Hailey was speechless and was about to lash out when Callum frowned and pulled her back. "That's enough. Your appointment's waiting. Go inside."
Hailey struggled, shouting, "Callum, she called me a weasel! How can I, someone so beautiful, be compared to a yellow weasel?"
Before she could finish, Callum dragged her into the beauty salon.
Ariel sighed in relief and was about to walk in herself when she felt someone staring at her.
Turning around, Ariel unexpectedly bumped into Rhysand Lee Golden, causing her heart to skip a beat.
He was dressed in a sharp black suit, standing under a tree across the street.
The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shadows over his handsome face, but it couldn't hide the cold aura he radiated.
His deep, dark eyes fixed on her, as if he were trying to see right through her.
Ariel froze, unable to speak, fearing he had seen her earlier clash with Hailey.
Under Rhysand's intense gaze, Ariel felt nervous.
She didn't know when he had arrived and bit her lip nervously.
Rhysand was Eric Ocean's most trusted subordinate, working closely with the Ocean family at their company.
Though Ariel had only known him for a few days, Hailey was familiar with him, as they worked together often.
Would he scold her for mocking Hailey? Or worse, would he take Hailey's side and lash out at her?
Ariel felt like a kid who had been caught doing something wrong.
She stared at her feet, feeling awkward and a little scared, remembering Rhysand's harsh temper from the other night.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through her thoughts. "Why are you still here? You don't have money for a beauty salon! You're just taking advantage of us! Get out of here! I don't even want to touch you!"
Ariel looked up to see a man with his pinky raised, pushing her shoulder.
Before she could react, a strong hand reached out and grabbed the man's wrist.
"Who do you think you're touching?"
The deep, cold voice came from behind her, sending a chill down her spine.
Ariel's heart pounded as she turned to see Rhysand standing beside her, his sharp jawline set in a stern expression.
His face looked even more handsome in the sunlight, but his dark eyes stayed as cold as ever.
His long, strong fingers gripped the man's wrist firmly.
The man, clearly in pain, cried out, "Let go…"
Rhysand twisted his hand slightly, and the sound of cracking bones filled the air.
The man yelped in pain and stumbled backward, holding his wrist.
Rhysand lowered his gaze toward Ariel, his face expressionless but cold.
Ariel's legs went weak as she instinctively tried to take a step back, but Rhysand grabbed her arm tightly and pulled her closer.
Ariel was completely caught off guard and let out a small scream.
Ariel Ocean looked up at Rhysand Lee Golden, who unexpectedly glanced at her.
He paused for a moment but stayed silent. She didn't think he would have noticed what she was feeling, but somehow, he did.
Rhysand didn't say anything. He didn't need to. As Ariel's "husband" now, he felt like he had to take care of her, even if he didn't show it much.
Besides, he was a man, and that's what men do, right? Ariel noticed his serious expression and felt more convinced it was him who helped her earlier.
She whispered softly, "Thank you."
Rhysand looked at her for a moment, then handed her a tissue. "Your eyelashes are smudged."
Ariel's face turned red.
She had been upset about him spending two hundred thousand earlier, and she almost cried.
She reached out to take the tissue, but just as she did, Rhysand let go of it too soon, and it fell to the ground.
Without thinking, Ariel grabbed the sleeve of Rhysand's suit while reaching out with her other hand to catch the tissue.
But then, she felt something warm – his hand. His big, warm hand had wrapped around hers by accident.
They both froze.