prestigious since she was not a salaried worker like Mackenzie.

“I’m Dr. Lowe’s patient. I specifically requested him to be my doctor!” Claudette smiled politely and moved closer to Emmanuel.

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 157-Mackenzie’s gaze visibly chilled at the sight of Claudette approaching her husband.

Even Frederick sensed the antagonism rolling off Mackenzie. I can’t help you with this, man!

He shrugged and turned back toward the clinics.

“Well, are you done with your consultation?” asked Mackenzie frostily.

“Yes, I’m done.”

Claudette was no fool. She could already guess the nature of Emmanuel and Mackenzie’s relationship based on the latter’s behavior, though she could hardly believe it herself.

She had once asked Emmanuel if he had a girlfriend, and he had somewhat implied that he was attached. Is his girlfriend the heiress of the Quillen family? Is he such an excellent catch? But I thought Mackenzie suffered from misandry!

Mackenzie’s words cut through Claudette’s thoughts. “Good. Then I’m taking Emmanuel with me!” She would have dragged Emmanuel away a lot sooner had she not been generous enough to spare Claudette’s pride.

“Hey, Ms. Quillen! Don’t pull so hard!” Emmanuel hissed, perplexed by his wife’s behavior.

This is a hospital, for goodness sake. I was just checking a female patient.

Why does she make it seem as if she caught me cheating?

After their departure, Claudette remained stunned in utter disbelief.

Even Mackenzie was starting to question if she had been too agitated. What if he mistakes my response for jealousy? No! I’m definitely not jealous! I just want to solve his troubles ASAP.

She dragged him by his shirt and only released her grip once they were in the parking lot.

Emmanuel hurriedly reversed his Maserati out of the lot and even alighted from the car to open the passenger seat door for his wife. Only then did he venture to ask, “Why did you suddenly come to visit me, Ms. Quillen?” “I saw the trending headlines, so I thought I’d check on you.” Mackenzie put on an air of indifference as she added, “I suppose my worries were unfounded, seeing as you still had the bandwidth to hit on some random hottie.” “Huh?” Emmanuel’s befuddlement was short–lived. He soon smiled and drawled, “I appreciate your concern, but Ms. Lenoir explained earlier that she’s only my patient. Are you actually jealous, Ms. Quillen?” “Cut the cr*p! As if I know what jealousy is!” Mackenzie harrumphed coldly and ducked into the passenger seat.

Urgh, this is all because of that stupid agreement! It’s depriving me of my basic rights as a wife! How can I not be jealous when my husband is with another woman? What kind of twisted logic is that?

Emmanuel had boarded the car by then and asked, “Shall we head home, Ms. Quillen?” Waving her hand dismissively, she replied, “Yes. You’re famous in Yeringham now. Someone may recognize you if we loiter in public. You’ll affect my reputation too.” She thought being mean would p*ss him off, but to her surprise, Emmanuel apologized earnestly, “I’m sorry for causing you trouble, Ms. Quillen. Did you take the day off just to look for me? Will it affect your pay or your boss‘ appraisal?” Mackenzie did not know whether to laugh or cry.

I am the boss. I’m the only one docking anyone’s pay at the company. Who’s I crazy enough to suggest I take a pay cut for playing hooky?

Still, his rueful expression dispelled any remaining hint of jealousy in Mackenzie. He’s pretty worried about me, huh?

She declared, “Don’t worry. I’m in upper management, so I have more flexibility in my work timing. I’m here to help you with the cyberbullying issue.

We need to stop the situation from spiraling further out of control, or the public will eventually figure out our marriage!” Her declaration moved Emmanuel, though his warm feelings were short–lived when she mentioned that she was worried about exposing their marriage to the public.

He was even somewhat crestfallen.

Is she only anxious because she doesn’t want people to learn about her marital status?

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 158-After her argument with Ryder, Abellyn left her residential area and beelined for Chloe’s house.

Chloe, who was about to have lunch with her son Robby, immediately set her cutlery down when she noticed her teary sister at the door. “What’s wrong?

Why are you crying?” She briefly pondered inviting Abellyn to dine with them, but alas, she had only

ordered enough food for two.

Chloe brought this upon herself by losing too much money playing poker but still insisting on saving money to keep her son in a school in the city.

