'That cunning old fox! What is he doing to Elise?!'

'He could have handed her over to traffickers and no one would ever know!'

The more Elizabeth thought about it, the more terrified she became. She quickly jumped into her car, determined to rescue Elise from Levine Manor.

"Wait."

Ethan grabbed her wrist, but she violently shook him off.

The rejection was instant, creating a tense silence between them.

Still, Ethan spoke calmly. "When you see Elise, tell her to question everything your grandfather says. She shouldn't make any rash decisions. Tell her to wait for William to explain everything."

"What are you talking about? Was William keeping secrets from her?" Elizabeth asked, her intuition sharp as ever.

It wasn't that she lacked intelligence—she simply preferred not to apply it to things like academics.

But Ethan offered no further explanation. "Just stay with Elise for a few days. These things hurt deeply, so try to comfort her. I'll reschedule your filming dates so you don't need to worry about the set."

Elizabeth didn't press for details. It was pointless—Ethan never revealed anything he didn't want to share.

Her priority was getting to Elise quickly.

During the drive, Elizabeth urged her driver to speed. When the car finally stopped outside the manor, she rushed straight to her grandfather's second-floor study.

Henry always conducted important conversations in his study.

The moment Elizabeth opened the door, she saw Elise sitting inside, looking small and vulnerable.

"Where are your manners? You're an adult now!" Henry scolded as Elizabeth barged in, though his tone held no real anger.

It was merely a perfunctory reprimand from an elder about a younger person's abrupt behavior.

Elizabeth immediately moved to shield Elise. "You're much older, Grandfather, yet you'd bully a young woman. People will laugh if they find out."

Elise felt a surge of emotion watching Elizabeth defend her so fiercely.

She was surprised Elizabeth had come directly for her. She had ended their call earlier specifically to avoid involving Elizabeth further.

"As I said, I'm far too old to wrestle with youngsters like you. I was simply discussing business with Ms. Scott. Isn't that right?" Henry said righteously.

"Hmm," Elise murmured, offering no real cooperation.

Henry didn't seem bothered.

But Elizabeth wasn't about to trust her grandfather—every word from a businessman needed careful scrutiny.

Whatever the truth, her first priority was getting Elise out of there.

"Are you finished? I'm taking Elise home if you're done," Elizabeth stated firmly.

"We are." Henry nodded.

"Alright, let's go." Elizabeth took Elise's hand, ready to leave immediately.

"Elizabeth," Henry called out suddenly.

When she turned, he told her, "You're not a child anymore. You've been wandering aimlessly for years. It's time to come home and assist with the family business."

"We had an agreement," Elizabeth reminded him.

"Businessmen are never gentlemen."

Elizabeth said nothing.

But that was precisely why she despised businesspeople!