“Of course. Who else would give you such lavish presents?” The man smacked Louisa on her rump.

“Stop, there are so many people. My husband’s here too.”

Zion clenched his fists when Leonardo was talking, his veins popping, but he relaxed after that.

Louisa, her arm still linked with the man’s, walked into the shop.

James pulled Zion aside, asking, “Zion, what’s going on? Why did you marry her?”

“James, don’t.” Zion looked troubled.

“Tell me.”

James’ expression darkened.

Many people had arrived this morning.

All of them were far too close to Louisa.

“James, don’t ask.” Zion still looked troubled.

“Zion, if you think of me as a friend, tell me.”

Thinking about how James helped him at Dragon Fountain Villa, Zion hesitated before pulling James aside. Softly, he said, “I-I married Louisa a year ago. She came to me and told me she liked me. She even asked if I would marry her and was willing to forgo wedding presents.

“I was almost thirty, and no woman had liked me because I was