"Everything's settled," Elizabeth murmured softly. "I can finally rest here without any worries."

"Alright. The food options around here are limited, so you'll need to order delivery for meals."

"I will."

Elise rose from the bed and prepared to leave for work.

During her commute, she contemplated the situation before dialing William. "Elizabeth is staying at my apartment."

"I know. Please look after her for the next few days."

"You were aware of this all along, weren't you?" she asked, though his tone had already confirmed it.

"How could I not know when we share the same living space? Elizabeth believed she was being discreet, but I never imagined she'd still be holding on after all these years." William admitted, though he hadn't anticipated the situation would escalate this far. "I shouldn't have pressured her to return to Levine Manor."

Elise couldn't suppress her curiosity. "Does Ethan not return Elizabeth's feelings?"

She could clearly see how deeply Elizabeth cared for Ethan.

But was his lack of reciprocation the reason they couldn't be together?

If that were true, why would Ethan sacrifice himself for Elizabeth's sake?

"Their relationship is complicated," William explained carefully. "Out of respect for Ethan as my friend and elder, I can't disclose the details. The fundamental truth remains that they cannot be together."

Elise felt a flicker of irritation at William's deliberate secrecy.

However, William suddenly seemed to reconsider. "Though it's not that I'm completely unwilling to share..."

Elise remained skeptical of William's sudden willingness to cooperate—she knew his cunning nature all too well!

"But since this involves my family's private matters, I'm afraid I can't reveal them to someone outside the family. That being said," he continued smoothly, "if you were to marry me, you would naturally have the right to know everything."

William stated this as if it were the most logical conclusion, leaving Elise momentarily speechless.

She had already formed opinions about Henry Levine's serpent-like cunning, but it appeared the entire Levine family shared similar traits.

"Regardless," William continued, "Elizabeth can stay with you for now. I'll arrange alternative accommodation for her once I've found a suitable place."