Ethan finally let Elizabeth go.

He didn't stay.

He went straight to William.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

It was obvious William had consumed a significant amount of alcohol.

"Yes."

"Let's go," Ethan said.

William stood.

He swayed slightly.

Ethan had to step forward and support him, guiding him to the passenger seat of the car.

Elizabeth trailed behind them.

She hesitated, unsure if she should get in the car as well.

"William mentioned this car belongs to Elise," Ethan said, answering her unspoken question. "I need to return it. I'll drive you back."

Elizabeth nodded.

She slipped into the back seat.

The drive was smooth.

Despite the late hour and the empty roads, Ethan maintained a slow, steady speed.

He was always a gentle man.

Perhaps it was because he grew up relying on the charity of others; she rarely, if ever, saw him lose his temper.

Elizabeth wasn't entirely sure what had drawn her to him in the first place.

She couldn't even recall the specific reason she'd fallen in love with Ethan.

Among her social circle, there were men more handsome, more accomplished, and certainly wealthier than him.

She'd come to accept it as fate—a twist of destiny arranged by God, something unavoidable.

Suddenly, the car slowed and pulled over to the curb.

"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked, frowning.

"William asked me to pick up some medication," Ethan replied. "Wait here a moment. I won't be long."

Elizabeth was surprised.

Who was hurt? Was it serious enough to require an immediate stop for medicine?

She hadn't noticed any visible injuries on William earlier.

Wait… his hand. The back of his hand had looked particularly red and swollen.

But the streetlights were dim, and she hadn't gotten a clear look.

Ethan returned with a small pharmacy bag.

He drove to Chateau Emporio first.

"Give me a moment. I'll just see William inside."

"Of course."

Elizabeth was exhausted.

She couldn't stop yawning.

By the time Ethan returned from escorting William to his door, she had fallen asleep in the back seat.

The soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing indicated a deep sleep.

Ethan didn't disturb her.

He drove with extra care, ensuring the ride was smooth and wouldn't jostle her awake.

Arriving at the underground parking garage, Ethan parked the car and walked to the back seat.

He found Elizabeth had shifted position, now lying across the seat.

Her mouth was slightly agape, and a tiny trickle of drool escaped the corner of her lips.

She was deeply, profoundly asleep.

The corner of Ethan's mouth quirked upwards in a faint smile.

It reminded him of when they were younger, of how she would sleep soundly on his shoulder back then.

Everything had seemed so simple, so perfect, in those days.

Ethan bent down and carefully gathered Elizabeth into his arms.

She had always been a heavy sleeper, even as a child.

He remembered nights with thunderstorms, when he would wake up worried she might be frightened by the noise.

He'd tiptoe into her room, only to find her sprawled across the bed, completely dead to the world, utterly unbothered by the crashing thunder outside.

She hadn't changed.

Being picked up didn't even stir her; she continued her soft, gentle snoring.

It was fortunate there were no paparazzi around to capture her in this undignified state.

Ethan carried Elizabeth to the elevator and rode up to Elise's floor.

He rang the doorbell.

Elise answered almost immediately.

She didn't look like she'd been sleeping.

Perhaps she wasn't as unaffected by her encounter with William as Ethan had initially assumed.

"Mr. Parker?" Elise was clearly surprised to find Ethan at her door, holding a sleeping Elizabeth.

She had assumed Elizabeth had forgotten the security code again—a frequent occurrence.

Periodically, Elizabeth would ask her to repeat it.

Furthermore, Elizabeth's hands were often dry, and her skin prone to peeling, making fingerprint recognition an unreliable option for her.