Chapter 8 Go Home With Me

• Emmanuel hurried over to help Mackenzie up, but his hand stopped in the air abruptly when he sensed an intimidating aura around her.
• He hesitated, wondering if he should touch her.
• Looking at the motionless woman with beads of sweat trickling down her forehead, he eventually mustered his courage and picked her up.
• To his surprise, she felt much lighter than he expected for a five-and-a-half-foot-tall person.
• In fact, he reckoned she weighed only around a hundred and ten pounds.
• “D-Don't touch me!”
• Mackenzie still managed to shoot him a steely glare despite the gripping pain she felt.
• It was nothing compared to how much she detested the touch of a man, let alone being carried by one. Goosebumps broke out across her body the moment Emmanuel touched her.
• The man evaded her hostile eyes and gently put her down on the couch, saying, “Just look at you. You don't eat regularly. That's why you're having stomach flu now.”
• Wait. How does he even know that? We've only known each other for a day!
• Mackenzie was taken aback by how much Emmanuel knew about her, but before she could respond, Emmanuel had lifted her nightgown.
• “W-What do you think you're doing? I'll kill you!” Mackenzie exploded in a burst of energy, twisting Emmanuel's arm.
• There was no way she would let a man like him take advantage of her, especially when she was a daughter of the Quillen family and had been practicing martial arts her whole life.
• Despite how painful the grip was, Emmanuel did not fight back. “I'm just trying to help ease your pain,” he explained, gritting his teeth.
• Looks can be deceiving, man. She's not ladylike at all, despite how gorgeous she is!
• “A-Aren't you a gynecologist? Do you know internal medicine too?”
• Mackenzie had doubts, but there was no time for that. Another sharp spasm of pain struck, forcing her to let go of Emmanuel and hold her stomach.
• “I can well call 911 if you don't trust me, but you'll have to endure the pain until you reach the hospital.”
• Hearing this, Mackenzie took her phone to make a call, for there was no way she would swallow her ego and let Emmanuel have his way, but when the latter saw her curl into a ball because of the pain, he swept her phone aside and squatted down in front of her.
• Then, Mackenzie felt a big, warm palm lifting her gown right after, but she did not stop him.
• She could not.
• Besides, she figured she should trust Emmanuel once, since she could break him into pieces later if she found out he was purely taking advantage of her.
• Meanwhile, Emmanuel felt his heart start pounding vigorously when he saw Mackenzie's pair of fair and flawless legs.
• In fact, he gulped without even knowing when he lifted her skirt.
• As a gynecologist, he had never felt a sense of irresistible attraction toward any woman except for Mackenzie, but he quickly collected his thoughts and rubbed his hands before warming her stomach with the heat from his palms.
• “Urgh...”
• Mackenzie finally felt more comfortable when a rush of warmth went through her stomach, dispelling the pain from earlier.
• Then, Emmanuel repeated the gesture a few times and massaged her lower abdomen.
• Oh, her abs are tight and toned. She must be disciplined enough to work out regularly.
• “W-What is this you're doing?” Mackenzie asked, biting her lower lip.
• She had always abhorred men's touch, but this time, it felt different when Emmanuel touched her.
• Although the sense of distaste was still there, Mackenzie felt good and embarrassed simultaneously. The feeling perplexed her.
• “I'm applying pressure on your acupoints,” Emmanuel answered, looking down to avoid eye contact. As his gaze lowered, he could not help but steal a glance at Mackenzie's legs.
• She's truly a work of art!
• Little did he know, Mackenzie was watching his every move.
• I knew it. This man is finally showing his true colors. They all put up a front as if they are true gentlemen before they marry you, but the truth is that all men are the same. They're all perverts.
• “How are you feeling?” Emmanuel asked suddenly.
• “I'm fine already. You should stop touching me now,” Mackenzie instructed coldly.
• Emmanuel did as she told, but on second thought, he reminded, “What's with this aversion? I'm your husband. Besides, I'm just trying to help you.”
• Mackenzie bit her lower lip and scoffed.
• Seriously? I don't understand why human reproduction has to happen between a man and a woman. I bet other women feel uncomfortable about it too!
• “Let me make you something to eat. Also, make sure you don't work overtime with an empty stomach next time,” Emmanuel remarked, standing up to leave.
• “Are you doing this as a doctor or as a husband?” she asked indifferently.
• “Is that even important?”
• Pfft. Does she have to be so serious?
• Mackenzie ignored that question and informed instead, “I'm turning in at eleven, so make sure not to disturb me after that.”
• Emmanuel rolled his eyes and smiled in resignation. I swear, getting along with a company executive is harder than working at the hospital.
• Ten minutes later, Emmanuel headed to her room and knocked on the door with a plate of spaghetti with egg.
• The sight baffled Mackenzie when she opened the door.
• “Did you buy the ingredients? Wait. Do you also know how to cook?”
• “Of course I bought groceries. Your kitchen is literally empty. Do you think the food just dropped from heaven?”
• With that, Emmanuel entered the room with the food and placed the plate on the table. “Eat it while it's still warm. You're not supposed to be eating anything cold.”
• “Are you seriously telling me what to do?” Mackenzie asked, slightly amused.
• She was still not used to living together with a man. Before this, not even her mother dared to tell her what to do, so it caught her off guard when Emmanuel did that.
• I'm the CEO of Terence Group. Who dares to boss me around?
• “This is just a friendly reminder,” Emmanuel replied sternly all of a sudden. “You're my wife and, more so now, a patient, so you should listen to me.”
• A frown crept on Mackenzie's brows as she stared at the man.
• In the end, she gave up arguing with him and started eating, but when she saw the cheap food, she could not help but frown again.
• “Is this even edible?”
• “You won't die from a tasteless meal, but you'll definitely suffer if you go through the night with an empty stomach!”
• Emmanuel was on the verge of losing his temper—he could not understand why Mackenzie could be so intractable.
• At last, Mackenzie budged and spun the pasta with her fork.
• She began to chew slowly before her face abruptly changed.
• “Mm! This is pretty good. I hope I don't gain weight from an occasional late-night treat,” she commented.
• For the first time, Mackenzie thought living with a man was not entirely a bad idea, for it sure felt different from having a housekeeper at home.
• Her behavior rendered Emmanuel speechless.
• I guess a woman will always be a woman. She might be a misandrist, but she still cares about her body image, just as all other women do. Her beauty is all she lives for.
• “I'm done. Is this fine?” Mackenzie asked Emmanuel like a patient seeking approval from their doctor after only taking two bites of the food.
• Emmanuel was exasperated.
• I can't understand how someone can be this difficult! I made this specifically for her, yet she only takes two bites of it!
• Knowing there was no point in trying to change her mind, Emmanuel held his dissatisfaction and collected the plate and cutlery before leaving.
• “By the way,” he suddenly voiced out when he almost reached the door. “When will you be free to go home with me? My mom would love to meet you.”
• His heart thudded loudly with anxiety as he waited for an answer.