The night was consumed by raging flames.

Elise trembled uncontrollably.

No… He couldn't be dead! Not like this!

She struggled to stand but collapsed immediately, her legs too weak to support her.

All she wanted was to reach William.

Desperate, she crawled toward the burning wreckage, feeling her entire world crumbling around her.

Her heart ached so intensely she could barely breathe.

Then, through the smoke and fire, she saw figures emerging.

They were running wildly through the flames, heading straight toward her.

Their bodies were on fire, yet they were unmistakably alive.

William was still breathing!

After putting some distance between themselves and the burning vehicle, they dropped to the ground, rolling frantically to extinguish the flames.

Without hesitation, Elise threw herself onto William, using her own body to smother the fire consuming him.

Eventually, the flames on all of them were extinguished, leaving only the wreckage burning brightly.

They lay on the ground, gasping for air, having narrowly escaped death.

William pushed himself up slowly. He swayed slightly but managed to stay upright.

After a brief pause, he removed his charred jacket and wrapped it around Elise's shoulders.

She had discarded her gown earlier while trying to put out the flames, leaving her in only her delicate peach-colored bra and tiny shorts.

Elise accepted the jacket without protest, her eyes fixed on William. For some reason, he seemed more injured than the others, despite not being in the actual crash.

"I think this is it," Patrick groaned miserably in the darkness.

His voice was filled with such anguish it seemed he had reached his absolute limit.

William turned toward him. "Are your internal organs injured?"

Time had been critical during their escape, and William had basically broken the door down in his desperation.

Another moment's delay would have meant certain death for all of them.

"N-No..." Patrick was breathing heavily, his voice unusually hoarse.

William frowned, sensing something unusual about the man's condition.

He moved closer to investigate.

Aside from visible bruises and scrapes, Patrick's breathing was rapid, and his skin had an unexpected flush.

William placed his palm against Patrick's forehead.

In the chaos of the rescue, he hadn't noticed anything else. But the moment he touched Patrick's skin, he understood immediately.

Beside them, Elise spoke quietly. "It started taking effect when they began chasing us."

Her words confirmed William's suspicion, though he was amazed Patrick had held on this long. Once that substance took hold, its effects were prolonged, and the victim would gradually lose all self-control.

She knew from personal experience, having endured it herself once.

Despite her own injuries, Elise moved closer to Patrick, intending to assess how much longer he could last and whether they had time to wait.

But before she could take two steps, William suddenly pulled her back into his arms, his icy gaze fixed on Patrick, who was clenching his fists while his entire body stiffened with pain.

"William..." She struggled against his tight embrace.

"You can hate me, you can even kill me for this," he growled clearly into her ear. "But I will never allow you to satisfy Patrick's carnal needs!"