Chapter 43

Upon receiving the loan, Emmanuel took a taxi to pick up Alessandra. When she emerged from Benny's residential area, he asked, "Mom, why did you go to Uncle Benny's house?"

Alessandra replied with a sheepish smile, "I—It's nothing! I wanted to tell him about your marriage and invite him to a meal, to get to know each other better." She was lying. Emmanuel knew she'd asked Benny for a loan and was hiding her rejection to avoid his resentment toward his uncle.

He harbored no illusions about Benny. Despite the man's wealth, he'd never lent them a penny. Worse, Benny's family were cheap, taking whatever they wanted whenever they visited.

Once Alessandra was in the car, Emmanuel told her, "Mom, Mackenzie gave me thirty thousand. I can afford your treatment now."

Alessandra was shocked. "What? You borrowed another thirty thousand?"

Emmanuel had previously told her about the sixty-thousand-dollar loan he'd given Frederick for his mother's medical expenses. She didn't blame him—they were best friends—but she didn't want him to lose his wife because of his friend.

She asked, "Manny, does this mean you didn't give her any betrothal gifts? Anything to seal the engagement?"

He shook his head with a wry smile. "No, I didn't. Mackenzie has plenty of money; it's not important to her."

Alessandra exclaimed, exasperated, poking his head, "Are you silly? There's no girl in this world who doesn't like presents! Who marries without a betrothal gift? Even if the girl is rich, you still have to give her something!"

Emmanuel sighed. He hadn't meant to omit the gift; he simply couldn't afford it. He feared a cheap gift would make her look down on him.

Just as Alessandra was about to press the issue, a surge of pain caused her kidneys to ache. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she clutched her abdomen. "Driver, please hurry!" she urged.

Emmanuel applied pressure to her acupoints to ease her pain. Ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. He rushed into the internal medicine department, carrying her on his back.

The scene attracted attention at the hospital entrance. Coincidentally, Mackenzie, seated in the back of a Bentley, caught a glimpse. Is that Emmanuel carrying his mother? What happened to her? Her condition looks worse than mine, she thought.

Lexi, Mackenzie's driver, quickly got out and opened the car door. "Ms. Quillen, we've arrived."

Mackenzie had suffered a gastric attack at work, prompting the trip to the hospital. "I'm fine. I can walk myself," Mackenzie said, making Lexi realize her mistake. Mackenzie, with her strong personality, didn't want to appear weak entering the hospital, fearing recognition.

Despite her concerns, Mackenzie's striking beauty made her instantly noticeable upon entering. A bald, middle-aged man with two bodyguards approached. "Ms. Quillen, it's a pleasure to see you!"

Lexi and Mackenzie's bodyguards stepped forward to intercept him. Mackenzie kept her distance, unwilling to shake his hand, but responded politely, "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Chamberlain." She acknowledged him out of respect for his influence as a businessman.

Joel Chamberlain beamed. "Haha, it's an honor you remember me, Ms. Quillen. What brings you here?"