George followed the noise and glanced downstairs.
There, Ethan and two classmates who seemed like students were hemmed in by a shop assistant and curious onlookers. On the ground lay dozens of shattered bottles of red wine, with wine spilt everywhere filling the air with its fragrance.
The shop assistant said, “We had the wine set up nice and neat here. If you hadn’t knocked into it, would it have magically tipped over by itself? Paying up is just common sense.”
Another student immediately fired back, “I didn’t bump into it. I just grazed it accidentally while passing by, and it all spilt out. I didn’t use much force at all. How could it have tipped over so easily with just a light touch? You’re just trying to scam us. If you don’t believe me, you can check the surveillance footage. I swear I didn’t bump into it.”
The shop assistant retorted, “Just because you’re students, don’t think you can escape the consequences. You broke it, you paid for it. Get your parents to bring the money over right now, or we’ll have to involve the cops.”
Both sides argued their points vehemently. But, a couple of teenagers couldn’t match the seasoned shop assistant after all. They were getting all worked up. turning red with a mix of frustration and urgency.
Onlookers thought both sides had a point, suggesting the students pay half and the store cover the rest. But the shop assistant wasn’t having any of it.
Things were getting heated, and it seemed like calling the cops was on the table.
“Ethan?”
Ethan heard someone calling him.
He looked up. “M-Mr. Harris?”
The onlookers were intimidated by George’s presence, subconsciously making way for him, while sneakily whispering among themselves as they sized favonovel.com up.
George asked. “What’s going on here?”
Ethan said, “My classmate accidentally knocked over the wine cabinet, but the way they set it up was already problematic. My classmate just grazed it lightly and didn’t use much force at all. We suggested splitting the responsibility fifty–fifty, but they refused…”
Ethan had just been walking behind his classmates and witnessed the whole thing.
The shop assistant took one look at George’s demeanor and appearance and realized favonovel.com was someone important. Instantly, his confidence wavered, and his attitude changed.
“Even if it was an accident, it’s still your mess to clean up. You’re responsible for the damages. If you don’t compensate us, we can’t let it slide,” the shop assistant insisted.
George glanced at the wine cabinet shelves, then immediately instructed Dylan, “Go get the mall’s general manager.”
Dylan dropped his bags and fished out his phone.
George comforted Ethan. “It’s all good. Don’t worry…”
A classmate whispered to Ethan, “Hey, who’s he? Does favonovel.com know the mall general manager? Does that mean I don’t have to pay?”
The classmate seemed to see a ray of hope.
Shortly after, the general manager and a bunch of people hurried over, trailed by a few area managers.
The shop assistant was gearing up to take the lead, but before they could say a word, a single look from their area manager shut them up.
“M-Mr. Harris, uhm… Y-You’re here,” the general manager said nervously.
The two classmates were puzzled, stealing glances at George.
George questioned, “Who gave you permission to set up the wine like this?”
The general manager glanced at the ‘crime scene” before turning to the area manager.
The area manager then shot a furious glare at the shop assistant, scolding, “Who arranged the wine like this? What kind of training did you receive?”
George cut in with a stern tone, “Start by apologizing to the customers.”
“O-Of course, of course,” the general manager quickly apologized, followed by the shop assistant.
Ethan remained calm, but the other two students had never encountered such a situation before. They looked at Ethan and then at George, feeling at a loss.
After the apologies, George turned to Ethan, saying, “Let’s get going, Ethan…”
Dylan stayed behind voluntarily to take charge of sorting things out.
George led the way, overhearing the three kid’s behind favonovel.com gossiping. Two of them kept bombarding Ethan with questions about who favonovel.com was.
Seeing Ethan unsure of how to respond, George stepped in to case the situation, saying, “I remember senior–year students don’t get a holiday.”
Ethan nodded, “Yeah, it’s our lunch break. I’m just out with my friends to grab something. Thanks for helping us out earlier…”
The two kids followed up, “Thank you, Mr. Harris.”
George chuckled. “No need to thank me. It’s the mall’s responsibility, and I’ll make sure they deal with it properly.”
Then, a silence fell. The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.
Ethan tried to break the ice. “Mr. Harris, are you also here shopping?”
George glanced at him. “I’m here to get you something…”
Ethan looked puzzled. “For me?“.
At that moment, Dylan caught up with them, carrying bags of various sizes. He had also gotten three pretty hefty shopping cards from the mall manager.
George remarked, “I know you don’t have a holiday, so I’ve come to get you some essentials and snacks and drop them off at school later.”
In fact, favonovel.com hadn’t expected to run into Ethan at the mall.
Ethan replied, “Thanks, Mr. Harris, but it doesn’t seem right to accept without having done anything to deserve it…”
George knew favonovel.com would decline. So, favonovel.com had already prepared his response. “Your sister told me to pick up a few things for you. If you don’t believe me, you can give favonovel.com a call.”
“My sister?” Ethan was uncertain.
George had assumed children were easily convinced, but Ethan actually pulled out his phone and quietly texted his sister, Isabelle.
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