"She might not survive if you keep choking her like that."

Patrick's voice cut through the tension.

His tone was detached, yet held a subtle satisfaction at Elise's distress.

So he was merely a spectator to her humiliation?

William released his grip just as Elise felt consciousness slipping away.

She gasped for air, coughing violently as oxygen flooded her lungs.

Her survival had hung by a thread!

"The night air is chilly. We should return inside," Patrick remarked after watching Elise regain her composure.

He extended his hand toward her.

But William swiftly intercepted, capturing Elise's hand in his own.

Patrick's gaze met William's, yet his expression remained unperturbed.

Elise, however, wrenched her hand free with fierce determination.

William's knuckles turned white, and he immediately reached for her again.

His possessiveness flared at the sight of her with another man.

The entire evening, he had watched Patrick's constant attention toward Elise, each moment testing his self-control.

When he held her moments earlier, an unprecedented fear gripped him—that she was drifting away, becoming forever lost to him. That desperate need to keep her close, to fuse her very being with his, had overwhelmed him.

Yet again, Elise evaded his touch.

His eyes narrowed, burning into her with an intensity bordering on anguish.

"Mind your boundaries, Mr. Levine," Elise stated coldly.

Each word struck his heart like shards of glass.

Still, he clenched his fists until they ached, his voice a low growl. "Don't go with him."

"What authority do you have to make demands? Remember your position, William—tonight you're Victoria Stuart's fiancé, while I'm merely a guest at this charity gala, here as Patrick's companion."

Elise's words were precise and deliberate, creating an impassable distance between them.

"Can you not wait for me?" William pleaded.

"Waiting for you doesn't preclude me from spending time with other men," Elise retorted, meeting his gaze squarely. "Just as you continuously parade your affection for Victoria, even announcing your wedding date."

William watched, cold fury building, as she linked her arm with Patrick's.

A faint, amused smile touched Patrick's lips, clearly relishing the closeness with Elise.

Meanwhile, Elise continued her rebuke. "No one has the right to be selfish in matters of the heart. Relationships require mutual respect."

Without another word, she turned to leave with Patrick.

But before she could take a step, William pulled her firmly back into his embrace.

She stumbled against his chest, caught off guard.

He held her tightly despite her struggles, his breath cool against her ear. "I'm taking you away from here."

He meant leaving the charity ball entirely.

Elise glared at him, repeatedly trying to free her hand, but his grip only tightened.

In that moment, William seemed oblivious to her high heels, striding forward rapidly while she struggled to maintain her balance.

"Mr. Levine." Patrick moved swiftly, blocking their path.

"Step aside!" William's eyes narrowed dangerously, murderous intent flashing within them.

Patrick's demeanor shifted abruptly.

"Whatever history or future you share with Elise is irrelevant tonight. I brought her here, and I am responsible for her safety. No one forces her to do anything against her will!"

His sudden authority carried undeniable menace.