☜ The Magical City ☞
In front of the Jo Corporation stood a young woman with a slender figure, black hair with a slight tinge of yellow, and captivating black eyes that ensnared anyone who looked into them. This was Shen Han'er from the Shen family, a third-class family in the magical capital.
"I hope the head of the Jo Corporation agrees to cooperate with me, so I can secure the position of heir for the Shen family. If I fail, I'm sure my grandmother will hand over the inheritance to my cousin Shen Min, and that would lead the family to ruin."
After waiting for a few moments, several black cars stopped in front of the company. Jo Shiner stepped out, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.
When Shen Han'er saw Jo Shiner, she quickly approached her and blocked her way. "Hello, Miss Jo. I'm Shen Han'er from the Shen family."
Jo Shiner looked at the woman standing before her, who rivaled her in beauty, and said, "What do you want, and why are you blocking my way?"
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'd like to discuss a cooperation plan if you don't mind."
"You can schedule an appointment with my secretary, and I'll consider it."
"Can you at least take a quick look at the cooperation plan now?"
"I don't have time." Jo Shiner left, leaving Shen Han'er behind.
"Ha, at least I have a better chance of meeting her in the future."
☜ Café Al-Basma ☞
"Has she fallen asleep, sir?"
"Yes, she's asleep. Take her to the second floor and put her in one of the rooms so she can rest."
"Thank you, sir, and I'm sorry for the trouble."
"It's fine." Xia Wan'er went upstairs and entered one of the rooms decorated in a European style, which had a large, comfortable bed. "It seems the manager is a wealthy person. Is he from one of the main families in the magical capital?"
Xia Wan'er placed Yan Ran on the bed, and when she wanted to cover her, Yan Ran grabbed her hand and spoke in her sleep, crying: "Daddy, where are you? Yan Ran wants to see you."
When she heard this, Xia Wan'er burst into tears and hugged her daughter, "I'm sorry, Yan Ran, for making you live without a father. Forgive me, my little one."
••••• •••• ••••
Downstairs, Alex was sitting quietly until the door pushed open, and four men entered, each holding a stick in their hands. Alex looked up and glanced at the four men, asking, "Do you need something?"
One of them sat down, lit a cigarette, and looked at Alex, "Do you have an employee named Xia Wan'er?"
"Yes, do you need something from her?"
"Yes, we want you to fire her, and we'll teach her a few things."
"And why should I fire her?" The man stood up and approached Alex, pointing the stick at his face, "If you don't, I'll smash your damn face."
Alex looked at the man in front of him, then walked toward the door. When the four men noticed this, they began to laugh and mock him: "Haha, boss, you scared him so much that he wanted to leave the shop."
"Haha, yeah, boss, you should have treated this weakling with more kindness."
"Hmph, people like him need a bit of toughness to understand." Alex, who heard their conversation, said nothing. He flipped the sign from "Open" to "Closed," then turned toward the four men and said:
Xia Wan'er POV
After putting my daughter to sleep, I intended to go downstairs and continue my work until I heard some people threatening my manager to fire me. I knew they were sent by Shen Min.
"Why...? Why is this happening to me? What on earth did I do... to deserve living in this hell?! I just wanted to live my life peacefully with my daughter; I don't want anything else. Why is this happening to me?... I've even dragged down the only person who helped me."
I felt desperate and just wanted to cry. I could no longer bear living like this until I heard the manager say:
"No one can bully an employee who works for me." When I heard this, I was completely surprised. I thought I would be fired, but that never happened.
Then I heard someone screaming, so I hurried down, fearing my manager might be harmed. But when I arrived, I didn't find what I expected. I found three people lying on the ground, and one of them screaming while kneeling.
End POV
Alex easily knocked down the three men and broke the hands of their leader, who began to scream in agony, saying:
"Ahhh, my hand!" Alex spoke in a cold voice and said, "I don't know why you're bothering my employee, and I don't want to know. But if you try to harm Xia Wan'er again, I'll make sure you live without hands."
"Yes, yes, we won't do it again."
"Good, now get out of my sight."
The man woke up his followers who had been pretending to faint and left the place. After they left, Alex returned to his seat and noticed Xia Wan'er looking at him, so he said: "What? What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm sorry, sir, for causing you trouble."
"It doesn't matter. I'm going to the garden, take care of the place." Xia Wan'er was surprised by his words and asked him:
"Don't you want to know why they are bothering me?"
"No, and you're not obligated to tell me. But know that as long as you're my employee, no one will be able to harm you as long as I'm alive."
Xia Wan'er felt warmth in her heart and wanted to cry because Alex was one of the few people willing to help her since she was kicked out of the Xia family. She bowed her head, trying to hold back her tears, and said:
"Thank you, sir. I'll never forget what you've done for me." Alex didn't respond to her but went straight to the garden.
•••• •••• ••••
☜ Shanghai ☞
Shawn Corporation
"So, you're saying the Jiu family intervened and killed my servants."
"Yes, madam."
"Go to the Jiu family and tell them if they don't hand over the person named Lin Fan and give me a clear explanation for their interference, they should be ready to face the wrath of the Shawn family."
"Yes, madam."
The servant left, leaving Shawn Zui, who was smiling wickedly, "Jiu Wan, I hope you refuse my offer so I can wipe your family off the map of Shanghai."