Chapter 212 Chapter 212
“This can't be real...” she murmured.
Caroline took a deep breath and slowly turned around, looking up.
Her brown eyes met the dark, dangerous eyes of Marcus Drews.
The air between them froze.
Both their faces darkened instantly when their gazes met.
Marcus Drews never had a friendly appearance. He always carried a dark aura of a rich, troubled bad boy.
But upon recognizing Caroline, his expression soured completely.
His gaze was cold, stern, and cutting. There was not a trace of friendliness or courtesy; only pure, distilled hostility.
To be honest, Marcus had a look that would scare any sensible person. He looked like someone with a volatile temper, a time bomb about to explode.
When he lowered his face to stare at her with that obvious contempt, Caroline felt a chill down her spine. It was like being stared at by a poisonous snake assessing whether it was worth striking.
Every hair on her body stood on end in alert.
For a brief second, Caroline felt a strange respect for the frivolous woman next to Marcus.
It took courage (or cluelessness) to speak in that childish, sweet tone of voice in front of such a dark and frightening face. A normal person would be afraid of being bitten.
But Caroline had to admit reluctantly: considering aesthetics alone, Marcus Drews was, unfortunately, a very handsome man.
He had the beauty of a villain.
His features were striking and aggressive. His eyes were deep and sunken, with a seductive and cruel gleam, complemented by a straight nose and full lips that seemed permanently curled in disdain.
He was almost as tall as Nicholas—about 6'1" or taller. With broad shoulders and long legs, he dominated the physical space around him.
Birds of a feather flock together, Caroline thought ironically. He and Nicholas were both predators at the top of the food chain, but while Nicholas was a noble, cold wolf, Marcus was a dangerous hyena.
Caroline sighed inwardly.
Nicholas's circle of friends seemed to be a genetic anomaly. They were all composed of people with superior physical standards and attractiveness.
You could easily pick any one of them, blindfold them, and throw them into the entertainment industry, and they would all become global superstars instantly.
However, it was “unfortunate” that they all came from equally privileged family backgrounds. They were young heirs to billion-dollar conglomerates. From birth, their destinies were sealed in boardrooms, not on stages.
Caroline admitted to being a visual person. She was often attracted to aesthetic beauty.
However, when it came to Marcus Drews, the rule did not apply. She did not want to be near him even if he were the last handsome man on Earth. His aura was toxic.
“Hello, miss.” The saleswoman, sensing the tension but wanting to close the sale, approached Caroline with a nervous smile. “Are you going to take this black bag?”
If you're still undecided, I'm afraid...
“If she can't make up her mind, sell it to me!” Linda Lindsey interrupted abruptly, shooting Caroline a contemptuous look.
Linda turned to the saleswoman impatiently. “Why are you wasting your time asking her? Look at her clothes. She certainly can't afford it.”
Hurry up and wrap the bag for me. I want to go to the other stores.
Linda Lindsey was a newcomer to the entertainment industry, an aspiring star who had risen in life by clinging to powerful men.
It took a lot of effort and strategy to “capture” Marcus Drews. She planned to stay by his side for a long time, securing resources and fame.
But at that moment, her internal alarms went off.
She noticed that Marcus Drews' gaze was fixed on Caroline. He didn't blink. There was an intensity in the way he looked at this unknown woman that terrified Linda.
Linda felt the bile of insecurity rise.
She didn't know who Caroline was. She hadn't even noticed her before she entered the store.
Who is this girl? Linda thought, furious. Is she pretending not to know Mr. Drews to get his attention? Is it a seduction tactic?
Linda narrowed her eyes, analyzing her “rival.”
She prided herself on her youth and her manufactured beauty. Linda had invested a fortune in cosmetic procedures, skin treatments, and surgeries. She believed her skin was flawless.
But as she looked at Caroline... Linda's confidence crumbled.
Never doubt the “beauty radar” of a jealous woman.
Linda immediately noticed that Caroline was practically wearing no makeup. She barely wore any. And yet her skin was radiant, creamy, and without visible pores, glowing with a natural health that no dermatological laser could replicate.
Caroline wasn't just pretty; she radiated light.
Linda felt hatred.
What irritated her most was not just her perfect skin, but her bone structure. Caroline had noble, delicate features, a facial harmony that Linda had tried to buy with plastic surgery but never fully achieved.
Next to Caroline, Linda felt like a cheap, artificial copy.
This woman is dangerous, Linda concluded. She is superior to me in every way. If Marcus keeps looking at her, I'll lose him.
She needed to get Marcus out of there immediately.
Caroline, on the other hand, was confused by the gratuitous hostility of this strange woman.
But she didn't have time to reflect on other people's inferiority complexes. She just wanted to get out of there.
Caroline picked up the black bag she was still holding and asked the saleswoman, ignoring Linda's venom: “Is this the only one you have?”
The saleswoman nodded quickly. “Yes, ma'am. This is a limited edition. We only received one of each color. When we run out, there will be no more.”
At that moment, another employee arrived with the other options she had gone to fetch from the stockroom: a vibrant red bag and an elegant khaki one.
Caroline's eyes lit up.
The red bag was stunning. It was much prettier and more striking than the black one. Tania loved red; it was her color.
Caroline looked at the hostile couple in front of her. Marcus stared at her like a predator, and Linda stared at her like a jealous witch.
Caroline smiled inwardly. Perfect.
She lowered the black bag and placed it on the counter, pushing it slightly toward Linda.
“It's okay,” Caroline said with a sweet, disinterested smile. “She can have the black one. I'll take the red one, please.”
The decision was quick and strategic.
Caroline just wanted to leave as soon as possible. She felt the weight of Marcus's gaze burning her skin, but she pretended he was invisible.
“Wrap the red one up for me, please.”
“Sure thing, ma'am!” The employee sighed with relief, almost letting her gratitude show.
Fortunately, the pretty customer was reasonable.
It would have been a disaster if the two had started fighting over the only black bag.
The store staff knew that Mr. Drews was not someone to be trifled with. He had a reputation for destroying anyone who crossed him.