The Enchanting Ella

Kate, observing the woman who emerged from the Mercedes fixated on Alex, became irked. She strode to Alex's side, clasping his arm tightly, and raised her chin assertively at the onlooker, her expression a clear message: Alex was already claimed; the woman should harbor no intentions.

The woman, casting a cursory glance at Kate, approached Alex, extending her hand with a smile and saying, "I'm Ella, delighted to meet such a handsome young man."

Alex shook Ella's soft hand, responding with a smile, "The pleasure is mine, meeting a lady of your elegance, though our introduction seems somewhat unconventional."

Ella tittered, "Everyone who meets me wishes to leave their name, hoping to be remembered. You, however, are distinctively different. Don't you wish to befriend me?" As she spoke, Her captivating gaze was firmly locked on Alex's.

Kate, noticing Ella's lingering attention on her husband, expressed her discontent, "Your car struck my father; why would we consider befriending you?"

With a smile, Ella approached Blake and said, "The fault is ours, and I sincerely apologize. I will endeavor to fulfill any compensation you require."

Blake glanced at Alex, then addressed Ella, "I am unharmed. Merely an acknowledgment of your wrongdoing is sufficient."

Ella turned to her secretary and instructed, "Iris, prepare a check for 100,000 and present it to this gentleman." Iris, the girl in question, retrieved a pen and checkbook from her bag, leaned on the car to fill out a check, and handed it to Blake with deference.

Blake waved his hands in refusal, "No, no, I do not wish to accept your money."

Kate swiftly took the check, glanced at it, and placed it in Blake's pocket. As Blake attempted to remove it, Alex interjected with a smile, "Uncle Blake, please keep it; consider it reparation for your emotional distress."

Blake nodded in agreement, thinking: My future son-in-law is incredibly formidable; a bicycle ruined and they offer 100,000 in compensation.

"You and your brothers may return now; the matter here is resolved," Alex said to Hugh.

"Yes, Chairman," Hugh affirmed with a nod. He cast a stern glance at the traffic police before joining his men in their vehicles.More than a thousand members of the Death Gang dispersed.

Seeing the Reaper gang depart, Ella's subordinates rose from the ground, wiped the blood from their faces, and approached Ella with their heads bowed. Ella regarded them with a cold stare and said, "Apologize to that gentleman."

The two, disheveled and bruised, limped to Blake and repeatedly uttered their apologies. Alex dismissed them with a glance, "Leave now! Your arrogance in City J does not translate to City H."

"You are a very special young man; I find myself quite fond of you," Ella remarked to Alex with a smile.

Alex replied with a grin, "You are indeed charming, but I am already taken; otherwise, I would have given you a chance."

Ella turned to Kate, nodding and saying, "Exquisite, but I believe I am the better match for you."

Kate, fuming at Ella's audacity, retorted, "You have no shame! How could you be a better match for Alex than I am?"

"Alex, so that is your name; one I shall not forget for the rest of my life. My dear, I will certainly win your man over," Ella declared to Kate with a coquettish grin.

Kate was left speechless, her face flushed with indignation.

With a flirtatious wink to Alex, Ella turned and entered her Mercedes. Alex watched the receding car, shaking his head with a smile; such boldness was unprecedented, and the mature allure indeed stirred his heart.

Kate stood beside Alex, her lips pursed so high they could hold an oil bottle. Alex, seeing Kate's jealous expression, teased, "Kate, your lips are pouting to the sky."

Kate shot Alex a fierce glare, "You've gone too far, your eyes gleaming at the sight of beauty."

Alex, feigning innocence, muttered, "Do I need to speak with my eyes closed from now on when I see her?"

"I don't mind when it's others, but keep them closed when it comes to her," Kate said, looking at Alex.

Blake, pocketing the 100,000 check, watched Alex and Kate bickering, unable to suppress his wide grin.

Alex, smiling at Blake, said, "Uncle Blake, Kate and I haven't had lunch yet; let's dine together."

Blake picked up his mangled bicycle from the ground, chuckling, "You two go ahead; I won't intrude on your romantic outing."

Inside the Mercedes, Ella gazed pensively out the window. "Chairman, that fellow is too brash. Should we get some people from City J to teach him a lesson?" asked one of Ella's subordinates.

Ella turned her head, staring at him coldly, "Dean, after being beaten, have you lost your wits? Remember this lesson and avoid causing trouble for me in the future. You cannot afford to provoke this individual."

"Chairman, I cannot let this go. In City J, no one dares to bully me, yet I've been humiliated in tiny City H," Dean grumbled, still defiant.

"In City J, you have my protection; without it, you would have been finished long ago. This morning, I received a call that a gang in City H, the Reaper gang, has annihilated Inferno from City T, becoming one of the top three criminal organizations in the north. I believe those people we just encountered were from the Reaper gang, and that young man must be their leader."

"Chairman, that can't be true. How could that fellow, barely twenty years old, be the leader of the Reaper gang?" Dean expressed his disbelief.

"There's much you wouldn't expect. Be discreet at the charity banquet in Province G in three days; should you embarrass me again, the consequences will be severe."

Dean hung his head, saying, "Chairman, rest assured, Cole and I will be cautious."

"Chairman, with the Reaper gang's rapid rise, will the two major gangs in City J not eliminate them?" Cole, who was driving, inquired.

"In the eyes of the two major gangs in City J, the small Reaper gang is not worth their attention, as the Reaper gang's influence is unlikely to extend to City J and threaten them, unless the Reaper gang has an extraordinary background," Ella said thoughtfully.

"I think this Reaper gang is not to be underestimated; they annihilated Inferno, and the police showed no reaction. The Reaper gang might expand to City J in the future," Dean whispered.

"That sentence of yours finally sounds reasonable; the Reaper gang will indeed be formidable in the future," Ella nodded.

Ella glanced at her watch and said to Cole, "Drive to the provincial committee compound."

The black Mercedes S600 headed towards the provincial committee compound of Province G.

Alex and Kate casually found a restaurant for lunch and drove back to school. On the way back, Kate didn't utter a single word to Alex, her face remaining taut. Alex had intended to go to Imperial Holdings in the afternoon, but seeing no letup in Kate's thick jealousy, he decided to stay in the classroom and accompany Kate to her classes.