No lengthy exchange was necessary between two men of such strength.

William quickly entered the vehicle and forcefully pressed the seat belt release, freeing Patrick.

Without hesitation, he immediately began pushing against the car door that had Patrick trapped.

The vehicle's frame was severely crushed, embedding Patrick against the door. Only the airbags had prevented his body from being completely crushed.

"How is he?" Elise appeared outside the wreckage, her voice filled with anxiety. "Can you get him out?!"

"Why did you come back?!" William shouted, his expression fierce.

But his hands never stopped working against the mangled door.

He couldn't simply rip it open. Sharp metal fragments might have pierced Patrick's body. Removing them carelessly could cause fatal bleeding.

"Let me help," Elise pleaded urgently.

"No! Get away from here!" William snarled viciously.

"William!" she cried out.

"She's right, you should go," Patrick added weakly. "I'm concerned our rescuer might stop if you don't."

Elise clenched her teeth but reluctantly stepped back, though not too far.

A persistent fear gnawed at her - the terrifying possibility of the car suddenly igniting.

She shuddered at the thought, the sudden terror threatening to overwhelm her completely.

No.

That couldn't happen.

Her eyes fixed on the dangerous sparks flickering beneath the car's undercarriage.

She had to stop this!

Without thinking, Elise removed her shoes, determined to smother the sparks...

Whoosh.

In that exact moment, the sparks erupted into flames, instantly creating a raging fire!

The blaze was blindingly bright. William, Patrick, and the driver all felt the intense, searing heat.

Within seconds, fire began encircling the entire vehicle!

"Elise!"

William was gradually working the door free from Patrick, moving with extreme caution to avoid using excessive force.

"I'll try to put out the fire!" Elise shouted desperately.

"It's useless! Just go!"

"No! I can do this!" she insisted stubbornly - what would happen to everyone trapped inside if she actually left?!

"Go now!" William yelled. "I won't save him if you stay!"

"Fine, I'm going! Just hurry!" Elise agreed immediately, though she was deceiving William, still fully intending to fight the flames.

If the fire spread completely, everyone would perish.

Acting on pure instinct, she began removing her gown just as William suddenly emerged from the vehicle.

He rushed toward her, grabbing her and preventing her from approaching the flames.

"Let me go! We can save him... William!"

She refused to surrender, unable to bear watching someone burn alive before her eyes.

William seemed completely deaf to her pleas as he dragged her to a safe distance.

Then, gazing into her tear-filled eyes above her bruised cheeks, he told her firmly, "I'll get him out. Wait for me here!"

With those words, Elise watched him turn and rush back toward the burning wreckage.

As she watched his determined silhouette against the fiery backdrop, she suddenly saw the same determined figure who had rushed toward her on the night of her wedding to Samuel.

It was William...

It had always been him.

But this time, he was moving in the opposite direction - straight into the inferno.

Her hand lifted stiffly, barely catching the edge of his sleeve.

She wanted to scream for him to stop, but the words caught in her throat.