Family Ties?!

Elise flinched while she was still in William’s embrace, and he clearly felt her sudden tension.

“Come here,” William then told Elizabeth.

Elizabeth approached hesitantly, her steps unsteady. Though her cheeks were flushed from alcohol, her expression was one of pure apprehension, like a child caught misbehaving.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your moment,” she said with wounded pride. “I just really needed the bathroom.”

Though Elise had been resisting William’s advances earlier, she now buried her face completely in his chest, too mortified to face Elizabeth. William knew exactly how embarrassed Elise felt, but he showed no mercy. He pressed further, “And what do you call my grandfather?”

“William, you’re frightening me.” Elizabeth’s pupils dilated—had kissing somehow drained all his intelligence?!

Still, seeing the serious look in her cousin’s eyes, she answered truthfully. “Grandfather.”

William then looked down at Elise, who remained hidden against him. “So? Do you understand the connection between Elizabeth and me now, Ms. Scott?”

Elise’s ears turned even redder than when he’d nibbled on them earlier. She nodded without lifting her head, keeping her face pressed firmly against his chest.

“Would you like to see my birth certificate as well, Ms. Scott?” William asked pointedly.

Elise shook her head vigorously, while Elizabeth grew even more confused by their exchange.

“What’s going on with you two?” Elizabeth couldn’t help asking.

“Nothing important. Though someone mistakenly believed I was seeing two women at once—”

William paused as he suddenly felt a delicate hand cover his lips.

Elise finally looked up from his chest, her eyes pleading with him to stop.

This was beyond embarrassing—having William know was more than enough!

William’s lips curved into a smile beneath her palm, and she could clearly feel his warmth and the movement of his mouth—as if he were kissing her hand.

Elise quickly withdrew her hand from his lips, while Elizabeth watched their curious interaction with growing bewilderment.

“What are you two doing?”

“Nothing. You can leave now,” William told Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked genuinely hurt—was she supposed to stay or go?!

“Why are you still here?” William’s tone grew slightly sterner.

Elizabeth had always been somewhat afraid of him, even since childhood.

Though she’d lived at Levine Manor since she was young, her parents rarely disciplined her—nor did Henry Levine, her maternal grandfather and family patriarch. Only her elusive cousin carried such an intimidating presence that kept her from misbehaving around him.

“I still need the washroom,” Elizabeth protested softly.

“Find another one!”

Elizabeth couldn’t argue further and hurried away immediately.

Elise tried to slip away too, but William caught her wrist the moment she moved.

He felt like her slender wrist might break with just a little pressure!

“Don’t you think you owe me an explanation, Ms. Scott?” he asked in his deep, magnetic voice.

Elise twisted the fabric of her dress so nervously it began to wrinkle.

After making such a terrible mistake, she knew the man before her wouldn’t show any mercy!