Chapter 436
Isabella dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Oliver. Her voice was laced with worry. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Your father and I only stepped away for a minute. Did someone upset you?"
He burst into fresh sobs. "It was a lady and her boy! They looked shabby. They saw my nice clothes and laughed at me! They flaunted all the prizes they won right in my face!"
Oliver pointed a trembling finger. "Over there! It's them!"
Isabella followed his gaze and saw the retreating figures of Isabella Montgomery and her son. Her brow furrowed in distaste. These common people dared to bully her child?
She looked at her husband, Gregory. "Darling, you must handle this. Our son deserves justice!"
"Don't fret," Gregory assured her calmly. He appeared gentle, but his eyes held a steely resolve. "I'll contact Alexander immediately. I'll ensure he personally escorts them from the premises and adds them to the plaza's permanent ban list."
He moved aside to make the call. Isabella Montgomery walked away with her son, their arms overflowing with stuffed toys. The spectacle drew curious stares from other shoppers.
Remembering her next objective, Isabella stored all the prizes in a locker.
Just then, a stern-faced manager approached her. "Madam, you've been placed on our restricted list. You and the child must leave the premises immediately."
A blacklist? Isabella's eyes narrowed. This was unexpected. Whitmore Plaza didn't arbitrarily ban patrons. Her sharp gaze scanned the area and landed on a couple watching from a distance.
Gregory Blackwood stood holding their daughter, Amelia. His wife, Sophia, stood beside him. Both observed the scene with cold satisfaction. Amelia wore a smug, triumphant smirk that clearly said she had won.
Isabella let out a soft, derisive laugh. They thought they could have her thrown out? How amusing.
She reached into her purse and produced a matte black card. "Are you absolutely certain you want me to leave?" she asked, her voice dangerously quiet.
The manager and nearby security guards froze. Their eyes locked on the card. Their expressions shifted instantly to one of sheer panic.
It was the Obsidian Card. Fewer than ten existed worldwide. Only the most powerful elite could obtain one. Even their employer, Alexander Whitmore, didn't possess this level of access.
All staff underwent rigorous training to recognize this card. Offending its holder was a career-ending—potentially life-altering—mistake.
The manager's head bowed immediately. "Our most profound apologies, Madam. A terrible error has been made. We beg for your forgiveness."
"You make a habit of ejecting customers based on 'errors'?" Isabella's tone was icy. An aura of absolute authority radiated from her, the kind born from immense power.
Her glare swept over them. "Go inform those adults to control their ill-mannered child."
"Yes, Madam. Immediately." The manager scurried away without a second glance. Offending the Blackwoods was preferable to angering an Obsidian Card holder. Rumor claimed only Nathaniel Blackwood himself held one.
Amelia, Sophia, and Gregory, who had been waiting for the satisfying sight of the pair being humiliatingly removed, watched in confusion as the security team marched toward them instead.
Amelia stamped her foot. "You idiots! What are you doing? Throw them out!"
The manager's voice was firm, devoid of its previous deference. "Our apologies. After a full review, we found the other party violated no plaza rules. They will not be banned."
He continued, his tone formal. "Furthermore, CCTV footage confirms Miss Amelia Blackwood was the instigator of the conflict. We strongly advise Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood to provide better guidance for their daughter. Continued behavior of this nature will damage her reputation."
Three faces flushed a deep, mortified red. How dare a mere employee speak to them with such impudence? Who did he think he was?
The realization hit them. His attitude had been servile moments ago. It only changed after he spoke to that woman. She was behind this.
Who was that common-looking woman to command such fear? To make the manager choose to insult the Blackwoods rather than cross her?