Chapter 27: Patience Has Limits
I went to the airport to pick them up. Marcus rushed over and gave me a big hug: "Bella! I missed you so much! Did you miss me?"
"Of course I did." I looked Marcus over carefully. "Did you get hurt on this trip?"
"No, don't worry." Marcus thumped his chest like King Kong, showing off how strong he was.
Gale looked at him like he was an idiot.
I hugged Gale, too. "Did everything go smoothly?"
"Yes." Gale took out a document canceling the engagement and handed it to me. It had the seals of both families, plus the signatures of Gale's and Jonathan's fathers.
"The Garcia family and the Fletcher family aren't doing too well. If we could return to Dawnharbor earlier, their situation would probably be better." Gale thought back to the past and said with feeling, "When you're weak, you get bullied easily. Only when you're strong can you change the rules of the world."
I was about to agree when Marcus rolled his eyes in disgust: "Sounds like teenage angst. Gale, you're 35 years old."
Gale fell silent.
The two of them would start bickering at the drop of a hat. I didn't try to stop them, just crossed my arms and smiled as I listened to their childish argument.
Two people at the back of the security team caught my attention. "Who are they?"
They were very young, a man and a woman, both quite good-looking, but both thin and pale. They were as alert as meerkats on the savanna, turning to look around at the slightest strange sound.
"A gift for you," Marcus said.
I knew Marcus often said whatever came to mind, joking around with me with random thoughts and nonsense. I looked at Gale, who explained briefly: "We saved two people. Let's talk more in the car."
"Okay." After getting in the car, I sat between Gale and Marcus. Marcus asked me, "How have you been? Did anyone bully you?"
Me: "I've been fine. Nobody bullied me."
Marcus: "Don't keep your feelings bottled up. Brian told us that you cried so hard that day, your eyes were swollen like a goldfish's."
I fell silent.
Marcus put his arm around my shoulder. "Knowing you were bullied, how could we just sit back and do nothing? I prepared a big gift for you!"
"You mean those two people?"
"They're just a bonus." Marcus pulled out his phone and showed me a video. He pressed play, and screams came from the screen.
A young man with half his body covered in blood was curled up on the ground, looking very pathetic. I stared at his face, soaked with cold sweat, and recognized him as Amelia's younger brother—Byron Gambino.
"Michelle loves Amelia, but mostly uses her as a tool to win over young talent. Her real favorite is this Byron." Marcus said with a shake of his head. "This guy is into prostitutes, gambling, drugs—you name it. Gale and I ran into him at a club. He was forcing two young performers to sleep with him, saying he'd cut off their hands and feet if they refused. Since Gale and I happened to be there, how could we not step in and do the right thing?"
So this was what Gale meant by saving people.
I watched Byron's miserable state in the video. There was blood all over between his legs, and he was clutching a lump of flesh in his hand.
I didn't think this was Marcus's style. Marcus confirmed my guess: "I just tied Byron up. Those two people did the rest. The woman smashed a bottle and stabbed Byron eight times with the glass!"
Marcus excitedly gestured the number "8" with his hand. "The man was even more brutal—he cut off Byron's penis. Probably only you could help him reattach it."
Gale said irritably, "Bella would never do that kind of surgery for him!"
Marcus stuck out his tongue.
Gale said to me, "Byron was qualified to become the next Don. Michelle valued him highly. Now that he's disabled, Michelle is taking it hard."
"They deserve it," I said with a slight smile. "Those two people have no background and could easily be targeted for revenge. Bringing them back was the right thing to do. How does Gale plan to arrange things for them?"
Gale shrugged. "What do you think?"
"The hotel's PR department?"
"Good idea. Let's do that."
I took out my phone and opened my chat with Amelia. In the latest messages, Amelia was asking me if the negative news online and what happened to Byron were my doing.
I was a bit surprised. Amelia was usually stupid and impulsive, but occasionally she could be quite sharp.
When I released the negative news, I left some clues so Amelia could guess it was me, but without any proof.
I asked Marcus and Gale, "How many people know you were behind Byron getting hurt?"
"Not many. Even Byron himself doesn't know," Marcus said confidently.
I didn't reply to Amelia, but even though I ignored her, she came looking for me.
She was cursing outside my house: "Bitch! Byron was definitely hurt by you people! Isabella, you're the only one who hates me and wants me dead. The more miserable I am, the happier you are, right? Bitch!"
Some neighbors reported her for disturbing the peace, but Amelia kept doing whatever she wanted.
Adrian asked me if we should chase Amelia away. Marcus was ready to fight. I told them not to rush, and I recorded a video of Amelia throwing her tantrum and sent it to Lucas.
Soon, Lucas sent people over who forcibly took Amelia back to her house.
The next day, I went to the dock to see Lucas.
Alfred was pacing at the company entrance. When he saw my car, he rushed to open the door for me before Cole could.
"Mrs. Valeri, you're here!" Alfred looked a bit panicked.
"Did something happen? You look nervous," I asked.
Alfred stammered, and after a while, I finally understood—he was saying that Amelia was in Lucas's office.
I stopped in my tracks. "I see. Then maybe I should come back later? Or when Lucas is free, you can have him let me know."
I turned to go back to the car, but Alfred clumsily blocked my way: "If Mr. Valeri finds out you came and left, he'll be angry with me!"
"You're just his employee, not his slave or dog. If he loses his temper for no reason, you should just quit," I said to Alfred, disappointed.
Alfred lowered his head. "Mrs. Valeri, Mr. Valeri saved my life. For the rest of my life, I am Mr. Valeri's slave and dog."
I glared at him irritably and walked toward Lucas's office. The door wasn't fully closed. Through the gap, I could see Amelia crying in Lucas's arms, and Lucas holding her, lost in thought.
Alfred looked at me, then at the scene inside, and shouted anxiously, "Mr. Valeri! Mrs. Valeri is here!"
Lucas looked up at me in shock and instinctively pushed Amelia away.
Amelia stumbled and steadied herself awkwardly.
"Am I interrupting?" I wasn't angry or questioning him—I just smiled at him calmly and distantly.
Lucas walked quickly toward me: "It's not what you think!"
I shook my head. "I'm not thinking anything."
"Isabella!" Amelia roared and rushed at me, raising her right hand to slap me hard.
My eyes swept over Lucas. I suddenly clenched my fists, suppressing my instinct to dodge or fight back. I turned my head and closed my eyes, as if frozen in fear.
The slap didn't land on my face. I opened my eyes and saw Lucas standing in front of me, gripping Amelia's wrist.
His low voice was full of anger: "Amelia, my patience has limits!"
I hid behind Lucas and gave Amelia a mocking smile.
Amelia was deeply provoked by me.