Chapter : 1124
“Mr. Lowe, look at our arms! We’re bleeding from her scratches! You have to stand up for us!” Juliet’s voice rang out, filled with desperation and indignation.
Nathan’s heart raced as he made a beeline for Ivy. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his tone a mix of concern and surprise.
Ivy’s lips curled into a polite, almost rehearsed smile, the kind that masked her true feelings. “Hi! What a coincidence! I’m here having dinner with my team. I didn’t expect to see you here, too,” she replied, her voice light but her eyes betraying a hint of tension.
“What happened? Why were you fighting?” Nathan’s brow furrowed, his protective instincts kicking in.
Lottie stepped forward, her voice trembling with indignation. “Mr. Lowe, they bumped into me! They refused to pay for the damage or even apologize, and then they attacked us!” Her eyes darted toward Juliet and Madge, as if seeking validation.
“Stop twisting the truth! You ran into us! You stepped on Ms. Ivy’s new shoes!” Madge shot back, her voice sharp and defensive.
Nathan’s gaze dropped to Ivy’s heels, noting the scuff marks that marred her polished shoes. “Are you okay?” he asked, genuine concern etched on his face.
Ivy quickly pulled her long dress down over her shoes, her cheeks flushing slightly. “They did run into me and were wrong to start the fight. I can compensate them,” she said, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them.
Madge tugged at Ivy’s arm, her expression fierce. “Ms. Ivy, don’t pay them anything! They don’t deserve it!”
“Stop talking!” Ivy hissed, her voice low but urgent. She turned her gaze back to Nathan. “Mr. Lowe, I didn’t know these two ladies were with you. My apologies,” she said, her tone softening.
Nathan’s brows knitted together in confusion. “With me?” he echoed, the surprise evident in his voice.
Juliet jumped in, her voice rising with urgency. “Mr. Lowe, Lottie is your woman! They saw she had your VIP tag, but they still dared to bully her! It’s a blatant disrespect toward you!” Her eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and defiance.
Lottie felt a knot tighten in her stomach, aware that Nathan had never shown any particular interest in her. “Mr. Lowe, either way, they hit us for no reason,” she added, her voice shaky.
Nathan’s gaze locked onto Ivy’s, penetrating and intense. “You plan to compensate them?” he asked, his tone now serious.
Ivy felt a shiver run down her spine. She couldn’t decipher Nathan’s thoughts; he was notoriously hard to read, but the simmering anger in his eyes was unmistakable. Was he furious because Madge had struck his woman?
She studied his expression, searching for answers. “What else do you suggest? If you want me to apologize to her, I can do that,” she offered tentatively, hoping to diffuse the tension.
“Ms. Ivy!” Madge exclaimed, her voice rising in protest.
“Mr. Lowe, she has to apologize!” Juliet snapped, her tone accusatory.
Nathan’s gaze shifted back to Ivy, his expression inscrutable. “Come with me,” he commanded, his voice low and firm.
Ivy froze, her heart racing. “What?” she stammered, a mix of confusion and apprehension flooding her mind.
Without waiting for her response, Nathan grasped her slender arm and led her away, his grip firm yet not unkind.
**Chapter P24**
Abbott and the others arrived just in time to witness the unfolding drama.
“Wait, Mr. Lowe, where are you going?” one of them called out, curiosity piqued.
“Why is Mr. Lowe dragging a woman away?” another voice chimed in, the intrigue palpable.
“From the back, she looks gorgeous. Must be a real beauty,” someone else remarked, their tone laced with admiration.
Lottie and Juliet stood there, stunned and bewildered.
“Lottie,” Juliet muttered, her voice low, “why did Mr. Lowe walk off with her? Do they know each other?”
“I have no idea,” Lottie whispered back, her mind racing with questions.
Madge let out a derisive snort. “Do you two even know who Ms. Ivy is to Mr. Lowe? Just wait!” she declared, a smirk playing on her lips.
Nathan pulled Ivy into a secluded alcove by the window, where the noise of the restaurant faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in their own world.
Ivy tried to pull her arm back, her heart pounding. “Mr. Lowe, let go of me,” she insisted, her voice shaky.
But Nathan gently but firmly pushed her against the wall, his hand bracing beside her head, effectively boxing her in. A cold smile played on his lips, one that sent a shiver down her spine.
“There’s no one else here. Why are you still calling me Mr. Lowe like we’re strangers?” he asked, his voice low and challenging.
Ivy stood frozen, her mind racing. Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?
“Are you angry?” she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What do you think?” Nathan replied, his tone sharp, eyes locking onto hers.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her heart racing with anxiety.
“Sorry for what?” he pressed, his grip on her chin tightening slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Ivy lowered her voice, her heart pounding in her chest. “I really didn’t know that Lottie was your woman. I’m sorry for hitting her!” she confessed, her sincerity evident in her tone.