Chapter 16

That night, Emmanuel arrived at the nightclub, The Paradise. Beneath his clothes were bandages. Standing alone by the door, he puffed on a cigarette in annoyance. His mood had plummeted three minutes earlier after a call from Roselynn; her voice still echoed in his ears. “Manny, Mom’s been admitted to the hospital again. She has nephritis! She was asking for you, wondering when your wife will visit. She thinks your wife should have come to see her already, since you two are married.”

Roselynn's words left Emmanuel speechless; her remarks continued to echo in his ears. Their father had passed away at a young age, leaving their mother to raise him and his sister alone. She had worked too hard in her youth, and her unhealthy diet led to kidney stones. About ten years ago, she had one kidney removed, and her remaining kidney was now inflamed. Emmanuel didn't know how much longer his mother could endure. Her only wish was to meet her daughter-in-law. Even seeing her grandchild born would be a luxury.

Emmanuel knew he had repeatedly disappointed his mother, but this time, he was determined to bring Mackenzie home to fulfill his mother's wish.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie was in a daze. Though her eyes were on the screen, her mind was elsewhere. She had never been so worried about someone, and it was significantly impacting her work efficiency. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was her grandfather.

“Hey, Mackenzie! Can the strategic warehouse project be completed on time? All the directors are pressuring me for a progress update!” Terence sounded anxious. After all, shareholders wanted profits. As the majority shareholder of Terence Group, Terence undoubtedly hoped the project would succeed.

“Grandpa, I’m waiting for an update from someone,” Mackenzie said calmly.

“An update from someone? Who's the CEO of Terence Group? Who's the decision-maker, and you're telling me you're waiting for an update from someone else?” Terence expressed his dismay. “What happened to my granddaughter? That's not like you!”

“I need an answer now!” The agitated Terence raised his voice.

“Grandpa, that person is Emmanuel!” she replied.

“What? Emmanuel?” Terence froze for a moment, silent. After a while, his shock manifested. “Why are you waiting for him to make a decision for Terence Group?”

“Grandpa, stop asking, okay?” Mackenzie replied indifferently. “Anyway, I’ve informed the engineering team from Cloud Construction to be on standby. I’ll issue an ultimatum by tomorrow morning.”

She ended the call. Mackenzie let out a long breath and found herself unable to sit still. She couldn’t believe that even during this critical period, she still expected Emmanuel to solve the problem.

As night fell, Emmanuel flicked his cigarette outside The Paradise and prepared to enter. Suddenly, someone grabbed him from behind—Sheldon.

“Emmanuel, have you lost your mind? Would you really stoop to anything for money? Mr. Webber isn't easy to deal with, yet you warned him and his men to vacate that land. He could easily have you killed. Do you realize that?” Sheldon exclaimed agitatedly, trying to dissuade him. Though their relationship was professional, Sheldon, as a fellow human being, didn't want him to risk his life.

Yet, Emmanuel ignored him and walked into the nightclub. Unfortunately, the receptionist refused to give him any information about their guests; the security guard even threw him out when he refused to leave.

“Emmanuel, stop acting crazy! We can’t even locate the person. Just give up! It’s impossible for us to earn that money!” Sheldon called after him, further dampening Emmanuel's spirits.

Emmanuel continued to ignore him. He knew Sheldon meant well, but he didn't know how he felt or why he was doing this. Explaining was pointless at this point.

Suddenly, an Audi pulled into the parking lot. As a stunning woman stepped out in high heels, all eyes were drawn to her. She was dressed in a shimmering silver gown that revealed long, slender legs, and her skin was so smooth it resembled white poppy petals. Emmanuel’s jaw dropped. Beyond her aura, her beauty and allure rivaled Mackenzie's! Mackenzie's sex appeal and attractiveness couldn't compare.

“Oh my goodness, isn’t that Elena Lyle, The Paradise's top hostess?” Sheldon exclaimed, captivated by her beauty. He was so stunned he could hardly move. As a resident of Yeringham, he was familiar with the legends surrounding The Paradise's top hostess.

It was said she never accompanied clients, and those who wanted to drink with her paid thirty-eight thousand per hour. She was also known for her exclusive taste in wine, drinking only Lafite. In other words, Elena befriended only the wealthy and influential. She was the epitome of a successful hostess.

Emmanuel knew nothing about Elena, but the moment Sheldon identified her, he walked directly toward her. Fro had told him Samuel always came to see her, so he was confident he could get information about Samuel's whereabouts from her.

Emmanuel's presumptuous move left Sheldon dumbfounded. Was he trying to hit on the top hostess? What made him think he could go after a woman so clearly out of his league?

Standing before Elena to prevent her departure, Emmanuel greeted her, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Lyle!”

Elena furrowed her brow. Most men would have been ignored, or even thrown out by bouncers. However, valuing appearances, Elena was impressed by Emmanuel's looks, physique, and calm demeanor. She concealed her impatience. “Yes?”

“I’m working for Mr. Webber and was told to wait here for you, Ms. Lyle!” he replied.

Sheldon was rendered speechless by Emmanuel's audacity. If his true identity were exposed, he'd be doomed!

Elena was disappointed to learn he was merely Samuel's subordinate. Her brow furrowed deeper. “Tell him to wait patiently in the private room. I’ll be there in an hour!”

“All right, then!” Emmanuel was pleased. Nice! I’ll be able to locate Mr. Webber if I stay with her!

After Elena left, Sheldon approached him. “You've got some nerve, Emmanuel! What gave you the courage to strike up a conversation with this club's top hostess?” Emmanuel’s boldness left Sheldon astounded. Talking to The Paradise's top hostess was the dream of every man in Yeringham! Yet, Emmanuel let out a cold snort.

Elena might exude a cold and distant aura, but she was nowhere near as haughty and aloof as his wife. If I had the nerve to marry Mackenzie, I surely have the courage to talk to this woman.

“Hey, where are you going?” Sheldon asked.

As Emmanuel was about to enter The Paradise, Sheldon couldn't help but exclaim, “Are you really going to follow Ms. Lyle and scheme your way into The Paradise just to track down Mr. Webber?” The thought of Emmanuel's plan sent chills down his spine. He's just trying to get himself killed!

Emmanuel hummed in acknowledgment. “Go home if you’re scared. I’ll take it from here!”

He strode confidently into the nightclub's lobby, never glancing back. As Sheldon watched Emmanuel's back, he was impressed by his suave demeanor, which seemed effortless and genuine.