Immediately, the cashier's mouth dropped open in shock.
She couldn't believe her eyes. She blinked twice thinking it would disappear, but it didn't disappear.
Ethan looked absolutely stunning in the suit.
For a moment, she was completely speechless as her gaze was focused on Ethan.
She had thought he was handsome before, but now? He looked like something out of a movie star. Annabelle, too, was frozen in place; her heart started pounding in her chest.
She knew Ethan was good-looking, but this? This was different. Her breath immediately caught in her throat, and all she could think was how lucky she was to be here with him.
Ethan at that moment looked at both of them, aware of the effect he was having on them without being told he could tell both of them were in shock.
He smiled slightly, but deep down, he knew something was happening to his Charmness .
He could feel it. It seemed the system's body Charmness is working, even though it wasn't much, but it seems it was enough to make Annabelle and the cashier react to his appearance.
The cashier at that moment couldn't hold it in anymore.
She started clapping her hands. "Clap!"
"Clap!"
"Clap!"
"Clap!"
"Clap!"
"You must be a celebrity in disguise."
She said, her voice full of excitement.
"Or maybe you're an angel! That's the only way to explain how someone can look so handsome."
Ethan didn't say anything but just smiled politely and nodded. "Thanks!"
Ethan said, his voice calm as always.
But inside of him, he knew it's the system's body Charmness that was doing its job, even though he wasn't trying to impress anyone, but he loved the attention.
He turned to Annabelle, who was still staring at him like she was in a dream.
"Let's get going."
He said softly.
Upon hearing Ethan's words, Annabelle blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
She quickly looked away and tried to act normal, though her heart was still racing.
She couldn't believe how much Ethan has affected her for someone she just met today; now he's making her heartbeat faster than usual.
Could it be that she is going to get sick or something? However, with a small nod, she adjusted her clothes and followed Ethan out of the store.
As they were walking out of the store, the cashier watched them leave, her jaw tight with even more anger. She couldn't stand the sight of Annabelle walking away with Ethan.
She started cursing Annabelle.
"I'll never forgive her."
She whispered under her breath. "She doesn't deserve to be with someone like him."
Her jaw tightened even more.
"When next I see her, it's going to be between both of us."
Outside the store, Annabelle couldn't help but speak.
"The suit looks good on you."
She said softly, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
Ethan nodded and replied. "Thanks."
Annabelle immediately kept her eyes forward, trying to calm herself. She didn't want to feel too much pressure.
She didn't want to fall for someone she had just met today. But it was getting harder and harder to ignore how she was feeling at that moment in time.
But at the same time she doesn't want to look like a fool to herself and to Ethan; she can't be falling for someone she just met today.
They left the store and hail a taxi. As they rode in the backseat, the world outside passed by in a blur of buildings and streets, but Ethan's mind was elsewhere.
He could feel something changing inside him. Over the past few hours, he has been improving his strength and his Charmness; his body is growing more powerful with each passing moment he can feel it.
In the quiet taxi, Ethan focused on himself, feeling the energy coursing through his muscles.
His strength had grown, but with that, he had started to worry.
If he became too muscular, would it affect his speed? He couldn't afford to be too slow in a fight or what he's about to do. So, he knows he needs to focus on balancing it out, adding more to his speed when next he gets a point.
He wants his body to be faster and sharper.
Annabelle was sitting beside him quietly, but she noticed the slight tension in his posture, and she was forced to ask.
"Are You okay?"
she asked, her voice cutting through Ethan's thoughts.
Ethan blinked immediately, pulling himself back to the present.
"Yeah, yeah..I'm good."
He replied, giving her a small smile. "Just thinking about what I will say to the man that saved me."
Annabelle nodded, not pushing further. She knew better not to pry, but she decided to calm Ethan nervousness.
"Don't worry, you will do just fine, trust me."
Ethan nodded.
Annabelle wanted to hold Ethan's hands, but that would be her going too far.
She had to maintain herself.
Soon, they arrived at their destination.
The taxi pulled up in front of a small, humble restaurant, which was owned by the man who saved Ethan's life.
But as they stepped out of the taxi, something felt wrong.
The restaurant was somehow not accessible.
The front door were blocked by men.
And some group of men were standing in front of the restaurant, and a man was kneeling, looking as if he were begging the men.
"What's going on?"
Annabelle asked, her voice filled with concern.
Ethan didn't answer right away. Seeing the group of rough-looking men standing near the entrance, their faces hard and mean.
They were blocking the door, their arms crossed as if they owned the place.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
He knew trouble when he see one, and this was definitely trouble.
He faced Annabelle, and seeing the look on her face, he would tell the man that was kneeling and standing was the same man that saved his life.
However, out of curiosity, he said.
"He's the one that saved my life, right."
Annabelle nodded.
Then she gazes at the men again; they look like thugs.
And suddenly fear began to creep into her.
"Ethan…"
She whispered, fear creeping into her voice.
However, Ethan put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
"Stay close"
He said softly.
"I'll handle this."
Ethan walked closer, and as he did, he could hear the thugs talking. One of them, the leader by the looks of things, was demanding money from the old man.
"Listen, old man, you've to paid your security funds."
The thug said with a sneer, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Either you pay up now or things are going to get real bad around here."