"You'll regret this, William Levine!" Victoria Stuart's voice trembled with rage. "Mark my words—I'll make you pay!"

"Don't even try," William's expression turned to ice.

"You left me no choice!" she shrieked, her composure shattering.

"Consider your family's safety before making threats," William warned coldly.

A bitter laugh escaped Victoria's lips. "And what if I refuse?"

"Then your suffering will far exceed what you've experienced today."

"You think you can intimidate me? You?" Victoria scoffed, her eyes blazing. "Your greatest mistake was rejecting me, William! Without my family's protection, you're nothing! Everyone you care about will pay the price!"

"Choose your next actions wisely," William glowered, his knuckles turning white.

Victoria stared at him, disbelief warring with fury.

He had always been distant, but to turn against her like this—over Elise Scott?!

"You'll live to regret this!" she spat out savagely, wiping away angry tears before storming out of the room.

William watched her departure with cold detachment, tension radiating through his clenched fists.

Elise Scott was driving back to her apartment when her phone rang. William's name flashed on the screen.

"Elise Scott," his stern voice came through the speaker.

"Mr. Levine," she responded, maintaining polite formality.

"Come to Levine Manor. I'm waiting."

Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. Memories of being forcibly taken to Levine Manor before resurfaced vividly.

"Alright," she agreed, though apprehension coiled in her stomach.

Her primary reason for agreeing was James. She needed to take her son away from that place.

Besides, after everything William had done for her, Henry would likely show his grandson some respect and refrain from harming her.

The past was behind them now. She had to navigate whatever came next.

Even with William's arrangements, convincing Henry to let James go wouldn't be easy.

Seeking compromise, she ventured, "Could I at least visit him regularly, like before?"

Henry had few family members left around him now.

His son and daughter-in-law had passed years ago. Ethan's fate remained unknown after his accident. William was currently detained awaiting trial. Only his daughter Nancy and her daughter Cora remained at Levine Manor after Nancy's secret divorce from Ivan York, who had long since departed.

To think the mighty Levine family, once the epitome of wealth and influence, had crumbled to this state...

Henry heard Elise's request but remained silent for a long moment, leaving her feeling increasingly disheartened.

She lacked the power to forcibly take James away, and her conscience wouldn't allow such drastic measures anyway.

Still, James was her son. She couldn't pretend he didn't exist or stay separated from him indefinitely.