Elise struggled to help William back to his hospital bed.

He was staying in a luxury suite that resembled a penthouse more than a medical facility. Nurses and physical therapists waited respectfully in the living area, while Elise found herself alone with William in the private bedroom. His assistant Samuel was conspicuously absent.

The atmosphere grew tense with just the two of them.

"Would you like some fruit?" Elise asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes."

She glanced at the fruit basket nearby. "An apple?"

"Perfect."

"Alright."

Elise selected an apple, washed it thoroughly, and began peeling it awkwardly.

She never kept fruit at home, disliking them generally. Between her time abroad, working at Mitchell Corp, and now managing Stellar Group, she barely had time for proper meals, let alone fruit preparation. The apple peel came off in jagged, uneven strips.

She looked up sheepishly, catching the amused glint in William's eyes. "Finished?" he asked.

"If you don't mind the presentation," she said, handing him the poorly peeled apple.

William examined it thoughtfully. "It has character."

Elise couldn't tell if he was complimenting or mocking her.

"Are you going to eat it?"

"Feed me, please."

"Can't you manage yourself?"

"I'm too weak."

But he had just walked to the bathroom unassisted!

Still, Elise held a slice of apple to his lips.

His mouth closed around the fruit, his lips brushing softly against her fingertips.

A shiver ran through her at the warm, moist contact.

As she watched him chew, he asked, "It's surprisingly sweet. Would you like to try some?"

"No, I really don't care for fruit," Elise refused a bit too quickly.

William chuckled softly but continued eating the apple slices she offered.

When he finished, Elise hurried to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Upon returning, William changed the subject to ease the tension. "Do you have stomach issues? My uncle mentioned you had gastrointestinal bleeding before."

"I overdid it with drinking that time," Elise said dismissively.

"Was that the only occurrence?" William pressed.

"...No," Elise admitted reluctantly. "Women face disadvantages in business drinking situations. I drink as much as possible to avoid being taken advantage of."

William's throat moved visibly. "Samuel Mitchell didn't deserve that level of dedication."

"No, he didn't," Elise agreed.

Back then, she had done everything short of compromising her dignity to secure investors for Mitchell Corp.

All that effort, only to be told she was too strong, too independent, and that being with her made him feel inadequate.

Reflecting on Samuel's breakup words now felt deeply ironic.

"Everything I do from now on will be for myself," Elise declared firmly, as much to herself as to him.

William started to respond when Samuel knocked politely on the door. "Mr. Levine?"

William's lips tightened as he turned toward his assistant, who looked appropriately apprehensive about interrupting. "Your dinner has arrived."

The last time William had abandoned him roadside, Samuel had walked three hours to get home.

The memory still haunted him.

Samuel only entered after receiving William's nod, placing the meal containers on the bedside table before preparing to leave.

That's when Elise spoke up. "Mr. Wilson?"

"Yes, Ms. Scott?" Samuel responded humbly.

"Your boss claims he's feeling weak. Could you please feed him?"

Samuel's jaw nearly dropped.

But William had eaten breakfast independently after waking up!

Samuel glanced uncertainly at William, catching the dangerous look in his eyes, and quickly agreed. "Of course."

The room's atmosphere immediately turned peculiar.

While Elise ate her meal with apparent nonchalance, Samuel fed William under the man's intense, displeased glare.