William settled onto the plush sofa in his private suite.

His first-aid kit was already open on the coffee table.

Elise wondered if he would have tended to the wound himself had she not entered.

Since she was responsible for his injury, she felt obligated to assist.

She retrieved the iodine and anti-inflammatory ointment, kneeling to apply them to the inflamed area.

"You need to be more cautious," she advised.

"It's not exactly a spot I can easily monitor," William replied weakly.

Elise didn't argue, focusing intently on disinfecting the sensitive skin.

"Ah!" William suddenly gasped.

"Does it hurt?" Elise inquired.

"Not at all," William insisted, though his strained expression betrayed him.

Elise remained silent but lightened her touch.

The room grew quiet, filled only with their breathing as she worked meticulously.

After cleaning, medicating, and bandaging the wound, she glanced up.

William's intense gaze made her heart flutter.

She suddenly became acutely aware of their compromising position.

Flushing, Elise quickly stood, feigning nonchalance. "All done. Avoid getting it wet and minimize friction when moving."

"Understood," William replied, his voice thick with restraint.

Elise turned to organize the medical supplies, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

Seeking to diffuse the tension, she asked while arranging bottles, "How is Ethan progressing?"

"Barring complications, he's receiving excellent specialized care overseas," William explained. "He remains comatose. The specialists believe the cranial hematoma requires careful monitoring. They're observing whether it resolves naturally before considering risky surgical intervention."

"So Ethan's recovery depends on the clot dissolving spontaneously?" Elise clarified.

William nodded grimly. "Essentially, yes."

"And you left him abroad alone?" Elise asked with concern.

"Currently, there are no better alternatives. His condition has stabilized, so my presence wasn't necessary," William responded. "My grandfather remained with him. Since retiring, he has ample time to provide companionship."

Elise acknowledged this silently. Additional visitors wouldn't accelerate Ethan's recovery.

They could only hope his gentle spirit would overcome this challenge.

After securing the first-aid kit, Elise grabbed her crutches and hobbled toward the bathroom.

She needed to wash the residual ointment from her hands.

Upon entering, she noticed black boxer briefs near the faucet.

An awkward tension filled the space.

William suddenly entered, swiftly scooping up the garment and discarding it in a nearby bin.