Chapter 21 Nora Becomes an Adulterer
Nora sneered, "You may be afraid of Isaac's retaliation, but I'm not. I'll say it again. The jewelry hadn't been reserved when I set my sights on it, and I refuse to give it up for anyone. Now, wrap it up for me!"
As Hazel saw Nora so unyielding, her smile faded.
Although she didn't want to upset any customer, when compared to Kalista, she knew where her loyalties lay.
After all, Kalista was Isaac's favorite.
In Aridonia, anyone could be offended except for Isaac!
"If you don't heed my advice, I'll be frank with you. I'm the manager of this store, and I have the right not to sell to you. Please leave the premises immediately!"
Kalista mocked, "Don't waste words on her. Just call the mall's security to kick her out! Don't bother serving her here in the future. She's not the wealthy type. Even if she can afford something now, she won't be able to afford luxury goods for the rest of her life. There's no loss in offending her!"
Hazel, who initially tread lightly around Nora's background, felt relieved upon Kalista's words.
Being Isaac's woman, Kalista was a regular, high-spending customer. Supporting Kalista was indeed the right choice!
Hazel immediately turned to the clerk and demanded, "Go get the security now!"
Having received orders from the manager, the clerk didn't dare object.
She reluctantly handed the card back to Nora, then dashed out of the store to fetch mall security.
Meanwhile, the bodyguard pushing Kalista's wheelchair, sensing the tense atmosphere, discreetly pulled out his phone and texted Wesley.
"Wes, we've got trouble. I took Kalista to the jewelry store, and she ran into Nora. Kalista's set her sights on the same piece Nora wanted to buy, and now they're ganging up on her with the manager. They're even calling security to kick Nora out. Should I give Isaac a heads-up? Kalista is way out of line. If Isaac hadn't asked me to look after her, I'd be tempted to deck her!"
The bodyguard, Jonas Porter, along with Wesley, was one of Isaac's trusted lieutenants.
Kalista was under Jonas's care and protection because she had been injured, and Isaac was too busy to accompany her himself. So, he had assigned the task to Jonas.
However, both Jonas and Wesley knew who their boss really cared about. That's why their loyalty naturally aligned with Nora.
"What's going on? Give me the full story; I'll talk to Isaac right away!" Wesley texted back.
Jonas quickly briefed Wesley on the whole situation.
At that moment, on the fourth floor of the mall, Isaac was inspecting the site.
Century Square was a Porter family asset, and Isaac occasionally made rounds to check on the businesses' performance.
After Wesley understood the situation, he rushed to Isaac's side, interrupting his conversation with the mall's director, and whispered, "Mr. Porter, Jonas just texted me. There's a scuffle between Nora and Kalista over some jewelry downstairs."
Then, he relayed the details to Isaac.
Isaac's expression darkened, and he strode toward the elevator.
Once inside, he said to Wesley, "Get to the car and bring me my mask."
Wesley fished a sealed bag from his pocket and said, "Mr. Porter, I've been carrying your mask with me, and there's a set of clothes and cologne in my briefcase as well."
The elevator halted at the first floor.
"You go ahead and make the arrangements."
Taking the sealed bag and briefcase from Wesley, he headed to the restroom.
Inside the jewelry store, the sales associate had returned with a team of over a dozen security guards.
Hazel said to Nora, "Ma'am, please have the decency to leave our store voluntarily. Don't make a scene because you'll only be making things worse for yourself."
Kalista's laugh was laced with malice. "Don't waste your breath on her. She's been warned repeatedly but insists on causing trouble here. If the guards happen to hurt her while maintaining order, that's normal and not their fault. In fact, they should be commended, right?" Kalista didn't spell it out, but her intentions were clear.
She wanted the guards to physically assault Nora!
If they satisfied her with their force, she would reward them handsomely!
The guards were visibly excited and charged towards Nora, readying to strike.
Nora's face paled as she clenched her fists.
Though she wasn't a damsel in distress, facing off against a group of burly guards was not her forte.
This beating seemed unavoidable!
Suddenly, one of the guards lunged at Nora with a fist, flying straight for her face.
Nora quickly dodged.
But another guard followed up with a swift punch.
This one looked impossible to evade.
With despair, Nora closed her eyes, bracing for the impact.
Yet, the anticipated pain never arrived. Instead, she felt herself enveloped in a warm, strong embrace.
Shrill screams pierced the air abruptly.
Nora's eyes snapped open to see the aggressors, who had come at her with intentions to harm, now sprawled across the floor in various states of agony—some clutching their stomachs and rolling around, others screeching, cradling their misshapen arms.
Nora was stunned.
What just happened?
In the brief moment, her eyes were shut; how had these guards ended up on the ground?
And who had beaten them so brutally?
"Let's see who dares to lay a hand on my woman!"
A deep, resonant voice boomed above her, brimming with authority.
Nora lifted her gaze, and a striking, chiseled face came into view.
Steve!
It was him!
And in that moment, she found herself wrapped in the security of his one-armed embrace.
Her petite frame pressed firmly against the breadth of his chest.
Nora felt an endless sense of security emanating from him, instantly dispelling the shadows of fear within her.
At this moment, she deluded herself into thinking Steve was even more handsome and reliable than Isaac.
Her heartbeat quickened.
After Steve had roared that challenge, he looked down at the petite woman in his arms.
A mist seemed to veil the depths of his eyes, masking his emotions.
"Are you hurt?" he asked softly.
Nora shook her head. "No, I'm not hurt. Did you take all of them down?"
A devilish smile curled the corners of Steve's lips. "Who else but me?"
Nora's cheeks warmed uncontrollably at the sight of his smirk, her heartbeat racing.
Yet she quickly regained her composure.
Speaking softly, she urged him, "You better get going and forget about me. That woman in the wheelchair is with Isaac—from the Porter Family, the leading dynasty. Crossing her is like crossing Isaac himself. If Isaac comes after you, he could make you disappear without a trace, and he won't spare your friends and family either."
Steve's smile froze.
Did he seem that cruel in her eyes?
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