Laurence’s expression darkened, and he turned to Tony. “How is Noelle not worthy of me? So what if she’s my bodyguard? To me, she’s not just my bodyguard. She’s my childhood friend.

“She only lowered herself to be my bodyguard because she wanted to protect me, out of concern for me.”

Tony exchanged glances with the rest before he eased his expression and said, “Even if Noelle is your childhood friend, she is an orphan and not worthy of you in terms of status.

“The lady of the house has to be