Abellyn instantly launched into a tirade, “Chloe, Ryder is absolutely horrid! He really wants to divorce me! He must’ve been brainwashed by that cousin of his! He said he wouldn’t give the Sheppards a single cent, but did I have such an easy life while married to him? I didn’t work because of him and lived in poverty. I’m merely asking for a favor to support Robby’s education in the city, but he simply won’t agree! I’m done with him! He can go live in h*ll with Emmanuel!” Chloe jumped in to add her two cents on her brother–in–law’s despicable behavior.

The young, naive Robby took his mother and aunt’s words at face value, mistakenly believing that his uncle owed him.

Tommy gets to study in the city, so why can’t I? Uncle Ryder’s pettiness is ruining my future!

The two sisters continued cursing Ryder out for a long time. They even went online and made nasty remarks about Emmanuel, adding fuel to the fire.

They could not wait to witness the irredeemable downfall of the Lowe family men.

Right after firing off their slandering posts, Abellyn’s phone rang with an incoming call from Ryder.

“Let me speak to him!” Chloe took her sister’s phone. Once the line connected, she roared, “Did you have a change of heart, Ryder? You b*stard! Did you forget your vows when you married my sister? You swore you would love her forever and protect her from any harm. How dare you demand a divorce now!” Ryder was a gentleman, but he was no fool. He immediately retorted, “I never demanded a divorce; she asked for one! She ran out of the house after that.

I’m only calling to ask if she’s coming home for lunch.” “Hmph, you don’t seem too worried that my sister ran out of the house in tears! And you call yourself a man? Didn’t it cross your mind to come after her?” Chloe threatened, “Listen up, Ryder! You must have accumulated three lifetimes of good karma to marry my sister. If you divorce, there are plenty of better men lining up to marry her. As for you, I wonder who’ll want to bind themselves to an old hat!” Her words struck close to home.

Ryder knew he did not have the best to offer as a spouse, and to scrounge up enough betrothal gifts for a second wife was a Herculean task. With a son from a previous marriage in tow, it was nearly impossible for him to find a new partner.

Even if I find a new partner, I can’t guarantee she will be kind to Tommy as a stepmother!

Abellyn’s flaws aside, she was Tommy’s biological mother, and she would never abuse her child, at least.

Chloe scoffed and said, “Abellyn’s with me. I’m sending her location. Come and coax your wife home! My sister is a woman. As her man, can’t you just put up with her nagging if she loses her temper? Who gets mad at their wife instead? I will never forgive you if you make her cry again!” She hastily hung up after that.

A confused Abellyn asked, “Chloe, why do you want me to go home with him?” “Do you have a new potential husband in mind? You’re better off securing your future prospects before divorcing Ryder, or we’ll be in a tough spot. I still want to get Robby enrolled in a school here. We can’t delay that any longer!” Chloe’s explanation struck a chord within Abellyn.

She’s right. I can’t keep wasting my time with him. I must find a new prospect soon and dump Ryder!

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 159-Abellyn’s thoughts took a dark turn. Then, I’ll tell Ryder that Tommy isn’t even his son. I wonder how devastated he’ll be!

Her expression turned downright spiteful as if Ryder was her sworn enemy rather than her husband.

Ryder’s resolve wavered after the call.

For his son, he knew he had to cajole Abellyn to return home, yet he worried that doing so would relegate him to a slave–like existence under his wife’s

rule.

What if she pulls this stunt every time she’s upset at something? Must I give in and coax her home all the time? That’s impossible! Plus, I’m clearly not in the wrong here!

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to call Emmanuel.

Emmanuel happened to be driving Mackenzie back to Yociam Residence then. He answered his cousin’s call and asked, “What’s up, Ryder?” “Ah, it’s nothing. How are you doing, Manny? Is the cyberbullying affecting you?” “Sort of. My phone is ringing off the hook, and I’m receiving a bunch of dreadful texts from strangers. I can still handle it, though!” Relieved, Ryder added, “That’s good. Try your best to resolve the incident as quickly as you can so it doesn’t affect Ms. Quillen.” “I know. Mackenzie applied for leave today to help me. We’ll try to quell the issue ASAP!” Emmanuel’s response affected Ryder more than he thought it would. His admiration for Emmanuel’s relationship grew once more.

Objectively speaking, some people’s characters are simply inferior to others.

Emmanuel’s wife is always thinking of his well–being, even when the whole city is lambasting him. She still trusts him and shows her support to face his trials with him. Meanwhile, the only thing my wife cares about is the Sheppards. She treats me like a money–making mule instead of a human being!

