"Why?" Elise demanded, struggling to maintain her composure.

"I'll explain everything when I return," William replied.

"Are you planning to announce your wedding date?" Elise asked bluntly.

William fell silent for several heartbeats. Elise made her position clear. "It's already expected. It doesn't affect me in the slightest."

"That's not everything—"

"You're terrifyingly selfish, William," she said, emphasizing each word.

William felt the air leave his lungs at that moment.

Elise continued, "Whether this marriage is by your choice or not, Victoria Stuart now considers you her partner. It's a legitimate relationship, so why do you keep clinging to me? Is this fair to her? I'm not saintly enough to sympathize with someone who wants me dead, but your irresponsibility disgusts me—toward her and toward me."

"I will never marry Victoria Stuart," William repeated, his tone grave and clearly suppressing his anger.

"That's your business," Elise snapped, losing her composure. "You can do whatever you want. I'm just trying to live my life, so could you please stop harassing me?!"

"Just don't come to Rockville. I promise that from now on, I won't bother you until I've resolved my personal affairs," William vowed.

"Do you even know who sent me the invitation?!" Elise countered. "It was Charles Stuart himself!"

"I know."

"Do you think I could continue running my business if I refused him?"

"The most important thing for you right now is to avoid the spotlight. You're attracting too much attention."

"Do you really think I wouldn't draw attention regardless? I'm an eyesore no matter what I do now, William, and it's all because of you!"

"I will make it up to you."

"I don't need that!" Elise snapped, rejecting him. "I'm definitely attending that charity ball in Rockville. Whatever is happening between you and Victoria—whether it's announcing your wedding date or a shotgun wedding—it means nothing to me!"

"Elise, please just listen to me. Don't be impulsive about this..."

"You think I'm going just to upset you? Do you think I want to go at all?! I have to go, that's the reality! If I don't, I'd be disrespecting the Stuarts, and Charles Stuart could use that to pressure Patrick Montgomery into cutting me off!"

"You never should have worked with him."

"Hah!" Elise snorted coldly—so William knew, but didn't care about her situation.

"You're the one saying I'm getting too much attention. How long do you think I'd survive without his protection?"

"You shouldn't depend on him," William told her.

"And I have even less reason to depend on you," Elise retorted sharply.

"Either way, I'm not letting you attend the ball next week. I'll give you a reasonable explanation when I can," William stated simply, then hung up immediately.

He was as stubborn as he was cold.

Elise set her phone down heavily.

She rarely got angry, but William was truly pushing her to the edge.

Still, she ultimately decided to ignore him and dismissed what he had said.

That is, until Saturday—when she was ready to leave for Rockville.

She realized William's threat wasn't empty when she opened her door to find Ethan standing there, flanked by two imposing men in black.

"What's this?" Elise asked with a frown, though she already had an idea.

"William sent me," Ethan replied. "Don't blame him—he's doing this for your own good."

"For my own good?!" Elise snorted, her anger uncontrollable as she clenched her fists, ready to strike. "If he cared, he should respect me instead of forcing me like this!"

Ethan stared at her silently for a moment before slowly saying, "He'll explain why."

"I don't need that," Elise growled, struggling to calm herself. "Please let me leave, Ethan."

"I'm sorry," Ethan replied, his stance firm.

His demeanor was different from usual too.

In the end, a Levine is a Levine—their blood runs with indifference!