Chapter 3 Encountering Killian
Zoe's location hadn't updated yet, and the situation was still unclear. Lena just wanted to get to the East Side as quickly as possible.
But before she could take a step, a sharp female voice rang out behind her.
"Hold up!"
It was Isabella.
Isabella strutted over in her high heels, lightly brushing off the spot on her dress that had been scuffed.
Her red lips curved into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Miss, it seems your kids don't know how to watch where they're going."
Lena didn't even lift an eyelid, her gaze fixed on the exit. "Max, take Jade and Liam to the second exit and wait for me."
As the three kids were about to leave, Isabella gracefully stepped to the side, her high heel precisely blocking Jade's path.
She turned to Killian with a playful pout. "Killian, are kids these days always this rude?"
Seeing Killian standing expressionless not far away, Isabella became even more emboldened.
She bent down close to Liam, speaking in a whisper loud enough for everyone around to hear. "Little one, you should say sorry when you bump into someone. But... maybe your mom didn't teach you that?"
Jade suddenly turned around, her obsidian eyes staring straight at Isabella. "Lady, we already apologized."
"Lady?" Isabella's smile froze on her face, her manicured nails unconsciously digging into her purse strap.
She straightened up, showing a pitiful expression to Killian. "You do wrong, but act so self-righteous. But then again, like mother, like child."
Jade's little face tightened. "You can't talk about my mommy like that!"
His tone was crisp and firm, without a hint of the usual timidity of a child.
Isabella covered her mouth with a sweet, sickly laugh. "Little one, I'm just telling the truth."
She glanced meaningfully at the three kids. "But you three don't look much alike... different dads, perhaps?"
She elegantly smoothed her dress, continuing in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Miss, I understand the difficulties of being a single mom, but children need proper education."
She paused, then added, "After all... not everyone can be as tolerant as I am."
Liam's eyes narrowed, his fingers twitching, but Lena gently held him back.
"Liam," Lena spoke up.
To others, it might seem she was worried about her kid, but in reality, she didn't want Liam to stand out too much and become a target.
Isabella took in the scene, her red lips curving into a meaningful smile.
"Single moms have it tough these days," she said, scanning the three kids. "Raising three children alone must be exhausting, right?"
"Oh, by the way, it's quite popular online to share inspirational stories like this." She suddenly remembered something, elegantly taking out her phone from her purse and waving it. "How about I take a family photo for you? The title could be 'Strong Mother and Her Three Precious Kids.'"
Lena's fingers finally twitched, her suppressed anger almost breaking free.
Just then, a voice came through her earpiece.
"Ms. Voss, Miss Zoe Voss is confirmed safe. She's been secured, and we're clearing the scene now."
"Good, I have a situation here. I'll be there shortly."
She removed the earpiece, slowly standing up straight, her gaze sweeping over Isabella's face with impatience.
"Single mom?" She repeated the term softly, a ring appearing on her finger, turning slowly. "Ms. Cullen, you seemed to have an issue with that identity?"
Isabella felt a chill under Lena's gaze but still forced herself to lift her chin. "I'm just stating the facts. Someone like you..."
"Someone like me?" Lena suddenly stepped forward, her movements graceful yet causing Isabella to instinctively step back.
She leaned in slightly, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear. "Ms. Cullen, do you know why your couture is wrinkled?"
Isabella was taken aback, looking down at her dress.
"Because it's last year's stock." Lena's fingers lightly brushed the hem. "This year's new collection uses Italian imported silk for the lining, not this... synthetic blend."
Isabella's face turned pale instantly. "You're lying! This is..."
"This is what?" Lena stepped forward, her subtle movement making Isabella instinctively retreat.
She reached out to adjust Isabella's crooked collar, the gesture seemingly gentle yet unyieldingly firm. "Ms. Cullen, your collar is wrinkled."
Her fingers pressed lightly at a spot, causing Isabella to step back in pain.
The next second, the expensive silk shirt suddenly tore, a fine seam opening at the collar.
Isabella hurriedly covered her collar, her face pale.
Lena stepped back, raising an eyebrow. "Oh dear, Ms. Cullen, you should be more careful. That shirt costs thousands."
A low gasp echoed around them.
Isabella trembled with anger, her meticulously manicured nails digging deep into her palms.
Her eyes reddened as she lifted her head, about to retort, but a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The grip wasn't strong, but it carried an undeniable force.
Killian finally moved.
He stood behind her, one hand in his pocket, the other stopping her action, not even sparing her a glance.
"Isabella, that's enough." His tone was calm, neither questioning nor accusing. "The airport isn't the place for your tantrums."
Isabella's face turned red. "But she—"
"We have a meeting to get to. Don't delay the schedule."
Killian didn't bother to look at her again, pulling out his wallet, extracting a few bills and a black metal card, and walking over to Lena.
He handed her the bills and the card, his actions as routine as handling a customer complaint, his tone as detached as addressing a minor inconvenience.
"Apologies for the earlier incident. This is compensation and reimbursement. Sorry for taking up your time."
Killian's tone was calm and polite, yet distant, as if she were just an insignificant passerby.
To him, the earlier conflict was merely a trivial episode, easily resolved with a few bills and a simple apology.
Lena stood quietly, glancing at the items he placed on her suitcase, as if looking at a piece of trash, devoid of any weight.
"Thank you very much, sir."
She spoke, her tone light yet clear.
"But unfortunately, I don't need it."
Before Killian could react, she picked up the card and bills, her fingers deftly turning them, her wrist flicking sharply.
The black card struck Isabella's face with precision, the bills scattering in the air, some landing neatly on her delicate yet slightly swollen cheeks, one even sticking to her eyelashes.
Isabella froze, her expression like someone doused with cold water, filled with a mix of shock and embarrassment.
"Wonder if this money is enough for Ms. Cullen to buy a new dress?"
Lena clapped her hands, speaking leisurely.
"Take it. Next time you talk trash, be ready for the consequences."
With that, she grabbed her suitcase, took Liam's hand, and called Jade and Max.
"Let's go, kids."
As she was about to leave, Killian adjusted his cufflinks.
The arc his hand traced in the air carried a certain familiarity.
Five years ago, on that snowy night in Moscow, the man in the silver mask had raised his gun at her with the same casual gesture.
Under the moonlight, the snake-shaped ring on his slender finger gleamed coldly, eerily matching the platinum ring on Killian's pinky now.
Her breath hitched, her steps slowing involuntarily, but she quickly shook her head.
Too absurd. The head of The Thorne Group, a regular on financial magazine covers, couldn't possibly be the feared "Dark River" high-ranking member in the dark web world.
Moreover, that confrontation happened at 3 AM in the Moscow suburbs, while the Wall Street Journal was publishing photos of Killian attending a charity gala in New York at the same time.
"Mommy?" Liam, sensing her unease, gently tugged at her clothes.
Lena snapped back to reality, looking down at Liam's worried eyes.
"It's okay," she said, ruffling Liam's hair. "We're going to pick up Zoe now."