Pampered After Divorce - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Molly’s POV
The temperature in the store changed dramatically when the person blocked Melody’s hand, and I was strangely captivated by his alluring cologne scent.
It couldn’t be him, could it? Yes, it was. Gianna was dressed the same way he had left the hotel. I wondered how his white outfit remained spotless.
The atmosphere in the store had dropped to zero degrees, and even I shivered at the sound of his voice. "Close the store. No one is allowed to enter or exit," he commanded.
I hadn't seen the two men following him clearly last night, but a part of my blurry memory and Nora's mention of his bodyguards began to make sense.
Those were the men with him when he rescued me. A part of me wanted to question them about the disappearance of those men, but another part cautioned me not to dare.
Punches from Gianni's bodyguards swiftly took down the two security men restraining Nora.
"Why? We are just following orders," one of the security men cried out, feeling wronged. Gianni pushed Melody's hand away from me with such force that she fell to the floor.
My heart ached for her as she sobbed, but that was just who I was. I felt sympathy for others, even when it wasn't reciprocated.
"You harass one of the boss's managers and call it following orders? Whose orders are we talking about here?" the bodyguard questioned the security guard on the floor.
Nora was picking herself up, and I went to her side to help, grateful for the distance from Giovanni.
His presence was intimidating. "She's here. Isn't she the manager?" He pointed at Melody. I had thought she was just a shop attendant, but this store was doomed from the start if she was the manager.
I was confused as I saw nothing on her tag indicating her position.
The look in Gianni’s eyes did not confirm that. “And you.” The bodyguard moved towards Melody and the other attendant.
“You call yourself the manager? These security men are new, so you took advantage of the fact that the manager traveled to declare yourself as her,” the bodyguard revealed, stunning everyone.
Melody remained on the floor, unable to utter a word, shame covering her face, but I was amazed she suddenly grew some courage.
“Abi left me in charge, so I’m the acting manager. I want the best for the store,” she defended herself, her head lowered the whole time, but the bodyguard had a thick frown.
I couldn't tell who was scarier between him and Gianni. “Boss sent these women to buy from his shop, and you bullied them,” he pointed out, leaving Melody pale.
The revelation seemed to have pricked something inside her and I was also shocked that Giovanni owned this store.
No wonder Nora insisted that we shop here.
“I didn’t,” Melody lied, but even I had forgotten the second bodyguard he came with was close to Melody after Giovanni pushed her.
The kick he sent to her stomach made me sweat. I felt as if I was the one in pain, and Melody groaned.
“Please, I’m pregnant, you’ll kill my baby,” she cried, and my heart stopped. The bodyguard was insensitive, showing no remorse.
“So what? You are pregnant and dared to cause the boss trouble.”
Grabbing her hand, he lifted her harshly from the floor, and I couldn’t bear it. She deserved it, but not her unborn child.
“Can you tell them to stop?” I pleaded with Gianni, and something flickered in his eyes before he motioned to Nora.
“Take her out of here.”
Something inside me died due to the look in his eyes. I could tell they were going to do worse, especially when I heard a murmur from one of the shoppers.
“He’s indeed the devil in white. He won’t show her mercy.”
“I’m not leaving. I came to shop, right? Please tell him to stop. Even if she deserves it, her unborn child is innocent,” I pleaded, and Gianni glared at me with disappointment.
Nora nudged me, squeezing my hand. “No one talks back to him. You should be careful.”
I understood why most of them were afraid to even look at him, but no matter how cold he appeared, I knew the Gianni I remembered was still there.
“Jace, let her go,” he said firmly.
I watched as the bodyguard's fingers tightened their grip. Melody, with tears in her eyes, was on the floor, clutching the hem of my skirt.
“Molly, I’m sorry. I was unkind to you, but you saved me,” she whispered. Why did I feel that Gianni could have hurt her deeply?
Part of me wanted to accept her gratitude, but I couldn't pretend.
“I didn’t do it for you. You should be thanking your unborn child,” I replied.
More tears fell from her eyes, softening my heart. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “If you did it for the baby, then you did it for me. I thought you were evil, but this proves otherwise. Please forgive me.”
I noticed a change in the expressions of the onlookers. “It’s true. Molly is kind,” one of them chimed in, but I didn't feel that way.
Vengeance burned within me. Just as I was about to speak out, Gianni intervened.
“You should leave while you still can. You two are fired,” he declared, his words cut deep, especially considering Melody's pregnancy.
“Gianni...” I started, but he interrupted me, his words piercing my heart like daggers.