William's words left Sophia frozen in place.

Her face paled instantly before she forced tears to well in her eyes.

"I'm truly sorry," she whispered, voice trembling. "I had no idea you were allergic to lilies. I'll be more careful next time."

"It's not lilies I'm allergic to—it's you." William's voice cut through the air like ice. "Keep your distance from me."

Sophia's composure shattered completely.

No man had ever spoken to her like that. Not since she was a child.

They always fell for her delicate, vulnerable act.

This had to be Elise's doing.

William was only saying this to impress Elise!

Swallowing her humiliation, Sophia gathered the lilies and fled the room.

Elise watched her retreating figure, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

Men had always flocked around Sophia since their school days.

Elise never understood the appeal.

Couldn't they smell the hypocrisy radiating from her?

When Sophia stole Samuel from her, it felt like the ultimate betrayal.

Elise could have handled losing Samuel to anyone else. But Sophia? It made her question if any man could resist Sophia's charms.

Until today.

Whatever happened next, this moment felt like sweet revenge.

"Hey." William's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Elise stepped fully into the room and took a seat beside his bed. "I told you yesterday I'd make it up to you after you recovered."

"And?" he prompted.

"Right now, my father's loyalists are embedded throughout Stellar Group. I need to win them over and separate them from my father. That's why I can't expose the culprit immediately—I lack solid evidence. Plus, with Stellar Group already vulnerable, I can't afford another crisis. Compensation is our only option."

"Compensation?" William raised an eyebrow.

"I know money means nothing to you, but it's all I can offer."

"Actually, you could do much more..."

Elise pressed her lips together. She wasn't naive enough to misunderstand his implication.

"For instance," he continued, "you could take care of me until I'm discharged."

Elise stared at him, surprised.

That wasn't what she expected him to say.

"Disappointed, Ms. Scott?" William's lips curved into that heart-stopping smile.

Her pulse quickened.

She realized he was offering her a more comfortable alternative, sparing them both awkwardness.

If not for her past, she might have been brave enough to take a chance on him—even with his complicated personal life and the uncertain outcome.

But she couldn't gamble again.

She knew she wouldn't survive another loss.

"Alright," Elise agreed.

She owed him this much, after all.