Chapter 23

Emmanuel knew his aunt and his cousin's wife clashed frequently. Every encounter seemed to result in a heated argument, occasionally escalating to a physical altercation, leaving his poor cousin caught in the middle. His cousin usually sided with his mother and would sometimes reprimand his wife, but Emmanuel knew he'd be in trouble if he dared to yell at Mackenzie.

If she went too far or spoke disrespectfully to his mother, he might be forced to confront her. This could lead to a disagreement, revealing their arrangement and distressing his mother. Even though Mackenzie had agreed to visit, Emmanuel felt frustrated and anxious. Bringing her home felt like bringing a ticking time bomb.

"Manny, what's wrong? Did she refuse to visit?" Roselynn snapped.

He didn't care how capable his wife was. Now that she was part of the Lowe family, she had to conform to their expectations and couldn't act as she pleased. If she was already acting up before the visit, how would Manny and his mother endure her antics in the coming days?

"Of course not, Roselynn. Don't get it wrong. She's just too busy," Emmanuel quickly explained. No matter how furious he was, Mackenzie was still his wife.

"Good, then." Roselynn was in a great mood, having confirmed the visit. She quickly changed the subject. "Manny, I received an invitation to a high-society party in Yeringham. I heard many rich scions will be there!"

"Oh, I see. You want to see handsome guys there, huh?" Emmanuel knew Roselynn well; he probably knew her better than anyone.

Roselynn strived for perfection. A romantic at heart, she'd been captivated by romantic dramas and films since high school. Initially, she'd fallen for Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Later, she was interested in Jamie Dornan (Christian Grey), and more recently, Alex Pettyfer. The men she loved were tall, rich, and handsome—in short, perfect. However, perfect men didn't exist, which is why she was still single in her thirties. It wasn't because she was undesirable; her ideal partner was simply too perfect.

Alessandra and Emmanuel had both cautioned Roselynn that the men she adored on television weren't real and urged her to adjust her expectations. Nonetheless, she still enjoyed the opportunity to admire attractive men at events.

"Hey, this is a rare opportunity. I must attend the party. Perhaps I'll meet my own CEO there!" Roselynn revealed her objective to her brother. She added menacingly, "If you're free, come as my plus one. Whether or not I get married depends on your efforts!"

Emmanuel was speechless. I can't marry you. Why would I put in any effort?

The invitation required a plus one. The party was tomorrow night, Saturday, so Emmanuel agreed to accompany her. I'll try my best. If Roselynn remains single, it isn't my fault.

Emmanuel also saw it as a great opportunity to broaden his horizons. Now that he was married to Mackenzie, a senior company executive who frequently attended such events, he felt attending would help him understand her better and give them more common ground. It's often said that in a marriage, couples influence each other, eventually becoming similar. Emmanuel was prepared to adapt.

Chapter 24 (assuming the "Chapter i" is a typo)

The following day, he visited his family. Even though he'd only been gone a few days, Alessandra acted as if he'd been away for years. She relentlessly questioned him, primarily about his marriage.

"Manny, your wife is visiting early next year. Should we invite Uncle Benny's family and other relatives to welcome her?" Alessandra wanted to throw a grand party.

Cold sweat beaded on Emmanuel's forehead. "No, Mom! Don't invite anyone. Let's keep it simple. We can just enjoy a meal together."

Alessandra furrowed her brows. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said hesitantly. "She's a senior executive, right? That means she's used to better things and enjoys fine dining. I'm afraid she won't appreciate something simple."

Emmanuel gave a bitter smile. Mom is being accommodating to my daughter-in-law, but that doesn't mean it will last. If she's the only one making concessions, it could create tension and resentment.

"Mom, you don't have to be so careful. We can just show her our real selves!" Emmanuel insisted.

Alessandra was still unconvinced. She was about to speak when Emmanuel suddenly shrieked in pain.

The passage has been significantly cleaned up. Note that some interpretations were necessary due to ambiguities in the original text. The addition of Chapter 24 is an assumption based on the context and the incomplete final sentence.