In the General Manager's office at Levine Holdings, William ended his call with Elizabeth and immediately dialed another number. "Ethan, can you discreetly ask Amanda if Samuel is home?"

"What's going on?" Ethan's voice held concern.

"Just find out and text me. I only need that answer," William insisted urgently before disconnecting.

He then dialed another contact. "I need you to scan all city surveillance cameras immediately. Locate Elise's movements after she left work tonight. Initiate a city-wide search for any information about her current whereabouts. Report directly to me with any findings. Do not take action without my explicit authorization."

"Understood, sir," the voice responded respectfully.

As William started to hang up, a sudden thought made his eyes narrow dangerously. "Wait. One more thing—trace the last call received on Elise's phone before she disappeared."

"Right away, sir."

The moment he ended that call, Ethan's message appeared.

[Samuel isn't home.]

William's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, his expression hardening into something terrifying.

If Samuel had dared to touch her, he'd just signed his own death warrant.

William had held back from acquiring Mitchell Corp out of consideration for Ethan's relationship with Amanda. He'd shown restraint for family connections.

But this time...

William's face contorted into a frightening mask of rage.

Even Samuel Wilson, standing nearby, didn't dare ask questions after seeing that expression. Whatever had happened clearly involved Mrs. Levine, and when it came to her, William became unpredictable.

Samuel Wilson sighed inwardly. His boss excelled at everything—except when it came to matters of the heart.

Elise awoke to a dizzying headache. Low blood sugar, she guessed—she hadn't eaten properly all day. Exhaustion had stolen her appetite earlier.

"You're finally awake," a familiar male voice said.

Elise blinked until her vision cleared, revealing Samuel Mitchell sitting before her.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Despite her calm exterior, primal fear surged through her veins.

She tried to move, only then realizing she was tied to an unfamiliar bed. This wasn't a hotel or Mitchell Manor.

Elise forced calm into her voice. "Samuel, do you realize this is kidnapping?"

He laughed coldly, studying her beautiful face with obsessive intensity. Her composure infuriated him—how could she remain so collected even now?

He'd suppressed his rage toward this woman for far too long.

Not just because she'd coldly refused to help save Mitchell Corp, but because she'd dared to stop loving him as if flipping a switch. That was unacceptable.

He would never allow Elise to love anyone else.

"If I'm doing this, I've already covered my tracks. I'm not stupid enough to leave evidence for you to use against me, Elise. What happens between us will simply be... mutual passion," Samuel said with a triumphant smile.

He reached out to caress her cheek, making her stomach churn with revulsion. Elise wondered how she'd ever been blind enough to love this man.

She'd given him everything, only to be betrayed by the very hand she'd fed.