Open Monthly package His prolonged silence prompted Emmanuel to ask in concern, “What’s wrong, Ryder?” Ryder eventually stammered, “N–Nothing. Well, erm, I didn’t agree to bring Robby into the family, so Abellyn had a massive argument with me. She even threatened to divorce me and ran to her sister’s place. Should I go there and coax her to come home?” #

Emmanuel was exasperated at his cousin’s dilemma.

Still, he knew he could not outright convince Ryder to divorce Abellyn. He only advised, “Coaxing your wife is natural, but Ryder, think of your bottom line!

Don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life in your bid to get her to come home. Once Robby is officially part of your family, you probably can’t get him to leave in the future!” Ryder could not agree more with Emmanuel’s advice. It reminded him of the dilemma he experienced when he first married Abellyn. He now faced a similar situation about preserving his marriage.

Their phone call ended soon after. Suddenly, Mackenzie piped up, “Why did your cousin marry someone like her in the first place?” As Terence Group’s female CEO, Mackenzie had a keen eye for people’s characters. Two brief encounters with Abellyn were all it took for her to identify the woman’s conniving personality.

I can overlook her laziness and her crippling gambling addiction, but who tries to help another person’s son when their own son is being picked on?

4/5 Her curiosity about Ryder’s affairs surprised Emmanuel. Who knew she would show such interest in my relatives despite her distant behavior?

He sighed before replying, “Frankly, I always wondered if Ryder had been set up! Abellyn used to have a questionable job, and Ryder only knew her because he accepted his boss‘ invitation to visit a foot spa. Abellyn happened to serve Ryder that day and added his phone number, though he never contacted her. Then one night, she invited him out for supper. They got really drunk that night, and Ryder woke up in a motel bed the next morning with her. She got pregnant soon after, and Ryder married her to take responsibility for their alleged one–night–stand.”

Love at the Wrong Table Chapter 160-After listening to Ryder’s story about his marriage, Mackenzie broke into a disdainful smirk.

It was clearly a clichéd story of an honest man marrying a woman pregnant with another man’s child. She was just surprised that it happened to one of her relatives.

“Men of the Lowe family are truly idiots!” Her words indirectly insulted Emmanuel again, yet he didn’t utter a word of protest.

The truth was that he wasn’t in a much better situation than Ryder. To a certain extent, he might actually be worse off.

After all, he and Mackenzie had a blitz marriage after meeting each other only once. The interaction they shared was lesser than that of Ryder and Abellyn.

At the very least, Ryder and Abellyn were intimate before getting hitched. In contrast to them, he had still not held Mackenzie’s hand.

With that in mind, Emmanuel burst into sudden laughter. “That’s right. I don’t deny that we’re idiots. That said, I think I’m a lot luckier than Ryder is!” “What’s that supposed to mean?” When Mackenzie gave him an abrupt stare, Emmanuel explained with a blissful smile, “You’re not only more beautiful than Abellyn, but your character is also so much better than hers. When I first married you for the sake of placating my mother, I admit I was taking a huge risk. But thank God we’re relatively happy now, aren’t we?” Mackenzie pouted on purpose. “Hmph, you’re the one who’s happy, not me!” “Did I do anything to upset you, Ms. Quillen?” Emmanuel inquired immediately.

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re still being attacked online. If the matter escalates, I’m afraid I–as your wife–will be dragged into it sooner or later!” “Ah! I–I’m so sorry. I’ll deal with it immediately,” Emmanuel apologized.

Back when he declared that he would face it alone, he neglected the fact that he had a lawfully wedded wife. If the online bullying continued, Mackenzie would inadvertently be embroiled in it.

“That’s why you’re an idiot. Anyway, what do you plan to do?” “Roselynn and I will reply to every accusation to demonstrate our innocence and prove that our accusers have twisted the facts. That’s how we’re going to execute our counterattack. However, we do face one problem–the ghostwriters hired by our accusers. We don’t have enough funds to hire our own ghostwriters to fight them and also to boost our post.” “That’s not a problem at all!” The issue that was frustrating Emmanuel was no more than a trivial one to Mackenzie. “I’ve plenty of friends in the media who can publish your clarification. As for hiring ghostwriters and boosting your post, I have plenty of money to do so.” “Thank you, Ms. Quillen!” After expressing his gratitude, Emmanuel added confidently, “Actually, there’s no need to pay for boosting the post. As long as a member of the press publishes our clarification online and showcases the evidence we have, I’m sure the public would take our side out of a sense of justice.” From the conviction Emmanuel showed, Mackenzie had no doubt that he had made the necessary preparations.

