?<strong>Chapter 189:</strong>


    As she retrieved her phone, the woman grumbled under her breath, “Today is just my bad luck. Should’ve checked my horoscope before running into your entire family.”


    Joelle, incensed by the woman’s flippant approach to the situation, took a deep breath to steady her voice. “If that’s your attitude towards resolving conflicts, perhaps we should involve the police.”


    The woman looked up, annoyance flickering across her face. “Are you serious? Is this necessary? Yes, I kicked her, but look, she’s alright, isn’t she?”


    Before Joelle could respond, Katherine stepped in, her voice sharp with authority. “Joelle, why even bother talking to her? This mall is owned by Bobby. I’ll have him throw her out.”


    It was only then that the woman took a proper look at Joelle and her group. Dressed in subtly luxurious attire and exuding a certain grace, it was clear they were not ordinary patrons.


    “Oh, calling in your connections, are you? Well, go ahead!” she retorted, dialing her phone with a dramatic shift to a tone of distress. “Hello? Adrian, hurry over. I’m being harassed…”


    Meanwhile, Joelle and herpanions were preupied with assessing Aurora’s condition.


    Katherine voiced her concern. “Should we take her to the hospital to get checked out?”


    As Rafael carefully lifted Aurora to inspect her more closely, Joelle and Katherine created a protective circle around the little girl to maintain her privacy.


    “She’s bruised,” Rafael stated grimly, his eyes hardening as they flicked back to the woman.


    Regardless of who the woman was calling—even if it were the mayor—Rafael sensed that this situation was far from over.


    “Kathy.” Joelle turned to Katherine, her voice steady. “Please call Bobby.”


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    Bobby was among the first on the scene. He was shocked and concerned for Joelle’s daughter. His curiosity also peaked; he wanted to catch a glimpse of Adrian’s child.


    Katherine, frustrated with the scene, chided him, giving him a yful p on the chest. “Look at the kind of people your ce attracts! Bullies harassing children—is this the image you want for your establishment?”


    Bobby, trying to soothe her, waved dismissively, “Please, calm down. I’ll take care of it right away.” He approached the woman with a calm demeanor. “Ma’am, may I please see your VIP card?”


    The request caught her off guard, and her anxiety spiked, sensing the gravity of the situation if Bobby truly was the mall’s manager.


    “Why do you need to see it? What right do you have to invade my privacy like that?” she retorted, her voice tinged with defiance.


    Bobby replied with a polite smile, “We asionally check cards to ensure they’re not being misused. It’s standard practice here to protect the rights of all our patrons.”


    “You’re lying!”


    But Bobby was confident. His establishment catered to a high-end clientele, and he prided himself on recognizing his regrs. He did not recognize her, which raised suspicions about her ims to VIP status. Feeling cornered, the woman clutched her purse tighter and began edging backward.


    Bobby, however, maintained hisposure, adept at handling delicate situations with the right blend of politeness and assertiveness. “I’m sorry.”


    Security guards positioned themselves subtly by his side. “Please escort her out,” he directed.


    As she was led away, the woman’s protests escted dramatically. “Help! Murder! Isn’t there any justice left?” Her shouts drew stares, but her cries faded as she was escorted further away.


    “Ah! Adrian! You’ve arrived just in time! They were killing me!” she eximed upon seeing a familiar face.


    Joelle turned at themotion and froze in disbelief. There was Adrian, stepping in as if to shield the woman. The sight was a harsh jolt after years without contact.


    Bobby, always a fan of dramatics, didn’t miss a beat. He hurried over to Adrian, who was still absorbing the scene. “Mr. Miller, it’s been too long!”


    Adrian’s face was a mix of confusion and concern. “Mr. Kelly, was it necessary to handle it this way, in public?” The woman clung to Adrian, her demeanor shifting to one of distress.


    “Thisdy was involved in a rather serious dispute with another customer,” Bobby responded with a diplomatic smile.


    “What happened exactly?” Adrian asked, his brow furrowing.


    “She knocked over a three-year-old girl and then kicked her when she fell, causing a bruise. The situation escted when she refused to apologize.”


    Adrian’s intense gaze bore into the woman as she stood trembling before him.


    The woman retorted with tears, “He’s lying. He knows them; they’re all trying to set me up!”


    Adrian, however, was unmoved by her protestations and cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Did you kick the girl?”


    The woman’s skin prickled with unease. “Yes, but it was her fault! She crashed into me and got my shoes dirty!”


    Adrian processed the information, his expression hardening. It didn’t matter who knew whom or what minor provocations had urred. The bottom line for him was the inexcusability of an adult mistreating a child.


    “Where is the little girl now?”


    Bobby quickly gestured towards Joelle. “The girl’s mother is over there.”


    Unaware of the specifics of the discussion but sensing the tension, Joelle met Adrian’s gaze. Her heart constricted with a mix of fear and unresolved feelings. A wave of protectiveness surged through her, and she instinctively pulled Aurora closer behind her.


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