Ethan was covered in welts from Lawrence's whip, but he remained silent throughout the punishment.

When it finally ended, he rose quietly and walked away without a word.

William followed closely behind him.

Nancy attempted to intervene once more, but Henry raised his hand in warning, silencing her immediately.

William drove Ethan to the studio where Elizabeth was scheduled to film. Before the car even came to a complete stop, Ethan was already stepping out. He paused beneath a streetlight, then abruptly turned and disappeared into a nearby alley.

William knew exactly what had transpired in Nathan's car earlier.

Sometimes, when you miss your chance at love, it's gone forever.

William extended a hand to help Ethan up, but Ethan waved him off, pushing himself up from the ground slowly.

He managed only a few steps before stumbling, forcing William to quickly catch him.

As William led Ethan away, he couldn't tell if it was the physical pain overwhelming him, or the heartbreak that proved too much to bear.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Nathan remained sitting awkwardly in his car, completely unaware of the scene unfolding outside.

Both were naturally outgoing individuals, but that single kiss had transformed them into hesitant introverts.

The silence between them stretched uncomfortably long.

Both sat frozen in their seats, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I...Well..."

Nathan tried to speak several times, but words failed him. Elizabeth bit her lip nervously, equally uncertain how to handle the situation.

He had always been like a brother to her, and now this had happened! Taking a deep breath, Nathan finally managed, "Just give me your bank account number."

"My mother...I mean, Ms. Levine froze all my accounts. Transferring money would be pointless," Elizabeth explained.

"Then...what about cash?" Nathan suggested.

Elizabeth continued biting her lip, torn between accepting and refusing.

"Let's find the nearest bank," Nathan declared, starting the car and pulling away from the curb.

Elizabeth remained silent, implicitly agreeing with the plan. When they stopped before an ATM, Nathan returned moments later, frustrated.

"Damn machine! There's a three thousand dollar withdrawal limit!"

Neither of them typically used cash or encountered card limits, making this discovery surprising.

"I'll call the bank," Nathan said immediately.

Elizabeth quickly caught his wrist, then just as quickly released it. Despite their history of playful wrestling and casual contact, the gesture now felt strangely intimate. "Contacting the bank would alert Ms. Levine," she explained.

"Are you really that afraid of her?" Nathan growled, though he'd never shown fear of anyone before.

"I just don't want to cause trouble for you."

"It wouldn't be trouble."

"Let's try to avoid it anyway."