Chapter 3 Is That Enough

When Declan and Sadie stepped into Crimson Bar, Eliana and her small circle of friends had already settled into a booth for some time.

"Eliana, I've missed you like crazy!"

In a theatrical display, Sadie wrapped her arms around Eliana, clinging to her and putting on a cutesy act.

Gently patting Sadie's head, Eliana said softly, "Why do you still behave like you're five?"

Her eyes then shifted to the stern-faced man sitting opposite her, adding meaningfully, "Yet, it's only you, my little sweetheart, who seems to think of me."

Almost snapping to attention, Sadie elaborated, "Are you kidding? My brother's been missing you. The moment he heard you were coming back, he kicked his wife to the curb!"

The moment she closed her mouth, the booth erupted in whoops and hollers, and Eliana couldn't suppress her grin.

The woman who had occupied Declan's thoughts day and night was now seated before him, locking eyes with him warmly. Yet, a peculiar unease gnawed at his heart.

Just as he was about to speak, one of his friends blurted out a curse.

"Damn! Declan, isn't that your wife?"

Turning his head around, Declan's eyes met Hannah, radiant in her cascading wavy hair, captivating makeup, and a striking red dress that flattered her slender waist and showcased her endless, perfect legs. Even at a distance, she was undeniably stunning.

Currently, she was encircled by an overweight, overdressed man and a troupe of sleazy youths, all clearly making her uneasy.

"Hey, isn't that Carlos? The notorious playboy of the Black family? If Hannah ends up with him, she's done for!"

"Maybe she's into it. I mean, what kind of decent woman dresses like that and comes to a bar? She's fishing for guys, for sure!"

"Man, I never thought Declan's wife would be so hot. She always looked like a librarian. Who knew she had curves?"

Jumping in, Sadie added, "Look at her. She's definitely here to reel in some men. My brother left her. Who'd want her if she didn't pull some tricks?"

The crude joke sent their friends into peals of laughter. The inexplicable irritation surging within Declan erupted. "Shut up!"

His outburst immediately brought the room to silence.

Glowering at Sadie, he snapped, "If you can't behave yourself, maybe you should go back to school and learn some decency instead of wasting your days with these misfits."

Taken aback, Sadie looked near tears. Eliana reached over and tenderly grasped Declan's hand. As he turned toward her, she softly murmured, "Sadie's just a girl, don't be so harsh."

Pausing for a moment, she glanced at the distant Hannah and continued, "This is on me, no doubt about it. If I hadn't reappeared and taken Miss Moore's spot, she wouldn't have resorted to these desperate measures."

Declan's expression turned even darker. "She made her own choices, and they led her down this path. No one pushed her."

Annoyed beyond measure, Hannah shook off Carlos's unwelcome hand and icily commanded, "Leave me alone!"

Embarrassed in front of a crowd of friends, Carlos's arrogance only escalated. He moved closer, wrapping his arms around Hannah's slim waist, ready to plant a kiss with his garish purple lips. "So, you're playing hard to get? Allow me to grace your beautiful face with a kiss!"

Hannah's lips twisted into a mocking smile as Carlos puckered his lips in anticipation.

Bang!

Swiftly, she grabbed a beer bottle from a nearby table and smashed it against Carlos's head with conviction.

The shattering sound sliced through the bar's pulsating music. Carlos toppled over, gripping his bloodied, glass-strewn head, and let out a gut-wrenching cry.

"Fuck you! Bitch! How dare you hit me?"

Rising to her feet slowly, Hannah pointed the jagged neck of the shattered bottle at Carlos and grinned coldly. "Lay a finger on me again and see if I won't incapacitate you right here, right now!"

Carlos clenched his jaw, retorting, "You know who I am? My brother runs the Black Group. One word from me and you'll vanish from Valmere, mark my words!"

Ignoring him, Hannah rummaged through her Hermes Birkin bag in silence.

For a moment, she said nothing, leading Carlos to believe his social standing had unnerved her. His arrogance swelled. "We're not done here. A scar like this could make you reduced to poverty and ruin. I'll get a medical checkup, you know. My uncle has contacts with the police. Just one call and you'll be locked up for two weeks."

"Declan, what are you planning?" Upon seeing Declan rise, Sadie clutched his sleeve and looked at him incredulously. "You're not actually going to protect her, are you?"

Unperturbed, Declan removed her hand. "The paperwork's not finalized. She's still my legal wife. Offending her is a disrespect to the Edwards family."

Sadie tried to dissuade him. "Nobody here knows she's one of us. If you stay out of it, whatever happens to her is her own bad luck."

However, the shadow that crossed Declan's eyes silenced her instantly.

Eliana interjected, "Let me handle this. I've interacted with Carlos's brother before. For my sake, they won't make it too hard on Miss Moore."

She cut off Declan's impending refusal, adding softly, "Your concern is mine as well."

At that moment, Hannah pulled a bundle of dollar bills from her bag and tossed it into Carlos's face.

Splash!

Some money rained down from the second-floor, filling the air with a sense of theatricality.

Hannah rested her arms on the low railing, looking as if she might topple over from the second floor at any given moment. Amidst floating dollar bills, she stood in a red dress that made her allure stand out. She turned to the disheveled man before her, a bewitching smile gracing her lips.

"Will that cover your losses?"

Fury boiling over, Carlos shot a venomous look at his gang and roared, "Seize her! I'll end her life! Just watch her arrogance crumble!"

Just as his thugs were about to lunge, a vibrant female voice stopped them in their tracks. "End whose life? I'd love to see anyone try to lay a finger on my friend while I'm here."

Carlos's expression shifted dramatically as Lydia walked up to Hannah, baseball bat in hand. She met his gaze with a mocking smile, as though she were looking at something insignificant.

"Your brother treads lightly in my presence. Who gave you the nerve to shout at my friend?"