Zach smirked, stood, and snaked an arm around Thea's slim waist.

"You should have done this earlier," he said.

Many people were in the boutique, but they stood far away. Knowing the Smiths' reputation, they whispered amongst themselves. Suddenly, James stood and kicked Zach, sending him sprawling onto the couch.

"Hit him! Attack!" Zach yelled before James could rise. A middle-aged man, York, burst in. He'd rushed from the hospital after Thea's frantic call about offending Zach. Enraged, he'd driven recklessly, ignoring red lights.

He replayed the previous night's events in his mind. Even Xander had been killed, the Blithe King personally disposing of the body. Thea, he considered, was like a goddess; untouchable. Anyone who dared harm her would face death.

He arrived breathless, sweat soaking his hair, just in time to hear Zach's words. Furiously, he roared, "Worthless bastard!"

His voice boomed. Everyone turned to look.

"U-Uncle…" Zach stammered, trembling. York, the family's second-in-command and heir apparent, flew at Zach, yanking his hair and slapping him repeatedly. Even with full force, he worried he wasn't hitting hard enough.

Zach was beaten senseless, some teeth knocked out, his mouth filling with blood. York then kicked him into the couch, flipping it onto its side, before grabbing an ashtray and furiously beating Zach's head. Blood immediately welled.

Terror gripped everyone. Xena stared, stunned, before finally reacting.

"Uncle, what are you doing? He's Zach, your nephew…"

"You bitch…" York snarled, grabbing her hair and slamming her head into the table. The glass shattered with a loud slam.

Thea was dumbfounded, tears streaming down her face. She'd been prepared to sacrifice herself for James, but now… the rapid succession of events overwhelmed her.

Samson, present at Zach's request, remained silent. He knew York—a leading candidate to head the Smith family and a powerful figure in Cansington. After brutally beating Zach and Xena, York knelt before Thea.

"What…" Thea stumbled backward.

Everyone in the boutique was speechless, especially Samson. Having known York for so long, his stunned reaction, along with that of his twenty-odd associates, spoke volumes.

On his knees, York wept. "Ms. Thea, please forgive us. We failed to properly educate our descendants. Please let us go, and forget this."

The boutique was awestruck. The Smiths, though not among the "Great Four" families, held comparable power and influence. York, their leader, was kneeling before Thea? The injured Zach and Xena were equally bewildered. Was this the same omnipotent York they knew? The sales staff was petrified. Miranda stared, shocked.

York repeatedly bowed his head to the ground, injuring himself in the process. Each thud sent a shiver through those present.