The manager arrived with two bags and stood in front of Zara.
As Zara got up to take the bag, the manager glanced at the person standing next to her.
He hadn't seen this person with Zara before, so he wasn't sure if the man was with her.
Upon observing the gentleman in his impeccably tailored suit that complemented his figure flawlessly, and sensing the air of authority that surrounded him, it was evident that he was not a person to be trifled with, even though he was wearing a mask, his air of authority seemed like it could not be restrained.
So, he smiled and handed the bag to Zara, saying, "Miss, here are the items you requested. I hope to see you again."
Zara accepted the bag from the manager with a nod, but before she could do anything, Ethan had already taken the bags from her and handed them to David.
Zara glanced at Ethan, remaining silent, and simply nodded at the manager before leaving the store.
The manager grinned at Zara and ushered them out of the store before heading back inside to attend to his duties.
While strolling past various shops, Ethan purchased a few items for Zara and had David carry them as they walked.
After they finished shopping, Ethan turned to Zara and suggested, "How about grabbing some lunch?"
"Any particular place you'd like to go?" Ethan asked, taking Zara's hand as they stepped into the elevator.
Zara glanced at the hand being held and attempted to withdraw it. "I haven't held it until now. I can't control it anymore. Let me hold it."
"No, let it go." Zara was firm in her decision.
"What about the restaurant?" Ethan attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction.
However, Ethan persisted in holding her hand despite her efforts to break free.
"I'm not sure," Zara responded, choosing to ignore him.
Observing her indifference and lack of eye contact, Ethan couldn't help but smile at her. Perhaps it was because he was still holding her hand and she allowed it.
As the elevator doors opened on the parking floor, the trio stepped out. David headed towards the car, while Zara and Ethan remained where they were, waiting for him.
Over at the corner of the parking lot, hidden from view, a group of men stood together. They appeared to be gang members, engaged in a hushed conversation.
"What's the plan now? Wasn't it supposed to be just the girl here? Why are there two others?" The gang's leader, a burly man with tattoos on his arms, questioned.
"I'm not sure, Boss. Should we make a move or back off?" His companion asked with confusion.
"Alright, Boss."
In two minutes, the man returned and reported, "Boss, Miss said to go all out. She wants us to show that girl a lesson she won't forget."
"Alright, what are you all waiting for then? Let's go." The Boss commanded and soon the group headed towards Zara.
Before long, over ten guys were gathered on the side. The Boss called out, "Hey, girl."
Zara turned to see the source of the voice. She noticed the group of guys staring at her.
Ethan also turned to look in the direction Zara was facing.
When he looked at them, his warm demeanor instantly changed to cold. If David looked at him now, he would be sure that someone was going to die today.
The atmosphere around them seemed to freeze as if they were trapped in a block of ice.
Sensing the sudden shift, Zara turned to look at Ethan, only to find his gaze chilling and filled with a hint of menace.
Despite Zara's height advantage over most girls, she still had to tilt her head up slightly to meet Ethan's gaze.
The gang sensed that something was off, but they brushed it off. They completely ignored Ethan and focused on Zara, saying, "Hey girl, pay attention to us. We're the ones in charge today. Stop staring at that guy."
Zara remained unfazed by their attitude and calmly replied, "I don't know any of you." "You'll find out soon enough," the Boss retorted with a wicked grin.
However, since Zara was wearing a mask and a cap, the Boss couldn't see her face. Still, he suggested, "Hey girl, how about a deal? If you take off your cap and mask and reveal your face to me, I might go easy on you depending on how you look."
"If you're truly stunning, I can offer you a life full of happiness and riches that even the man next to you can't provide. How about it? Just focus on serving me, and nothing else will matter."
Zara's expression remained serene, yet her gaze grew icy.
Beside her, the man holding her hand gripped it tighter.
As she glanced at Ethan, his demeanor turned frigid, his eyes flashing red with rage and a murderous aura surrounding him.
In a composed tone, she uttered, "Let's not end them here," before turning towards the group of men.
When the guys noticed the strong presence coming from the man, the sideman next to him shakily asked, "Boss, why do I have a feeling he's going to end us?"
Even the Boss could sense Ethan's powerful aura, but he remained composed and replied, "If he's as strong as you say, do you really think Miss would want us to provoke him by hurting the girl beside him?"
"True. So, should we make a move, Boss?" "Let's wait and see what the lady has to say first. We can always attack later if needed." "Got it, Boss."
Their voices were filled with excitement, oblivious to the danger looming right in front of them.
Hearing the conversation between them, Zara smirked and asked coldly, "Do you think you're worthy of me serving you?"
The man chuckled and replied, "Of course! Isn't that what girls are meant for? Besides, I did mention that you can only serve if you reveal your face..."
But before he could finish his sentence, Zara swiftly flicked her wrist, sending a small stone flying towards him. It hit a precise acupoint on his neck with a dull thud.
The man's eyes widened in shock as his body suddenly froze, his muscles locking up in place.
He attempted to shout, but no sound came out of his open mouth. Panic flashed in his eyes as he realized he was completely paralyzed.
The men surrounding them were all stunned by the sudden turn of events. They didn't understand what had happened, but they were convinced that the girl was responsible.
One of the henchmen was so furious that his face turned red with anger as he shouted and advanced towards Zara with large strides, ready to attack.
As he rushed forward, he yelled and raised his hand to strike, "What did you do to our Boss?"