William grinned as Elise turned away from him.

She was completely shutting him down.

At the same time, Elise continued scrolling through news articles casually.

"Why did you hide your face when you arrived?" she asked without looking up.

"I assumed I didn't have the privilege," William responded.

Privilege?

Elise lifted her gaze to meet his.

He explained further, "One of your dating conditions, Ms. Scott, was keeping our relationship private."

Elise pressed her lips together.

She definitely hadn't stated that explicitly.

Though she was hesitant now.

Truthfully, she wasn't entirely confident about dating William.

Yet...

Perhaps a spark was igniting within her.

Or maybe she simply couldn't bring herself to reject William's persistent kindness.

Regardless, trusting others remained challenging for her.

Her past with Samuel and growing up abused by the Scotts had left deep scars.

Going public would only complicate things.

Beyond worrying about their relationship failing, she'd have to deal with the inconveniences William's status would bring.

What she truly wanted was to resolve her own issues independently.

Without binding anyone else to her struggles.

The core issue was her profound trust issues.

"Yes," she finally replied.

Even as she spoke, she felt her heart flutter.

William's consideration toward her was genuinely touching.

"Yes? That's all?" William raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Elise narrowed her eyes in response.

What else was she supposed to say?

Certainly nothing overly sentimental.

She could never manage that.

"Can't I have something like a probation period?" William proposed. "We could go public once I've proven myself?"

Elise bit her lip gently.

She knew perfectly well her feelings for William were evolving.

Certain emotions were beginning to sprout.

His enthusiasm was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.

However, she couldn't predict how long it would take to overcome her reservations.

To fully accept William without holding back.

She definitely wasn't ready now.

Confirming their relationship publicly would feel unfair to him.

William could clearly see her internal struggle.

Though slightly disappointed, he would never pressure her.

He had grown accustomed to waiting when it came to her.

He didn't mind how long it took.

Even if it meant waiting a decade.

"Very well, Ms. Scott," he said gracefully. "You don't have to answer my previous question. But I would like to know something else: why keep your Lovely identity secret? That title alone would let you dominate Crestwood's fashion scene."

Elise looked up at him then.

She could feel how much he accommodated her.

He never tried to force her into anything.

Even if she still resented him changing her clothes without consent.

"I never intended to hide anything," she explained. "My mother instructed me never to reveal myself."

"But if I recall correctly, she passed away years ago," William noted. "How did she communicate this? Through dreams? An Ouija board perhaps?"

Elise couldn't suppress a giggle.

William's comically serious expressions always amused her.

Her mother's death typically brought her sadness.

Yet the way he spoke about it somehow brought relief.

"I suppose my fashion design talent is both inherited and learned," she shared. "My mother taught me everything herself when I was young. She was actually an internationally renowned fashion designer. But she always maintained a low profile. She remained anonymous and never participated in competitions. Even back then, she told me that if my work ever gained recognition, I must never reveal my identity to the public."