Their eyes locked in a fiery standoff. Neither man showed any intention of backing down.

William's grip on Elise's hand tightened possessively. He would never let her go. Not to anyone.

"Are you truly protecting her?" William's voice was laced with biting sarcasm. "If you were doing your job, she wouldn't be standing here right now."

"This wasn't his decision. I chose to come myself." Elise immediately defended Patrick.

William closed his eyes briefly. "Elise..."

"We're business partners. We work together to achieve mutual goals. Personal feelings don't matter. That's why I'm here tonight—to do what's most beneficial for our arrangement. Now please release me. I have other obligations to attend to." Elise tried to pull her hand free from William's grasp.

But William held firm, completely ignoring her protests. "I'm taking you to the airport. Now."

He turned his glare toward Patrick. "Move!"

Patrick remained rooted in place, blocking their path without uttering a word. Yet there was a flicker of hesitation in his stance.

"I don't need your protection!" Elise snapped at William. "I'll leave when I decide to!"

Undeterred, William shoved Patrick aside. Patrick stumbled back but made no further attempt to stop them.

Furious, Elise bent forward and sank her teeth into the back of William's hand.

He winced in pain but refused to release her. She bit down harder, pouring all her frustration into the act.

She didn't let go even when she tasted metallic blood, until...

"William..."

A soft, sorrowful voice interrupted them.

Elise immediately released her bite. Blood welled from the deep teeth marks on William's hand, but he seemed completely unaware of the injury.

Elise straightened up to see Victoria standing before them.

Victoria's eyes held a practiced sadness as she offered a faint, wounded smile. "I didn't expect to find you here... Your grandfather has been looking for you."

William swallowed hard but offered no explanation.

"If you're busy, I can make your excuses to him," Victoria continued, her voice trembling with forced magnanimity. "But could you please return when you're finished? There are still matters that require your attention..."

Her humble plea was so convincing that even Elise felt a pang of sympathy for her.

Yet William remained coldly unmoved, as if completely blind to Victoria's suffering. "I understand," he said coolly.

He began pulling Elise along again.

Just as they were about to pass Victoria, a stern voice echoed from the garden entrance. "Just where do you think you're going?!"

William hesitated for only a heartbeat before quickly recovering his composure. His grip on Elise remained unyielding.

Henry was wheeled into the garden by Lawrence, followed by several bodyguards clad in black.

His stern gaze fixed on William and the hand that still held Elise captive. Henry's expression darkened visibly as he took in the scene.