"Hey, what's with the nasty attitude? You're talking like we're family or something." The speaker, a man in his thirties with a robust physique and a chiseled face, was eyeing the women around him with an unbridled enthusiasm. His gaze would linger on those with larger busts or revealing clothing, and his face would flush with excitement. This guy was a pervert. This was Ethan Wraith's first impression of him.
"Sophia Mercer, who do you think you are, saying we're family? We've been divorced for ages," Isabella Vale retorted, her anger and disgust palpable. She couldn't believe she had ever fallen for this kind of trash.
"You're talking like that? That's really hurtful. We were husband and wife for so long, and now you're saying we're not family?" The man, chuckled as he reached out to pat Isabella's shoulder. He couldn't believe how much more radiant she had become over time, like a fresh, crisp vegetable.
"Get your hands off me!" Isabella slapped his hand away.
"Okay, okay, I'll let go. I don't want to upset you," The man said, still smiling, but his eyes betrayed a hint of unease. He had an ulterior motive for seeking Isabella out, and he didn't want to antagonize her too much. "I need a favor, and I was wondering if I could borrow some money from you. We were husband and wife, after all..."
"Shut up. Don't mention that we were husband and wife. You're the one who left me and our daughter, Cecilia, high and dry. You took all our assets and left us to struggle. Do you have the face to say you're Cecilia's father? Do you have the face to say we were husband and wife?" Isabella's anger boiled over, and she didn't care that they were in a public place. Tears streamed down her face as she unleashed all her pent-up resentment.
Shi's face turned red, then white, then purple, like a chameleon. "You're a nasty woman, Isabella! I came to you because I looked up to you, but now you're dressed like a tramp, and you're still talking about the past..."
Just then, a loud slap echoed through the mall. Isabella had slapped His face, and he was about to retaliate when Ethan Wraith intervened.
"Hey, you can't hit a woman, you're not a good man!" Ethan said with a smirk.
"Mind your own business, kid. I'm a physical education teacher, and I can take you down with one hand tied behind my back," He snarled, trying to shake off Ethan's grip, but it was like being trapped in a vise.
"Let go? You think I'm an idiot? I've been waiting for a chance to play hero, and now that I've finally found one, I'm not going to let you go," Ethan said, winking at Isabella.
"She's my wife, and you shouldn't interfere in our family matters," He protested.
"She's my future wife, and I'm going to take care of her," Ethan said, deadpan. "I reckon that after I save her, she'll fall for me. Brother, let's team up and give him a good beating."
Shi's face turned red with rage, and he swung a fist at Ethan, who dodged it with ease. Ethan retaliated with a kick to Shi's stomach, sending him crashing to the ground.
"You...you dare to touch me? I'll..."
Ethan planted a foot on his face, and his voice was muffled as he tried to speak. "You're saying something? I didn't quite catch it."
His face was pressed against the ground, and his voice was muffled, but he was still trying to curse. Ethan increased the pressure, and His voice grew louder, like a pig being slaughtered.
"Ethan, maybe you should stop," Isabella whispered, a hint of satisfaction on her face as she watched Shi being punished.
"Yeah, I think I've gone too far. I'm a civilized person, and I shouldn't be fighting like this," Ethan said, his eyes wide with innocence. He had just gotten into a fight with Seraphina Crowe a few days ago, and now he was at it again. He was far from civilized.
As he lifted his foot, He scrambled to his feet, his face bruised and bloody.
"What's going on here?" A security guard approached, eyeing the scene before him.
"He hit me," The man accused, pointing at Ethan.
"He harassed me," Ethan said, but Isabella quickly intervened to explain the situation.
The security guard turned to the man. "Did you harass this lady, and then this gentleman helped her?"
His face was still bloody, and his voice was shaking with rage. "No, I didn't harass her. You can ask the people around us."
The security guard turned to the crowd. "Did this gentleman harass this lady?"
The crowd responded in unison, "Yes!"
The security guard nodded. "I think we have enough evidence. You can go to the police station and explain yourself."
His face fell as he realized the crowd was against him. He had thought his charm would win over the women, but it seemed he had misjudged the situation.
"I...I didn't do anything," He protested, but the security guard was already calling the police.
The police arrived soon, and with the overwhelming evidence against him, he was taken away. As he left, he shot Isabella a venomous glance that sent shivers down her spine.
"I owe you one," Isabella said, looking at Ethan with gratitude.
"No rush, you're still young," Ethan replied with a smile.