Chapter 2219 A Complex Power Struggle!
“It has been a long time, but seeing you again doesn’t make me happy.”
In the end, as a leader, Mackenzie responded to Gautier
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“Haha, I know why you’re unhappy, but I have to say, I’m quite pleased to see you.” Gautier laughed heartily. “Looks like we’re really in sync–we even picked the same place to host our dinner parties.”
Mackenzie merely sneered.
Emmanuel, however, wasn’t nearly as polite. “Looks like you’re still as shameless, hypocritical, and disgusting as ever.”
“Haha…” Gautier let out a hearty laugh. “Thanks! Coming from you, that’s actually a compliment. After all, every single person standing behind me sees you as an enemy.”
Emmanuel’s gaze swept past Gautier, taking in the faces behind him.
Sure enough, many of them were glaring at him with barely restrained hostility. Some looked like they would have lunged at him if not for their companions holding them back.
But Emmanuel ignored their animosity entirely. Instead, he said, “Since our paths are different, there’s no point in wasting time here. Mackenzie, let’s go inside.”
“Alright.” Mackenzie nodded, leading the Nuthana and West End representatives into the hotel, heading to the left wing.
Gautier, unfazed, smirked and led his group toward the right wing.
Though Veronica hadn’t refused to accommodate Gautier’s people, she still made sure Nathan went to the left wing.
“Master, you won’t hold this against my sister, will you? Nathan hurriedly walked up to Emmanuel, a hint of nervousness in his voice. The last thing he wanted was to strain his relationship with his mentor.
But there was nothing he could do–Veronica had learned from their father, and in business, neutrality was often the safest route. Especially now, when the stakes were this high–a wrong move could jeopardize the Chapman family’s future.
Supporting Emmanuel’s side already came with great risks. If Mackenzie lost and Teddy and Catherine secured control over both commerce and politics, the Chapman family could very well be crushed.
“It’s fine. I understand why she did it.”
Emmanuel wasn’t bothered by Veronica’s decision. With three of the Four Great Aristocratic Families backing Teddy, the fact that she had managed to stay neutral was already impressive. Not to mention, she still leaned toward supporting his side.
After all, at the end of the day, she was just running a business.
What he was more concerned about was why Magnus was standing behind Gautier
It made no sense. In the past, it had been Gautier who food behind Magnus.
Sat, Feb 22
Chapter 2219 A Complex Power Struggle!
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This shift was insane.
Just then, Mackenzie gently tugged on Emmanuel’s hard, pulling him aside. “Hattie just texted me. She wants to know if we have time to talk.”
Emmanuel hesitated for a moment before asking, “What do you think?”
He wasn’t in a rush to meet them–he wanted to be on the same page with his wife first.
“I know you might doubt Magnus, but I will never doubt Hattie. She’s my good friend. The moment we turned enemies into allies, I chose to trust her,” Mackenzie said firmly.
Emmanuel nodded slightly. He could trust Hattie, but Magnus was another matter entirely.
Back when Magnus went to the West End to help Mackenzie, it had been nothing more than a deal between them. There had never been true loyalty involved.
“If you’re uneasy, go talk to Magnus. I’ll stay here and host our people.” Mackenzie remained composed.
She didn’t need to have a long discussion with Hattie–she just needed to trust her.
“Alright.”
After speaking with Mackenzie, Emmanuel made up his mind. He would meet with Magnus.
Soon, he arrived at a small pavilion by the lake outside the hotel.
It wasn’t long before Magnus appeared, carrying the same air of pride he always did–a slight smirk on his lips as if he held the upper hand.
“So? Now that Maxwell is dead, did the Zelinsky family finally accept you?” Emmanuel asked without preamble. “Let me guess–if Teddy Tanner becomes Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, then Catherine Zelinsky has a shot at becoming President, and you’ll be groomed as their successor?”
“Haha…” Magnus laughed. “You really are deceptively sharp. You don’t look all that smart, but somehow, you always see the full picture.”
Emmanuel wasn’t in the mood for games. He got straight to the point. “When you returned to your family that night, that’s exactly what your father told you, didn’t he? And that’s why you’ve chosen to become my enemy again?”
At the end of the day, the two of them were never truly friends.
“That’s exactly what he said.” Magnus finally dropped his playful tone, his expression turning serious. “He told me I would be the next Zelinsky heir. And he also made it clear–if Mackenzie defeats Tanner, I have to find a way to eliminate both of you.”
Emmanuel wasn’t surprised. When it came to Chanaea power struggles, backstabbing and bloodshed were par for the course. What did surprise him, however, was Magnus‘ honesty in admitting it.
“So why are you telling me this now?” Emmanuel chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts about killing me I wouldn’t believe that for a second.
“Haha, well… maybe just a little.” Magnus laughed again before adding, “After all, we ve worked together before. But if I truly had the chance to take everything wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.
12:31 Sat, Feb 22.
Chapter 2219 A Complex Power Struggle!
“You never sugarcoat, do you?” Emmanuel smiled.
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At least Magnus was direct–unlike Gautier, who always pretended to be something he wasn’t. That kind of false civility was disgusting.
“Judging by what you just said, you think your father is lying to you,” Emmanuel probed further.
Magnus nodded, his gaze darkening. “There are only two possibilities–either he really has no choice but to name me his successor, or Maxwell Zelinsky isn’t actually dead, and my father is using me to take you down.”
Emmanuel felt a chill run down his spine.
“And that’s exactly why I wanted to talk to you,” Magnus continued, his eyes turning sharp. “Are you absolutely sure the man you killed that night was Maxwell?”
“That was indeed his face.” Emmanuel shrugged. “But I left immediately after dealing with him–I never stayed to confirm if it was a body double. Given how skilled your family is at using decoys, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a fake.”
Magnus fell silent–that was precisely what he suspected.
Hattie was an expert in crafting hyper–realistic disguises–a skill that had been passed down in their family for generations. The Zelinskys were politicians, and using body doubles was one of their most well–honed tricks.
“That’s why I want to bet on you and Mackenzie,” Magnus finally admitted, his true motive laid bare. “I want to use you to take down the entire Zelinsky family and help me gain real control over it.”
His gaze sharpened into something terrifying, but Emmanuel was too familiar with Magnus to be intimidated. He simply responded, “You think too highly of us. The Zelinsky family is enormous–even the President wouldn’t dare claim he could take them down, let alone us.”
“The President wouldn’t. But you can.” Magnus said it with absolute certainty. “This is the perfect opportunity. Ezra Zelinsky has already announced my return to the family. He’s even declared me as his successor. But if something were to… happen to him now, can you imagine what would follow?”
Emmanuel merely chuckled. He wasn’t going to entertain hypotheticals, and Magnus figured as much. So, he pressed on, his voice low and dangerous. “They’re already planning how to kill you. But right now, taking you out is just a necessary step in their real plan to kill Ethan Hale. So, we can turn the tables on them–use their own plans against them.”
