Elise turned toward the voice.

A boy who looked about five years old stood at the doorway of her hospital room.

He wore a patient gown just like hers.

His little face was so strikingly beautiful it was hard to look away.

Simultaneously, Elise's heart gave a peculiar jolt.

Some deep part of her felt an inexplicable pull, a connection she couldn't name.

The boy didn't hesitate.

He ran to her bed, climbed up using his small feet, and snuggled close.

His soft, small body hugged her tightly.

"Were you hurt, Mommy?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

He pulled back slightly and used his chubby hands to carefully wipe the tears from her cheeks.

Elise realized then that tears had been falling from her sheer frustration.

Her heart melted at his innocent comfort.

Yet, she was certain she didn't know him.

She smiled softly, running her fingers through his smooth, curly hair.

Her voice was unexpectedly gentle. "You've mistaken me for someone else, sweetheart."

"No, you're my mommy," he insisted, his tone confident and excited. "Daddy and I will protect you now. Daddy can be grumpy, always has a serious face, doesn't talk much, comes home late, gets stomachaches from skipping meals, and smokes... but he's very rich and handsome. Please don't ever leave us again, Mommy."

Elise was speechless, a helpless smile touching her lips. "You're adorable, but I'm really not your mommy."

"James." A voice, cold yet captivating, came from the doorway.

The boy flinched and turned his head.

Elise's gaze followed.

A man stood at the door.

His white shirt was casually unbuttoned at the collar.

He carried an air of restrained intensity that was hard to define.

His facial features were perfectly sculpted, his expression sharp and composed.

He stood tall and straight, radiating a noble yet detached aura.

None of the powerful, wealthy men she'd ever met could compare to his mesmerizing presence.

"Daddy!" James greeted him, suddenly very proper and polite.

Looking back at James, Elise understood why the boy was so exceptionally handsome.

The man's voice was stern. "Back to your room. Now."

James's lower lip jutted out in a pout, but he nodded obediently, his reluctance clear.

He was clearly a well-disciplined child.

Still, James turned back to Elise. "I have to go, Mommy. But my room is right next door. Will you come visit me later?"

Elise couldn't refuse the hopeful look in his eyes.

She nodded. "Okay." She could properly explain the misunderstanding to him then.

"Oh! My name is James Levine. Everyone calls me Jamie. You should too, Mommy!" After his quick introduction, little Jamie reluctantly walked over to the man.

The man was obviously over six feet tall.

The height difference made Jamie seem even smaller and more perfect beside him.

The man took Jamie's small hand and turned to leave without a backward glance.

Despite his stiff, aloof demeanor, Elise didn't find him particularly rude.

Perhaps that was the privilege granted to exceptionally good-looking men.

Elise wasn't much of a talker herself.

His distant attitude toward a stranger actually felt comfortable to her.

She decided to get out of bed.

Walking was awkward with the plaster cast on her right foot, but she stubbornly leaned on her crutches, determined to reach the floor.

Self-reliance had become a deeply ingrained habit.

She was used to being alone.

Even during her three-year relationship with Samuel, she had never leaned on him too much, never troubled him excessively.

Now, she felt a grim sense of luck about that independence.

It would allow her to persevere through the difficult times ahead.

After a considerable struggle to use the washroom, she stepped out.

She was startled to find Jamie's father had returned.

He was standing there, watching her.

Her face paled slightly from surprise.

"Do I frighten you that much?" His voice was deep and magnetic.

"No," Elise shook her head, regaining her composure. "I just didn't expect anyone else to be here." She'd just been appreciating his aloofness; his sudden reappearance was mildly irritating.

A subtle shift in his eyes indicated he'd noticed her change in attitude.

His lips pressed together almost imperceptibly.

"My name is William Levine. The venue where your wedding was scheduled to take place belongs to me, Ms. Scott."

Elise understood immediately.

As the owner of the venue, he bore a degree of responsibility for the fire.

"I apologize that you were caught in the fire on my property and suffered a fracture," William continued, his tone strictly businesslike and solemn. "I will therefore cover all your expenses during your hospital stay. This includes medical fees, accommodation, rehabilitation, and related costs. You are also entitled to seek compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and the cancellation of your wedding."

"No," Elise refused flatly. "Covering the medical fees is sufficient."

William looked at her strangely.

Elise's foot was growing numb from standing too long.

He clearly noticed her difficulty moving.

"Would you like some assistance?" he asked.

"No, I'm fi— Oh!" Before she could finish, one of her crutches slipped.

As she started to fall, William moved with surprising speed.

He caught her firmly in his arms.

Stunned, Elise was enveloped by a clean, minty scent from him.

She thought she could feel the strong, rapid beat of his heart against her ear.

She immediately tried to push away, intensely uncomfortable with the intimacy.

In her three years with Samuel, their physical contact had rarely progressed beyond holding hands.

Samuel had known about her aversion to male intimacy, rooted in past trauma.

He had been caring. He had been respectful.

Or so she had thought.

People's hearts were truly fickle.

With William's help, Elise steadied herself, but her crutches were on the floor.

Trying to balance on one foot without support, she began to teeter dangerously.

Alarmed, her arms instinctively flew up and wrapped around his neck for stability.

The moment she did it, she realized how intimate it was and quickly let go.

Her cheeks, previously pale, were now flushed with color.

William observed all of this silently.

He saw the stubborn determination in her eyes.

She clearly wanted no further involvement with him.

The room wasn't large. It was only a few steps to her bed.

She just had to endure for a few more seconds.

His lips tightened slightly.

Then, he decided to act.

He scooped her up into his arms.

"What is going on here?!" A familiar man's voice, filled with obvious anger, suddenly rang out in the room.

Elise's heart skipped a beat.

She bit her lip.

William, however, seemed completely unmoved, as if deaf to the other man's outburst.

His gaze remained fixed on Elise as he walked steadily, without hurry, and placed her gently back onto her hospital bed.