Chapter 155


    Emmanuel’s gaze grew determined, and he announced, “This matter is too


    important; someone has to step up and resolve it. If we beat a retreat now,


    those nastyizens will be all over Mom! Anyway, I’m handling the issue, and


    that’s final. I ain’t scared of any trouble!”


    Roselynn voiced her concern, “How can we leave you to face all of that alone,


    Manny?”


    “Trust me, Roselynn! I’m the man of the house. I need to defend our


    household in times of trouble!”


    “F–Fine! I’ll get a new phone number and call you again!”


    “All right,” Emmanuel said and ended the call.


    His phone almost immediately rang with a phone call from Ryder afterward.


    By then, only Frederick and udette remained by his side. Everyone else


    had already left.


    Emmanuel dismissed his best friend, “You should head back to work,


    Frederick.”


    “Okay. Just let me know how I can help, Emmanuel. I’ll do my best to help you.


    That’s what best friends are for!”


    Frederick still had work to attend to and did not have the luxury of time to


    stay behind and listen to Emmanuel’s numerous phone calls.


    “Ms. Lenoir, you should head home too. Thank you for your trust and concern!”


    said Emmanuel to udette.


    She waved off his words and uttered, “I’m not working today, Dr. Lowe. Let me


    fight those cyberbullies with you. I bet it’ll be quite thrilling!”


    She seemed so excited to support Emmanuel to the end as he fought off the


    keyboard warriors that Emmanuel eventually allowed her to stay.


    He picked up his cousin’s phone call, and Ryder’s anxious voice immediately


    filled his ear.


    “What’s going on, Manny? Why are the Cadigansing after your family


    again? Don’t worry, though! I’lle forward and defend your innocence!”


    Ryder trusted Emmanuel implicitly. He had watched thetter grow up and


    knew his character like the back of his hand.


    In fact, he also knew Emmanuel’s family matters better than most, which was


    why he was furious over the Cadigan family’s actions.


    “I appreciate your offer, Ryder, but I don’t need your help now. Perhaps you


    should focus on resolving your and Abellyn’s situation first,” suggested


    Emmanuel.


    He knew Ryder had enough on his te, and he was happy enough knowing


    that Ryder had offered to help him.


    Finally, Ryder conceded, “All right! I won’t step in first, but call me if you need


    help. Anytime.”


    Like Frederick, he was fiercely loyal to Emmanuel.


    Meanwhile, udette stared at Emmanuel’s back with an admiring gaze.


    The incident spoke volumes about Emmanuel’s character.


    If he isn’t a decent man, his friends and family wouldn’t pledge such fierce


    loyalty to him in times of trouble!


    Ryder ended his call, and Abellyn mocked him scornfully, “Ryder, you’re an


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    utterly hopeless fool! That cousin of yours isn’t a good man at all! The whole


    city must know about it now. Even so, you’re still blindly listening to his lies


    and refusing to allow Robby to live in our house! Emmanuel only knows how


    to cut ties with family. Are you trying to follow his example?”


    She ended her long rant with an ultimatum. “Let me tell you. If you forbid


    Robby from living with us or attending an elementary school in the city, then


    we can call it quits with this marriage! You can live happily with your jerk of a


    cousin!”


    Ryder’s patience snapped, and he roared, “That’s enough, Abellyn! They’re


    two different matters! Not epting Robby into my family was my decision


    alone! 1 may have vowed to support you when I married you, but that offer


    doesn’t extend to every Tom, Dick, and Harry from the Sheppard family!!


    don’t want and can’t afford to feed an extra mouth?


    “Y–You!” Abellyn sputtered in anger before screeching, “I’m done! We’re


    getting a divorce!”


    Then, she stomped out of the house.


    Tommy was still at school, so Ryder did not bother going after Abellyn.


    Manny and Ms. Quillen were right. Abellyn just wants to force me into a


    corner. If I give in and allow Robby into our house, Chloe and the Sheppards


    will onlye up with more outrageous requests!


    The atrocious things that Hermann’s family had done to Emmanuel’s family


    also alerted Ryder to the fact that some people were entirely devoid of


    conscience.


    You must be ruthless enough to face off against such a foe, or you will end


    up as their puppet for the rest of your life!