To Woods Walters, though, that smile looked absolutely terrifying!
"Hey, this chick is pretty hot. How about it? Want to have some fun with us?" One of Woods's lackeys suddenly blurted out.
"If you dare touch her, I'll kill you!" I shouted, rage boiling inside me.
"Haha, Brother Tiger, did you hear what he said? This kid really doesn't know whether he's alive or dead."
"Brother Tiger, this chick is really hot, let us have a taste!"
The group of thugs leered at Mabel with hungry eyes.
Mabel remained expressionless and silent, her cold gaze fixed solely on Woods Walters.
Her powerful presence made even me feel nervous standing there.
Woods Walters dabbed sweat from his forehead, abruptly turned around, and slapped one of his lackeys hard across the face.
"Go home and play with your mom!" Woods cursed loudly.
The lackeys stood there completely dumbfounded.
What had gotten into Brother Tiger? Why was he suddenly so angry?
Mabel watched Woods with an icy stare and said calmly, "Woods Walters, your men are quite bold."
Without another word, Woods "thumped" down to his knees.
Trembling visibly, he stammered, "Please... rest assured, I'll tear his mouth apart..."
Mabel snorted, "What about you?"
Woods's body shook even more violently.
He gritted his teeth, pulled a knife from his pocket, and without hesitation, plunged it fiercely into his own thigh!
"I... I was wrong. I didn't know Mason was your man. Please spare my life..." Woods endured the pain, terror written across his face.
Mabel shot him a cold glance and commanded, "Get lost!"
"Yes, yes, I'm leaving..." Woods struggled to rise from the ground, dragging his nearly useless leg as he crawled into his car.
His lackeys stood frozen, not daring to utter a word, before hurriedly following him.
The car sped away, and the entrance fell quiet again.
I stared at Mabel, completely astonished, my mind racing with questions.
Who exactly was this Miss Mabel that could make Woods Walters quake with fear?
"What's wrong?" Mabel's demeanor shifted back to playful.
She stood on tiptoe and patted my head, laughing, "How did you get involved with those people?"
I smiled bitterly, "It's a long story."
"Oh," Mabel pondered, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Miss Mabel, you've helped me again. I don't know how to thank you," I sighed.
Mabel considered for a moment before saying, "Well... how about you treat me to a meal?"
I stood stunned, momentarily speechless.
Mabel had helped me so many times, and all she wanted was a simple meal?
"Is that not okay?" Seeing my silence, Mabel asked again.
I snapped back to reality and quickly nodded, "Okay, but I don't have any money on me. I can only cook it myself."
"No problem, I'm not picky," Mabel said with a genuine smile.
So, the two of us walked home together.
Meanwhile, Woods Walters had arrived at the hospital.
"Brother Tiger, who exactly is that woman? Why are you so afraid of her?"
"Yeah, even if she's the daughter of River City's mayor, it wouldn't be like this, right?"
Woods's face looked ugly, filled with lingering fear.
"In front of her, even the mayor of River City is just fit to serve tea and pour water," Woods wiped his forehead and said, his voice trembling slightly.
He had seen top figures from Chuzzle bowing and scraping before Mabel!
He had witnessed the highest echelons of River City not even qualified to speak with her!
"Could she be that person from the capital?" Woods's lackey seemed to guess something.
Woods smiled bitterly and said with a sense of despair, "We're in trouble, real trouble this time..."
Back at my central villa in Dragon Rising Residential Area, I personally prepared the meal, making two bowls of noodles and a side dish of pickles.
"There's only noodles at home. I hope you don't mind," I said as I placed a steaming bowl in front of Mabel.
Mabel sniffed enthusiastically, looking pleasantly surprised, "Wow, it smells delicious!"
I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Having been a househusband for three years at the Lucas family, my cooking skills weren't perfect, but they were decent.
Mabel devoured her bowl of noodles with obvious satisfaction.
She wiped her mouth and gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up, "You're really a surprising guy. The food is so delicious!"
I smiled bitterly, "What's the use of a man being able to cook if he can't make money? He's still a worthless loser."
That was what Lyla had said to me, and not just once.
"Who says!" Mabel rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Making money has never been the standard to judge a person," she said seriously.
I was astonished by her words.
I couldn't believe someone would affirm me like this.
I couldn't believe there was a girl like Mabel in the world.
The stark contrast between her and others I'd known left me somewhat intoxicated.
"You really are a different kind of girl," I couldn't help but exclaim.
"You're quite unique too," Mabel laughed softly.
Then, she suddenly changed the subject, pointing at the empty bowl in front of her with a mischievous grin, "Can I have another bowl?"
I was taken aback but quickly nodded, "Sure, I'll go make it right now!"