Chapter 122 She Is Actually Mrs. Sterling?!
Several colleagues considered speaking up for Nora, but thinking that Arabella might soon be promoted to work directly under Mr. Jennings, they didn't dare offend someone who could become part of upper management. So no one said a word.
Nora, being somewhat clever, realized she couldn't convince Arabella and turned to Ella instead, pleading desperately, "Ella, please help me talk to her. I can apologize and pay whatever compensation she wants, just please don't call the police! If you do, I'll lose my job and my future will be..."
"Why didn't you think about the consequences when you were doing something so wrong? And honestly, I can't understand how you, as a woman, can be so hostile toward other women. Do you have some kind of psychological issue?" Ella refused without a hint of sympathy.
Seeing that she had no allies, Nora panicked even more and began speaking recklessly, "Arabella! You're only acting so arrogant because you think you're pretty! You've already taken two sick days since starting work just a few days ago. If you need to take care of kids, why even bother coming to work!"
So that was it. Pure jealousy had driven her to commit such a vicious act.
"I haven't neglected my work, and when I take time off, my pay gets docked accordingly. How is that any of your business?" Arabella shot back without mincing words.
"I just can't stand it! Why should the rest of us work overtime while you get to take time off! And now Mr. Jennings has taken notice of you. Who knows how you managed to catch his attention - probably used your looks to sleep your way up!"
The moment those words left her mouth, everyone around them gasped in shock!
How dare she say something like that! She wasn't just offending Arabella now, but Mr. Jennings as well! Was she trying to get herself fired?
What shocked everyone even more was that the instant Nora finished speaking, Arabella didn't hesitate for a second before delivering a crisp, clean slap across her face.
Everyone in the office area was stunned into silence.
"You hit me!" Nora clutched her cheek, whirling around with fury blazing in her reddened eyes, and lunged forward to strike back.
But Arabella wasn't that foolish. She dodged in time and grabbed Nora's wrist. Just as the two women were about to engage in a full-blown physical fight, a group of people entered the office area, led by a man who thundered, "What is this! Brawling during work hours—what kind of behavior is this!"
Everyone turned to look and was shocked to see the company's chairman accompanied by several top executives!
Seeing them, Zane nearly jumped out of his skin and hurried over with quick, nervous steps, "Mr. Sullivan! What... what brings you here!"
Cody Sullivan, a man in his fifties, glared at Zane with obvious anger and snapped, "You idiot! You can't even manage a department of barely a dozen people!"
"Yes, yes, I... I..." Zane trembled, not daring to say another word.
Seeing Cody step forward, along with Mr. Jennings, the other employees began speculating internally—thinking that Mr. Jennings had taken such a liking to Arabella that he'd even brought the chairman to back him up. They were amazed!
But when Arabella looked up, the first person she saw wasn't Mr. Jennings at all—it was Gabriel!
He had actually come!
Hadn't he gone to the hospital early this morning to be with Emily during her procedure?
Was he done comforting her already?
As the scene remained frozen with everyone harboring their own thoughts while waiting for the drama to unfold, Ralph stepped forward from beside Gabriel and walked straight toward Arabella.
"Mrs. Sterling." Reaching her, he gave Arabella a slight nod, then firmly pried Nora's hands off of her.
Nora stumbled backward from the force, but perhaps intimidated by Ralph's powerful, cold presence, she didn't dare resist - though her face showed clear displeasure.
Ralph's voice wasn't particularly loud, but in the quiet space, everyone could hear him clearly.
This sparked another wave of shocked speculation among the crowd.
Only Ella seemed unsurprised, her face showing slight curiosity rather than shock.
It seemed that the divorce was only Arabella's unilateral wish - her husband clearly disagreed.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have come here so publicly to protect his wife.
But that distinguished, imposing young man seemed somewhat familiar...
Ella frowned slightly, thinking for a moment before suddenly realizing the truth!
Wasn't this the wealthy heir who'd made headlines on social media recently? Mr. Gabriel Sterling! There were rumors about him having an inappropriate relationship with his friend's wife, even having children together!
Oh my God. Even the usually composed Ella looked shocked, staring at Arabella with complete surprise - she really was deeply mysterious. She was actually Gabriel's wife?!
This meant their divorce drama was because of those recent scandals?
Ella immediately began imagining an entire soap opera in her head.
If the online rumors were true, no wife could accept such betrayal. No wonder Arabella wanted a divorce!
With this realization, Ella suddenly found Gabriel's handsome face much less appealing.
In the strange atmosphere, Gabriel kept his eyes locked on Arabella, his expression shifting unpredictably.
He'd already told her to let him handle this matter, but the stubborn woman insisted on being headstrong.
If he hadn't arrived in time, she definitely would have been hurt by now.
Arabella only had that face going for her—if it got scratched and scarred, she'd be even more worthless.
Gabriel deliberately belittled his wife in his thoughts, but when he looked toward Cody beside him, he asked, "Mr. Sullivan, don't you think you should find out who's right and who's wrong before you start yelling at people?"
At those words, a chill ran down Cody's spine!
Seeing the person Ralph was protecting, he immediately understood. He'd shouted at Gabriel's wife, so now Gabriel was displeased.
"No, no, Mr. Sterling, that's absolutely not what I meant. I was just worried that the employees might not know better and someone might get hurt in a fight, especially Mrs. Sterling. I was just trying to stop them quickly - I definitely didn't mean to be harsh with her."
The group CEO, over fifty years old, was being respectful and deferential to someone nearly twenty years his junior, shocking everyone present once again.
Who exactly was this person who could command such respect from Cody himself?
And what was his relationship to Arabella?
Everyone's minds were full of questions, their curiosity reaching its peak!
Watching this scene, Arabella mentally cursed Gabriel!
Yesterday she'd specifically objected to letting him come to the company to handle this matter because she didn't want her identity exposed or to become office gossip. But he'd ignored her wishes and shown up uninvited.
This seemingly protective gesture actually disgusted her completely! It would cause her endless trouble!
As she stood there with a cold expression, completely ungrateful, both Mr. Sullivan and Gabriel began walking toward her.
Gabriel's face was stern, but when he got closer and looked at her, his eyes clearly softened with warmth. He took her hand with concern, "Are you hurt anywhere? I told you to wait for me to handle this, but you wouldn't listen. What if someone had actually hurt you?"
Arabella felt annoyed and gently struggled to pull her hand away, saying quietly, "I can handle this myself. Who asked you to come!"
"What kind of talk is that? When someone hurts my wife and children, shouldn't I, as a husband and father, step in to solve the problem?"
"No one hurt me. I'm not that stupid."
"But I was worried..."
Their back-and-forth seemed like bickering, but actually came across as playful marital banter.
Someone recognized Gabriel and pulled up information on their phone to show others nearby, whispering, "That's Gabriel! CEO of Sterling Group!"
"What? That... that can't be possible!"
"It's really him! He's even more handsome in person than in photos!"
"So that means Arabella is a wealthy socialite? Then why is she working here?"
"Who knows? Maybe she's just experiencing normal life for fun!"