Elise finally allowed herself to exhale, the tension slowly leaving her body as she settled into the passenger seat of Patrick's car.

Her calm exterior had been a complete facade.

No one could truly remain fearless staring down the barrel of a gun.

All she could do was endure.

And trust that Patrick was worthy of that trust.

If that trust proved misplaced... well, she would face the consequences.

"I thought you claimed not to be afraid," Patrick teased, though his tone quickly turned serious. "What were you thinking, confronting Victoria alone like that?"

Elise turned her head to look at him. "But you came, didn't you?"

"You'd be dead right now if I hadn't given you that transmitter," Patrick stated grimly.

It was fortunate he had been cautious enough to anticipate Victoria's ruthless nature.

He knew she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

"To be honest, I asked for your escort precisely because I believed you would protect me," Elise admitted. "But I was prepared to face her alone if necessary."

Patrick glanced at her, his expression shifting. "So you knew from the start I'd protect you? That I'd intervene during that meeting? You're clever, woman. You anticipated my moves without saying a word. Did it ever occur to you that you might not be as important to me as you assumed?"

"You always repay your debts. That's what you told me," Elise said solemnly.

"I could have been lying."

"Regardless, my gamble paid off in the end."

Patrick fell silent for a moment, momentarily speechless. He was both frustrated and impressed. "You know my preferences lie elsewhere, Elise. Why did you trust me so completely?"

"That's precisely why I found you trustworthy," Elise replied quietly. "Relationships between men and women are often the most fragile things in this world."

Patrick had more he wanted to say.

He was genuinely upset about the reckless risk Elise had taken today.

If Victoria had hesitated even a moment longer back there, she wouldn't have been able to spare Elise even if she wanted to.

Yet seeing Elise's composed demeanor now, he found he couldn't bring himself to scold her further.

He decided to let the matter drop.

After all, she had been pushed to her limits.

Otherwise, she never would have risked her life to meet Victoria.

Or given up on William.

Patrick's car soon arrived at a private airfield.

He wouldn't be accompanying her this time-his injury required attention, and Rockville was his base of operations anyway.

With the tense situation between his family and Victoria's faction, it was necessary for him to stay and manage the fallout.

Escorting her to her plane was already stretching the limits of his generosity.

After exchanging brief farewells, Elise boarded Patrick's private jet.

Hours later, she was back in Crestwood.

Four men in dark suits stood waiting as she disembarked.

One approached her respectfully. "We have orders from Mr. Montgomery to escort you home."

Elise frowned and called Patrick immediately.

His tone brooked no argument. "Don't think you're safe just because you're back in Crestwood. Let me be clear-no place is truly safe for you given the current circumstances. These four gentlemen will be watching over you twenty-four seven. Don't refuse me-I'm too busy to arrange your funeral."

She hadn't intended to refuse.

In fact, all she wanted to say was, "Thank you."

Patrick seemed momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered. "Just don't die on me. Build your business into something massive. That would be the best repayment you could give me."

"I'll do my absolute best."

Ending the call, Elise followed Patrick's bodyguards to her waiting car.

As she gazed out at the familiar streets of Crestwood passing by, she realized she had somehow become entangled in conflicts far beyond her control.

And she had no idea when it would all end.

Nevertheless, Elise's life gradually returned to some semblance of normalcy after her return to Crestwood.

She had no knowledge of the chaos unfolding in Rockville-such matters wouldn't appear in regular news reports, and she didn't ask Patrick about them either.