Chapter 604
“We’re returning to the village?” Emmanuel was dumbstruck because they
had never discussed this.
“I almost forgot about it. Remember the ancient rule back in our family’s
hometown? Once a man in the family marries someone, he must bring his
wife home for the first New Year after marriage and pay respects to our
ancestors! If your Uncle Benny hadn’t reminded me, I would’ve forgotten all
about it!”
Once Alessandra mentioned it, Emmanuel recalled it as well. We do have
such an ancient rule! However, their family had moved to Yeringham’s city
center over ten years, and he even thought he would never find a wife.
Therefore, he did not care about that ancient rule.
“Mom, do we have to go back?” Roselynn came out in her pajamas and
messy hair.
“Of course. You have to return and pay respects to the ancestors. After all,
you’re married too!” Alessandra requested.
“Mom, I agree to pay respects to the ancestors, but there’s no need to
announce my marriage to everyone in the village, right?” Once Roselynn said
that, she muttered, “I’m going to get divorced anyway...”
“What are you saying? If you dare get a divorce, I’ll skin you alive!” It was rare
for Alessandra to get angry, but when Roselynn mentioned getting a divorce,
Alessandra instantly turned solemn. As parents, who would not want to see
their children have a happy family?
Roselynn did not understand her mother’s feelings and even argued, “Mom,
Jaxton and I are over! I’ve seen through that man, so what’s the use of forcing
me to be with him? Our relationship has ended. Do you understand?”
Alessandra anxiously retorted, “Oh, Roselynn! You’re over thirty and finally
married someone, yet you want to get divorced? That would only make it
harder for you to marry someone else. You won’t be able to find anyone
better than Jaxton, and you’ll regret your decision!”
The mother and daughter pair had different values. The young daughter was
confident that she was still in a good situation, but the old lady was less
assured and had more of a first-hand view of the situation.
Afraid they might start arguing and ruining the peaceful atmosphere,
Emmanuel quickly advised them, “Mom, Roselynn, since we’re returning to our
hometown, we should leave soon. Let’s leave this topic until we return!”
It was then that the mother and daughter paused their argument.
Alessandra was more worried about something else. “Manny, will Mackenzie
agree tò return with us? Our village is quite underdeveloped, and `I’m afraid
she might not be used to staying there.”
Emmanuel responded with a bitter smile because it was a difficult question
to answer. Last night, he suddenly left the Quillen residence, so Mackenzie
must have been mad. Though he had texted her afterward, she did not reply
to any of them, so he wondered if she followed her routine and slept before
11.00PM on New Year’s Eve. Could that be why she did not reply to his texts?
“Mom, can I choose not to return?” He did not answer but asked another
question.
While shaking her hand resolutely, Alessandra rejected him, “We have to
return to our roots. That is the rule our ancestors have set, so how can we, as
their descendants, not follow them?”
“Then, there’s no other way. Let’s head back first. I’ll try to get Mackenzie to
come over tomorrow.”
At that point, Emmanuel could only play it by ear. He dared not tell his mother
the truth lest it would worry her. In addition, although Mackenzie seemed
arrogant and hard to communicate with, he foolishly believed she would
agree to come.
Once the family of three was done washing up and had breakfast to
celebrate the New Year, they got ready to return to their hometown.
The Lowe family’s hometown was Hero’s Village, a large town with a mixed
population. Even under normal circumstances, it would still take them three
hours to arrive at the village from Yeringham. Since the family of three was in
a hurry to return for the New Year, they could not afford to wait for Emmanuel
to retrieve the Maserati from the Yociam Residence, Therefore, they could
only call for a cab online.
However, they did not expect the roads to change drastically over the years.
The cab they hired came to a small passageway, and the driver refused to
continue, no matter how much Emmanuel was willing to tip him. Then, the
driver even left them on the side of the road!
The trio was speechless at the turn of events because being stuck in the
middle of nowhere on the first day of the New Year was nowhere near a
pleasant experience!