Elise hadn't pressed any elevator buttons either, leaving it frozen on the underground parking level.

Elizabeth stood frozen in shock when the doors slid open.

Returning in the dead of night was terrifying enough, and the sudden metallic clang of the elevator nearly sent her fleeing back to her car.

She stared at the couple inside, completely petrified.

Only when the elevator emitted a sharp beep did Elizabeth snap back to reality. She stumbled backward, stammering, "I-I'll take the next one! Didn't see anything!"

Then the doors sealed shut.

That was absolutely terrifying!

William and Elise were actually in that elevator, and...

After catching her breath, Elizabeth suddenly registered that Elise had been crying. Had William... forced himself on her?!

With that horrifying thought, she frantically pressed the elevator button again, watching the descending numbers with growing anxiety.

Inside the elevator, William roughly tugged Elise's clothing back into place. The harsh treatment stung, but Elise bit her lip and endured in silence.

When the elevator reached their floor, William dragged Elise to her apartment door, punching in the security code with furious precision. The door swung open and he shoved her inside.

Elise stood in her living room, watching William remain framed in the doorway with no indication he intended to enter.

So... His urgency to get her inside wasn't about sleeping with her...?

Elise had already been mentally preparing to change her security codes after tonight.

"Elise." William's voice was strained, tight with emotion. "Don't let go. I desperately want a future with you. More than anything."

After speaking, he pulled the door closed.

In that final sliver of closing space, Elise thought she saw a tear tracing down his cheek.

Or maybe it was just a trick of the light, because her own vision was completely blurred by tears.

She'd always comforted herself that their relationship hadn't reached profound depths yet, that ending it wouldn't shatter her completely.

She'd been so certain she could walk away intact.

So why... Why did this hurt so excruciatingly?

Why did the memory of William's bloodshot eyes before the door closed feel like a physical wound?

Elizabeth burst into the ascending elevator, heart pounding as she watched the floor numbers climb. When the doors opened, she rushed out to rescue Elise only to freeze mid-step.

William was leaning against the doorframe.

Alone.

His head hung low, shadow concealing his expression.

Was that... a tear?

Elizabeth must have imagined it.

William never cried!

He hadn't shed tears when his parents died, though she knew he'd mourned.

Otherwise, his eyes wouldn't have been so swollen at their funeral.

She'd once believed William incapable of tears outside life-or-death situations, yet here he was, crying over Elise?

Thinking deeper, she understood. William and Elise must have fought bitterly over their impossible situation. The lavish engagement announcement between William and Victoria had been everywhere; no woman could remain unaffected, no matter how rational or detached.

If Elizabeth guessed correctly, Elise must have suggested ending their relationship.

William's heart was breaking.

Though they hadn't been together long, she knew William genuinely loved Elise.

Why else would such a stubborn bachelor fall so completely?

After meeting Elise, William had transformed into someone approachable, someone kind.

Elizabeth's heart ached for her cousin. Seeing his suffering melted her anger, making her forget her original intention to confront him about potentially assaulting Elise.

With gentle concern, she approached him cautiously. "William," she whispered softly, "would you like to get a drink with me? Talk it out?"