On top of having full faith in his character, she was also certain that whoever attempted to throw false accusations at him would definitely be made to pay a heavy price.

Emmanuel continued, “I refuse to believe that Granddad and Jamison are powerful enough to do this. I’m sure someone else is helping them behind the scenes, and I’ll definitely get to the bottom of this!” Mackenzie nodded in agreement.

If Emmanuel’s granddad and his family were that capable, they wouldn’t have to go all out just to cheat tens of thousands. It seems there’s more to the matter than meets the eye!

“In that case, we should let the matter fester a while more. The bigger the issue becomes, the more powerful our reprisal will be.” Mackenzie offered, “For now, I’ll help you find out who in the world is behind this!” “Thank you, Ms. Quillen!” Emmanuel expressed his gratitude again, as the woman’s assistance had simplified the matter significantly.

She responded with a haughty smile, “Don’t thank me. I just don’t want to be plagued by your problems.” Emmanuel’s heart warmed in spite of her words.

Upon returning to her room, Mackenzie put Lexi to work. She ordered the latter to investigate who was behind the malicious article and was spending money to boost the topic.

As for Emmanuel, he went off to prepare lunch instead of joining Mackenzie in her room.

Once lunch was served, he received a call from Terence.

“What is it, Grandpa?” “Manny, I’ve just learned that you’re a victim of online bullying. How are you coping?” Even though Terence was the chairman of Terence Group, the daily operations of the company were left to the younger members of the family.

Given that the female members of the Quillen family ran the government and private sectors of Yeringham, there was little left for him to do.

His greatest concern now was when Emmanuel and his eldest granddaughter would bear him a great–grandchild. Therefore, he was calling to find out more about the situation so that he can crush whoever that was causing his grandson–in–law trouble.

“Grandpa, I’m fine. Something as trivial as this won’t destroy me, so don’t worry. Mackenzie has returned to help me deal with it,” Emmanuel quickly replied, touched by Terence’s concern.

He was filled with gratitude especially when he thought of how Ryder and his own mother treated him. I can’t believe how nice Mackenzie’s family is!

“Oh, Mackenzie?” The reply triggered a rush of excitement in Terence.

All this while, he was worried that Mackenzie was just too cold, making any intimacy with Emmanuel difficult. If the situation continued, Terence’s dreams for a great–grandchild might never come to fruition.

The fact that Mackenzie had gone home to assist Emmanuel in resolving the issue was a testament to her feelings for him. It was a sign that elevated the old man’s hopes for a great–grandchild significantly.

“All right then. I’ll let both of you take care of it. Let me know if it becomes too much for you.” Terence subsequently hung up with a gleeful smile, for he clearly wasn’t a fool.

Despite his desire to help Emmanuel resolve the crisis, it wasn’t lost upon him that this was a wonderful opportunity for the married couple to bond.

As someone who had gotten wiser with age, he knew better than anyone else that time was needed for any couple to strengthen their relationship.

Even those who had no feelings for each other would grow so attached with time that they wouldn’t be able to leave their partner.

I just can’t wait… Haha… “Who was it?” Mackenzie saw Emmanuel put down the phone when she emerged from the room.

“Um, your grandpa.” “What? Grandpa?” Mackenzie sounded surprised. Grandpa doesn’t go on the internet, let alone keep up with the trending topics. How did he find out about the matter?

The fact that Terence had called Emmanuel immediately showed how much he cared about his grandson–in–law.

The thought triggered another bout of jealousy in Mackenzie, who wondered if Terence had mixed up their genders. Since when do elders care more about their grandsons–in–law than their own granddaughters?

“Mmm–hmm, Grandpa said that we should inform him if we can’t manage this by ourselves.” After Emmanuel relayed Terence’s words to Mackenzie, the latter snorted in response.

There’s no problem too difficult for me, let alone something as trivial as this.

Terence’s words were not just an insult to her but an indication of his favor over Emmanuel. She was naturally outraged and jealous over it.

“Let’s just eat first, Ms. Quillen. Only by having regular meals can you maintain a healthy stomach.” Emmanuel’s statement washed over Mackenzie, dissolving her sour emotions and replacing them with a comforting warmth. Since Grandpa doesn’t spoil me, I’m glad my husband does.