Elise felt an emotion stirring inside her that she couldn't quite define, but she pushed it aside.

The car pulled up to Chateau Emporio. Before she could speak, William told her, "James is waiting for you inside."

She swallowed the words she had been about to say. Just then, Charles approached, greeting them respectfully. "Welcome home, Master William—and welcome, Ms. Scott."

So Charles was here too? Did that mean William had sent him away during her last visit?

"Mommy!"

A small figure came running out of the chateau and threw himself into Elise's arms. "Mommy, I missed you so much! Daddy wouldn't let me visit you at the hospital!"

It was clearly a complaint.

Elise crouched down to James's level. She explained patiently, "Daddy was injured and needed to rest at the hospital. If you had visited, he would have needed to take care of you, and that would have slowed his recovery."

"That's not true," James retorted sharply. "Daddy just didn't want me to have you all to myself. He doesn't know how to share."

Elise couldn't help but smile at his choice of words.

Charles was smiling too, though he silently agreed with William—after all, a man shouldn't have to share his wife.

"James," William growled, his expression darkening.

James immediately fell silent, intimidated by his father's tone. He quickly produced a pair of pink slippers and placed them on the floor. "Try these on, Mommy! Daddy and I spent forever picking them out at the mall."

Elise felt her heart soften.

She wouldn't be visiting often, yet they had gone to the trouble of buying slippers specifically for her.

The memory of William having to buy his own slippers at her place made her feel even worse.

She slipped her feet into the slippers. They were soft, comfortable, and perfectly sized. "They're beautiful."

"I knew you'd like them, Mommy! Come on, I'll show you around our house. It's huge and so pretty!" James said excitedly.

Elise wondered how his little heart would handle learning she had been here before.

"Ms. Scott, I saw on the news that you signed Elizabeth York as your brand ambassador," Charles mentioned.

"Oh, yes," Elise nodded, her eyes flickering briefly toward William.

He appeared completely composed. When he turned to meet her gaze, she had already looked away.

"You have excellent judgment, Ms. Scott. Elizabeth is both beautiful and fashionable. She's the perfect choice for a brand ambassador," Samuel quickly added.

He was simultaneously praising Elise's business sense and Elizabeth's appearance—killing two birds with one stone by complimenting the two most important women in William's life!

He almost wanted to congratulate himself on his diplomatic skills.

"Don't you agree, boss?" he asked, seizing the opportunity to curry favor.

William glanced at Samuel before commenting, "The York family has good genes."

Samuel stared at his boss through the rearview mirror, utterly speechless.

The man should have acknowledged Elise's business acumen first, then flattered her by saying she was more beautiful than Elizabeth—not bragged about his own family's genetics!

Samuel finally understood why William was making so little progress with the lady. In fact, it would be surprising if he ever managed to win her over!

Meanwhile, Elise frowned at William's words. So... he had already met Elizabeth's parents?