Only heaven knew the torment William had endured throughout the night.

Elise had teased him relentlessly, pushing him to his absolute limits.

He couldn't retaliate, couldn't escape until the drug's effects completely faded.

The entire night, he remained vigilant, fearing she might harm him or take advantage of his vulnerable state.

Unless someone experienced it personally, they could never comprehend the sheer agony William went through.

After surviving such an excruciating night, he woke only to face her false accusations and harsh words.

Even the most patient saint would have lost their temper under such circumstances.

Elise stood frozen, stunned by William's declaration. She found it impossible to believe him. Every inch of her body ached with familiar soreness, exactly like that unforgettable experience years ago.

How could she possibly accept that he hadn't touched her? The visible marks covering his body only seemed to confirm her suspicions about their night together.

"If you don't trust me, visit the hospital for examination. You had no condoms here, and given last night's urgency, I certainly had no opportunity to acquire any," William stated firmly, recognizing the doubt in her eyes.

He couldn't really blame her for her skepticism.

Anyone witnessing the current scene would naturally assume they'd shared an intensely passionate night.

William had anticipated the difficulty of explaining this situation from the beginning.

Elise bit her lower lip thoughtfully.

William...

Even though he had previously deceived her by not revealing he was the man from her eighteenth birthday, she had come to understand his character through their time together. He possessed self-respect and noble principles that made outright lying beneath him.

While he had concealed the truth initially, he never actually denied it when confronted. He simply avoided disclosing the full story.

Hearing William speak with such conviction now gave Elise little reason to doubt him. Yet she struggled to process her conflicting emotions.

Perhaps her reluctance to accept William again had caused her to close herself off, automatically assuming the worst about him. She hadn't properly reflected on what actually transpired during the night.

Partly to avoid further emotional pain, and partly... because she didn't want to see William in a positive light. She preferred keeping her heart securely guarded.

"Regarding your soreness and bruises," William explained calmly, "that resulted from your intense frustration last night and your... vigorous resistance."

"My injuries occurred because I didn't satisfy you, and you retaliated accordingly." Elise pressed her lips together tightly.

His words made her uncomfortable, and she preferred not to hear more details.

Even without deep reflection, she vaguely recalled her own actions during the night.

"Do you believe me now?" William asked softly, noticing her silence. His voice had gentled considerably. He couldn't bear seeing her in distress or experiencing hardship.

"You should leave now that you're awake," Elise responded, deliberately avoiding his question.

However, her tone had lost its earlier anger. His explanation had finally reached her.

William smiled wryly in exasperation. He'd suffered tremendously for her sake throughout the night, yet she offered no words of comfort. This ungrateful woman truly seemed emotionless sometimes.

Naturally, William didn't intend to make things difficult for Elise over this.

Besides, her words held some truth.

As an engaged man, he had no right to demand anything from her. He threw back the covers, and Elise's eyes widened before she quickly turned away. William suddenly remembered his complete nudity.

He hadn't slept naked to take advantage of Elise.

Otherwise, he would have ensured she remained properly dressed before they fell asleep.

His own clothes were not only soaked but completely shredded beyond repair.

There was no possibility of wearing them again.

He had searched through Elise's wardrobe for something wearable; forget about her undergarments, he couldn't even fit into her shorts.

Her shirts proved too tight even without buttoning, practically strangling him when he attempted to wear them.

Eventually, he settled for wrapping a towel around his waist before lying on Elise's bed.

Obviously, the towel had loosened during the night, and he remained unaware when it slipped off completely.

William quickly clarified, "Didn't you tear my clothes to pieces yourself?"