Everyone's mouths hung open in shock. Thea stood rooted to the spot. It was a while before she could respond.

Quickly, she helped York up, saying, "Mr. Smith, wh-what are you doing? Please get up."

"Ms. Thea, please forgive us. Please have mercy on my useless nephew."

James said coldly, "He asked Thea to keep him company for three days."

"What?"

York flew into a rage again. So angry, he got up and searched for something. His eyes landed on a wooden chair. He grabbed it and slammed it into Zach's lower body.

"Ah…"

Moans of pain echoed through the boutique. Blood pooled at Zach's crotch. The pain was so intense he fainted. Xena, whose face was bloodied, turned pale with fear and retreated, crying. Everyone else staggered backward, terrified.

What had just happened was ruthless! Zach was crippled! York then knelt again.

"Ms. Thea, does this please you?" Thea had also paled. Instinctively, she stepped backward, grabbed James's hand, and looked at him.

"Jamie, what… what?" James looked innocent.

"Why are you looking at me? He's not asking for my forgiveness. Thea, you must have some important people on your side."

"Me?" Thea was shocked. Important people? How would she know anyone important? However, someone came to mind. It was during the auction the Xaviers organized on the top floor of the Cansington Hotel. She had been captured by Trent, who had cut her face.

Just as she was about to lose hope, a man in a ghost mask appeared and saved her.

"Could it be him?"

Thea looked as if she were in a trance. She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She knew he had killed Warren, Trent, and the other three patriarchs. However, he had been captured by the Blithe King and shot.

Besides him, she didn't know any other important people. She didn't even know the man in the ghost mask. Over the past ten years, she had barely left the house. How could she have gotten to know anyone important? Could it have been James? She looked at James suspiciously, then dismissed the thought.

It couldn't be him. Even though he was a high-ranking official in the Southern Plains, he'd been expelled from the military after getting into trouble.

Smack, smack… Since Thea remained silent, York continued to hit his head against the floor repeatedly, still on his knees.

Thea didn't understand. She stopped thinking about it and helped York up.

"L-look, Mr. Smith, he's bleeding profusely. You should take him to the hospital."

"Thank you for your mercy, Ms. Thea." York was overjoyed. He had finally earned her forgiveness; otherwise, the Smiths were dead.

York stood up, glancing at James and shivering involuntarily, almost falling again.

James said, "What are you doing, Mr. Smith? Didn't you hear Thea? Take Zach to the hospital at once. Also, this fight has nothing to do with Thea. Don't call the police and arrest her."

"It-it's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Ms. Thea at all."

York made a phone call. Soon, several people arrived and took the unconscious Zach and the shocked, bloodied Xena away.

"Do I still have to pay for the clothes?" James asked the boutique manager.

The manager, shaking, quickly replied, "N-no." Even York apologized. She didn't dare press the matter.

The shop's workers had notified their boss, Yuna, the chairman of Longevity Pharmaceuticals. She was helping out at the family business and had other ventures as well; this boutique was just one of them. After hearing about the incident, she rushed from her office.

James looked at Samson and the others, frowning. "Your boss is gone. Do you still want to beat me up?" Samson shuddered, bowed in fear, and apologized.

"S-sorry. We're leaving now." He and his men fled.

(The final two lines about the website are advertising and should be removed.)