Chapter 6 Exchanged Number

• Isabel quickly explained what had happened over the phone.
• Go ahead and keep pretending. We're not in any rush. We'll just sit back and watch you fail, and then we'll get a good laugh out of it.
• As Tiffany Perkins and Serena Eaton were thinking this, Isabel ended the call and turned to the shop assistant. "Go get the phone. You should be getting a call any minute now."
• The salesperson rolled her eyes, thinking, Just because you f*cking say there will be a call doesn't mean there will. Does my boss even listen to you?
• Tiffany looked at Isabel with a smirk and said, "How about a bet? If she doesn't get a call, you slap yourself twice."
• Isabel couldn't stand Tiffany's high-and-mighty attitude. "Fine, but if you lose, you slap yourself twice too."
• "Alright, it's a deal," Tiffany said confidently, lifting her chin.
• Serena tugged at Tiffany's sleeve. "What if she doesn't keep her word if she loses?"
• "That's easy," Tiffany replied, raising her voice on purpose so Isabel could hear. "If she doesn't slap herself, I'll do it for her."
• As soon as Tiffany finished speaking, the shop assistant's phone rang.
• No way, it's ringing right now?
• Tiffany thought, watching the salesperson pick up the phone. She figured it was just a call from a friend and probably had nothing to do with what had just happened.
• "Hello? How can I assist you, sir?" the salesperson said, glancing over at Isabel.
• When Tiffany heard how polite she sounded, her heart skipped a beat.
• "Who do you think you are, upsetting the boss's friends? Do you want to quit? If you don't want to work here, just leave! Don't drag me down with you! Do you even know who you've pissed off?" the manager roared on the phone.
• The shop assistant was shaken. After hanging up, she turned to Isabel and said respectfully, "You must be Ms. Zimmerman, right?"
• "Yes, that's me," Isabel answered calmly.
• "Ms. Zimmerman, the manager just called and said the boss has given orders for you to take any clothes you want from the store for free."
• "What's happening?" Tiffany and Serena's eyes nearly popped out. They stared at Isabel, stunned. This girl, dressed in what looked like cheap stuff, did know the Five Wolfs's boss?
• She could just pick out whatever she wants? That was way too generous.
• "I get it now!" Tiffany said, looking at Isabel with a knowing smirk. "You must be hooking up with the store's manager. You two must be working together, and the shop assistant is just playing along. How shameless! You should have some self-respect as a woman."
• Isabel's eyes grew cold as she replied, "So you think I'm involved with the manager? Did you see that happen?"
• "Hmph! It's pretty obvious, isn't it? Why else would the shop assistant go along with you and say that?" Tiffany was sure Isabel was involved with the store's manager.
• Isabel realized it didn't matter whether she was or not, Tiffany was convinced she was.
• "Think what you want," Isabel said calmly. "But shouldn't you be sticking to your bet and slapping yourself twice?"
• "Are you kidding me? Why would I care about someone like you who messing around with other people's husbands? Serena, let's go." Tiffany pulled Serena and tried to walk away.
• But Isabel moved fast, stopping Tiffany and giving her two sharp slaps across the face.
• "Y-You hit me?!" Tiffany's eyes flared with anger as she reached out with her long nails, trying to scratch Isabel's face and leave a mark.
• That was what Tiffany was planning to do, but as she lunged forward, Isabel quickly dodged.
• Tiffany didn't expect Isabel to move so fast, and she lost her balance, crashing to the ground in a face-first position.
• Her nose hit the cold floor, bleeding heavily, and her hair spread out messily. She looked utterly disheveled.
• "Y-you wait! You're dead!" Tiffany screamed as she ran out of the store, covering her face and dialing her phone.
• "Dad! Someone's bullying me! Waaah!"
• "What? Who's daring enough to mess with my daughter? They're asking for death!" Her dad's angry voice came through.
• "I'm at Thousandnight Mall. Dad, get here fast!"
• By the time her father showed up, Isabel was already gone.
• "Don't worry, Tiffany. I'll find her for you and make sure she gets slapped a hundred times to make you feel better!"
• "Thanks, Dad!"
• On the other side.
• When Xander got back to the villa, he naturally looked up at the room where Isabel was staying.
• Just then, Samuel rolled in on his wheelchair.
• "Xander, you're back! Perfect timing—it's almost mealtime, and I'm starving too."
• Xander took off his suit jacket, hung it up, and told the maid, "Go get Isabel and tell her it's time for dinner."
• "She's not here," Samuel said.
• "Not here? When did she leave?" Xander asked.
• "She left shortly after you left this morning."
• Xander frowned. "It's been that long, and she still hasn't come back?"
• "It's better if she never comes back!" Samuel said, noticing Xander staring longingly at the door.
• "Why are you so concerned about her? Are you falling for her looks?"
• "Do you really think I'm that shallow?" Xander said, looking at Samuel's legs. "If she doesn't come back, there's no one who can fix your legs."
• "I doubt she could fix them anyway," Samuel said, just as Isabel walked in carrying a bunch of bags and humming a cheerful tune.
• He figured she wouldn't leave easily. She was clearly trying to latch onto his brother.
• When Xander saw Isabel had come back, he let out a small sigh of relief.
• "Wow! I came back just in time for dinner!" Isabel said, quickly washing her hands and heading to the table.
• "Hey! We agreed to stay out of each other's way. This is our family meal. What makes you think you can eat with us?" Samuel used his fork to block Isabel's attempt to grab food.
• "Did you think I was treating your legs for free?" Isabel said, pushing Samuel's fork aside.
• Samuel used his fork to stop Isabel from grabbing any food. "Don't forget, you promised to fix my legs as part of the deal my brother made for the marriage certificate. It's got nothing to do with dinner."
• Then Xander chimed in, "Let her eat. We've got plenty of food."
• Even though Xander said that, Samuel was still pretty annoyed.
• Isabel put down her utensils, took out her phone, and said to Xander, "Add WhatsApp contact."
• Xander felt a little pleased by that.
• "Hey! And you say you're not interested in my brother? Your real intentions are showing now," Samuel said with a sneer, then turned to Xander. "Xander, don't. She's got hidden motives. From the start—"
• Before Samuel could finish speaking, Xander had already pulled out his phone.
• A quick "beep" and the scan was successful.
• "This is my personal WhatsApp contact. Don't message me unless it's important," Xander said, leaving Samuel stunned!
• Xander's personal WhatsApp was reserved for family and close friends, and he rarely added anyone else.
• Samuel couldn't believe his brother actually let Isabel add his personal WhatsApp. He was starting to wonder if Xander was charmed by her.
• "Don't worry, I won't message you unless it's really necessary," Isabel said as she fiddled with her phone.
• Just three seconds later, as soon as Xander set his phone on the table, he got a notification for a money transfer from Isabel.
• "It's for the meal," Isabel said.