Chapter 1030

"What?!" The crowd gasped. The Banner family glared at Emmanuel with furious expressions.

"So, you failed to protect her? You let her die before your eyes?" Yosef's gaze was intensely hostile.

Mackenzie subtly pinched Emmanuel. Roselynn, though unaware of the truth, watched him with a nervous expression.

Emmanuel nodded. "Yes. I failed to protect her, and her death is my fault."

"What?!" The villagers were again shocked.

Howard, agitated, lunged forward, grabbing Emmanuel's collar. "You accidentally killed my sister?!"

Emmanuel nodded, ignoring Howard's rage.

"You scoundrel!" Howard roared. "No wonder your mother compensated my family! You bought my sister's life! You deserve to die!" He swung a punch at Emmanuel.

Frederick rushed to Emmanuel's defense, but Mackenzie swiftly kicked Howard away.

Frederick was amazed. "Wow! So powerful!"

Roselynn and the crowd gasped. Mackenzie's stunning beauty and fighting skill were unexpected. She remained coldly impassive. This scum wanted to hit my husband? In his dreams! she thought.

"You despicable couple!" Howard continued his tirade, struggling to rise.

"Stop! Stop it!" Shane ran up, shouting, "I was there. You can't blame Manny. Queenie wanted to die in front of him!"

Chaos erupted. The situation grew increasingly complex.

[Time stamp removed: 11:06 Fri, 1 Dec]

Emmanuel and Shane struggled to explain, but Yosef understood.

"I believe you didn't intentionally kill Queenie, and I understand her actions," Yosef told Emmanuel. "But you are still responsible."

Emmanuel, stunned, met Yosef's sharp gaze. Mackenzie, while finding Yosef more formidable than Howard, didn't underestimate him.

"Emmanuel, you caused Queenie's death. I challenge you, to avenge her!" Yosef declared.

The villagers gasped, exchanging nervous glances.

"Yosef, must you do this?" Emmanuel asked, his eyes filled with pain. Though not close, they were childhood friends. Queenie's death grieved him deeply, and he didn't want to fight Yosef.

"I must," Yosef sighed, revealing a long-held secret. "I loved Queenie. Since childhood. You know that."

Emmanuel nodded; he had known since their childhood games. He'd seen Yosef's envy and pain when he married Queenie, but respected Queenie's choice.

"Come on, Emmanuel!" Yosef threw a punch.

Alessandra, Roselynn, and Shane were terrified. A fight? Here?

Frederick shielded Emmanuel and Mackenzie. "Yosef, have you gone mad? Emmanuel didn't do it intentionally!"

Yosef's fist stopped inches from Frederick's face, the wind from the punch ruffling his hair. Frederick, unskilled in martial arts, would have been knocked out.

"Step aside! You're no match for me!" Yosef coldly ordered.

The villagers, Alessandra, and Roselynn nervously watched the Old Godfather. Only he could persuade Yosef.