Chapter 34: Pang of sympathy
Ivy fumed, clutching the phone tightly. Her plan had crumbled to dust. Her money was wasted. Those thugs failed to ruin Bella and this very thought infuriated her.
"Incompetent fools!" she spat. "You couldn’t even handle a weak woman."
"This wasn’t some ordinary woman, madam," the gruff voice said from the other side of the phone, laced with irritation. "She has a strong backup. We have been working here for all those years without a hitch. But now, my men and the gang are facing terrible problems. It’s all because of that man who came to save Bella."
"Who is he?" Ivy demanded, surprise flickering across her face. How could Bella, that nobody from a small town, have garnered such powerful support?
"We have no idea who he is," the man said with a sigh, lamenting cooperating with Ivy. "We shouldn’t have agreed to help you in the first place. We are now in this mess because of you. If I get caught, I’ll expose you."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Ivy seething with rage. She clenched her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. The audacity of those men to blame her for their incompetence was infuriating. She had paid them well, expecting them to execute her plan flawlessly. Instead, they had failed miserably and then dared to threaten her.
"Ugh..." A groan rumbled from Ivy’s throat. Clenching her teeth, she muttered, "Bella, why are you so annoying?" She dropped the phone aside, fuming with anger.
Ivy’s mind raced as she considered her next move. This gang leader was now a significant threat to her. If she was exposed, she would lose Zack. Their relationship would crumble. The thought sent a tremor through her.
"No, no... This can’t happen." A hint of dread crept into her voice. "I have to silence this man. There has to be a way."
Ivy snatched the phone back, her finger hovering over a familiar number. A single tap initiated the call. "I need your help," she spoke urgently. "Get rid of that gang leader. He is threatening me."