Love At The Wrong Table

“What do you plan to do now, Mom?”

Emmanuel thought he should at least get his mother’s opinion. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

He no longer felt a thing for his grandfather, Hermånn, his uncle, Emerson,

and that side of the family, but he feared his mother still did. Blood is

thicker than water, after all.

If his mother decided to rescue his uncle, he, as her son, would help her

think of something.

“I don’t know what to do. We don’t have the money.”

Alessandra was practical.

Despite the pressure exerted by her family, she would not ask her son for

help, nor would she ask her daughter–in–law.

We already owe her too much!

“If Granddad calls you, Manny, just tell him you have no money. They must

not know that Mackenzie own’s a large enterprise, or I’m afraid they would

force you to ask her for money.”

Alessandra knew just how money–minded her father was. That was why

she did not dare inform him of their arrival when Mackenzie visited them

with Emmanuel.

If the old man knew how rich his granddaughter-in-law was, he would do

everything he could to extort her.

In fact, her purpose in calling Emmanuel was to put him on his guard, not

ask him for money.

“I know, Mom,” Emmanuel assured her.

He had decided not to aid his uncle, who had asked for help one too many

times. Despite being a man in his forties and a father of two, Emerson had

no sense of responsibility: the man would rather show off his wealth

whenever he had money instead of spending it on his children.

Accompanying his mother, Emmanuel had on occasion visited her family

and saw how shabbily those two children were dressed. Their parents had

separated, and their father did not care about them. Often bullied in

school, they had low self–esteem.

Uncle Emerson is arrogant and doesn’t understand how fleeting life can

1.

Emmanuel knew that his grandfather, Hermann, had set aside a betrothal

gift worth a hundred thousand to his father which somehow went to

Emerson for launching a business venture, who had lost it almost

overnight.

Besides handling the business badly, he had taken up a gambling habit

under the delusion that his fortune would turn around by the next hand.

As a result, he lost everything and incurred a mountain of debt. Hermann

sold his land and took some loans to help his son pay it off. His mother

gave him thirty thousand of her hard–earned savings. Even his sister had

been forced via a guilt trip to give their uncle twenty thousand.

I can’t believe he’s pulling this cr*p again.

Emmanuel had known all along that was who his uncle was–a soul

beyond redemption.

He’ll probably survive decapitation before he turns over a new leaf.

Being a doctor, he knew that truth better than most.

Sure enough, Hermann came calling when he was about to take a bath

that evening.

As Emmanuel had just drawn a hot bath, he opted to go ahead with the

bath first.

Upon emerging, he picked up his phone and found a dozen missed calls.

“What’s going on? More girls after you?”

Mackenzie could not resist teasing him when she appeared.

With a smile that looked more like a grimace, he was just about to

respond when the phone rang again.

This time, he picked up the call.

5

“What’s going on? How many times do I have to call you before you pick

up? Are you intentionally avoiding this old man?”

Like always, Hermann began accosting as soon as he opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Granddad. I was taking a bath.”

“A bath? Hmph! I think you know why I’m calling, so you’re avoiding me. I’m

telling you, you can’t hide forever!”