Listening to these tittle-tattles rendered Bruce in relief. I told you so.
These two men are more like a couple than Louis and Charlotte.
Zachary glowered upon hearing the whisperings. This gossip happened to back Bruce’s suggestive remark earlier.
“Goodness! What are they talking about?” Louis was so embarrassed that his cheeks flushed. “They actually thought that you and I…”
He pointed at Zachary and then at himself. Right after that, he covered his face bashfully.
Zachary couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Ugh… this is just great. How typical of you to use such exaggerated body language.
“Louis!” Charlotte called out.
“Here!” Louis was just about to rush to her side, but Zachary held him back. Tense, Louis tried to push Zachary away. “Hey, let go of me. Everyone is thinking that there’s something fishy going on between the two of us, and yet, you’re still holding my hand. We’re never going to be able to clarify this.”
“You trust her instead of me?” Zachary asked with his furrowed eyebrows.
“No…” Louis was hesitant to make a choice, so he returned, “Well, you can stay and dine with us. Whatever there is, let’s leave it until after the meal, alright?”
“Okay!” Zachary released his grip on Louis.
The three of them took their seats, with Zachary and Louis sitting on one side while Charlotte sat on the other side.
The restaurant was still abuzz with the murmurs and chatters of the onlookers.
Tentatively, Louis asked, “Charlotte, can I sit with you?”
“Sure.” Charlotte agreed heartily.
Immediately, Louis changed his seat to the other side and sat next to Charlotte.
His movement was so swift that it seemed like he was running away from some sort of threat.
Meanwhile, Zachary shot him daggers and took the menu handed over by the restaurant manager. He quickly ordered a bottle of wine and then passed the menu to Louis.
“I’ve pre-ordered the meals for Charlotte and myself.” Louis added as he took the menu over, “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”
“I’ve had dinner.” Zachary raised his glass and took a sip.
“Then why are you here?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows and glared at Zachary surlily.
Zachary shot an indifferent glance at her but didn’t say anything.
“Charlotte, don’t be like that…” Louis quickly defended Zachary, “Zachary is my best friend!”
“Then what about me?” Charlotte asked purposefully.
“You…” Louis was a little nervous as he continued, “You’re my favorite girl.”
“I see!” Charlotte raised a glass of red wine and asked Louis, “If this were a glass of poison and in between him and me, one of us had to drink it so that the other could survive, how would you decide?”
“I…” Louis was in a distressing predicament and couldn’t make a choice.
Right then, Zachary took the glass from Charlotte directly and downed everything in one gulp.
Both Charlotte and Louis were utterly stunned.
Charlotte’s expression turned inexplicably complicated, and she frowned, glancing at Zachary…
Louis was astounded at first, and then, he was sensibly touched.
Zachary put down the glass and looked up at Charlotte. “Are you satisfied now?”
“What do you mean?” Charlotte was plainly puzzled.
“I won’t let you be in danger again…” Zachary splurted out, but he diverted hastily, “Women are made to be protected. Hence, it is men’s duty to be gentlemen.”
“That’s right! Well said, Zachary!”
Louis couldn’t stop complimenting him and cast him a grateful look in appreciation of Zachary giving him an out.
“You must understand that it was supposed to be a glass of poison. You’d die for taking it.” Charlotte gave him a displeased stare. “Did you really pay attention to what I said?”
“Yes, I did.” Zachary looked at her with a deep gaze and answered in an earnest manner, “I’d rather die myself than to let you die, okay?”
A sudden brief chill came over Charlotte, and for some reason, she was a little moved upon hearing those words.
It was as if she had been waiting a long time just to hear these words…
“Zachary, you…” Louis was baffled as he looked at Zachary. “Wh-What did you say?”
“That should solve your problem.” Zachary was quick-witted as he added promptly, “So what do you think about this friend in me?”
“What a great friend you are!” Louis nodded his head repetitively.
