Elise finally managed to calm her racing heart. She attempted to move her leg, relieved when it responded with a slight twitch.

Gritting her teeth, she watched as William abruptly released the driver's seat. The car groaned in protest as the heavy seat crashed down violently.

Beside her, the chauffeur was still gasping for air.

Elise's pulse hammered in her ears. If she had been even a second slower, her leg would have been trapped beneath that crushing weight once more.

She shuddered, refusing to imagine the devastating consequences of both the seat and chauffeur slamming onto her fragile foot.

Just as relief began to wash over her, her eyes caught movement. William's hands were pinned beneath the driver's seat.

The darkness obscured his expression, but Elise's heart clenched painfully. "William!" she cried out, her voice trembling.

Had he lacked the strength to pull free in time? Or had he deliberately used his hands as a shield for her leg?

Tears blurred her vision, making it impossible to see clearly through the gloom.

William endured the bone-deep agony without uttering a sound. After a brief pause, he pushed the driver's seat upward again, the chauffeur still slumped across it.

In the next moment, he freed his bloodied hands. He didn't bother checking the severity of his injuries, ignoring the torn flesh and dripping blood.

Instead, he turned and gathered Elise into his arms once more. Pressed against his chest, she inhaled the mingled scents of sweat and the metallic tang of fresh blood.

He maneuvered around the deployed airbag, carefully extracting Elise from behind it. He crawled through the shattered window frame first, then turned back to lift her out, meticulously avoiding the jagged glass shards.

Her arms remained wrapped around his neck as he carried her away from the wreckage. He placed her gently on the ground a safe distance away before collapsing beside her.

His hands immediately began checking for injuries, searching for anything requiring urgent medical attention...

But Elise stopped him. "Patrick... He's still in there."

Her meaning was clear—she wanted him to rescue Patrick too.

William's fingers stilled momentarily. "Go help him," Elise repeated with unwavering determination.

He swallowed hard but ultimately rose and returned to the mangled vehicle.

As he approached, a faint but unmistakable scent reached him—the acrid smell of something burning.

Crouching low, he aimed his phone's flashlight beneath the car. Thin wisps of smoke already curled ominously from underneath.

Without hesitation, he turned and hurried back.

Elise saw him returning alone. "Where's Patrick?" she demanded urgently.

"The car's about to ignite," he stated grimly, scooping her into his arms again and moving further away. "Staying means certain death for all of us."

"William!" she cried in disbelief. How could he abandon someone to die like this?

No, two people—the chauffeur was still trapped as well!

"I'm not that noble. Keeping us both alive is my only priority—everyone else falls outside my consideration," William replied coldly, quickening his pace as he carried her.

"Put me down!" she snapped, struggling against his hold.

He only tightened his grip.

"Put me down right now, William Levine! If you won't save him, I will!" she snarled, unable to match his chilling indifference.