John fell into a deep slumber the moment he closed his eyes.

He slept soundly through the entire night.

He had no idea when Elise had awakened and quietly slipped away.

History, it seemed, was repeating itself.

The previous night, after she had fallen asleep, he had carefully helped her wash.

He worried she might catch a chill.

Once he finished and had taken his own shower, he found himself startlingly awake.

His mind raced, preoccupied with how he would explain their situation come morning.

By the time sleep finally claimed him, dawn was already beginning to break.

Yet, he had silently vowed not to oversleep as he had back then.

He couldn't let Elise slip through his fingers again.

He was determined to explain everything clearly.

Fortunately, his internal alarm worked.

He woke up just as she was preparing to leave.

Her gaze, however, was filled with undisguised contempt.

"I—" William began, starting his explanation.

Elise shook off his hand.

"Forget about last night," she stated flatly. "What's done is done. I'm used to it by now. Once you're awake, you should leave."

"Last night, we—"

"I don't want to hate you any more than I already do," she cut him off sharply.

She turned back to look at him, and her eyes landed on his form.

She froze.

Sitting up had caused the covers to fall away, revealing his naked torso.

The lingering scratches and angry red marks covering his body were a hideous sight.

His neck was particularly horrifying.

Deep, crimson teeth marks were clearly visible.

Elise swallowed hard.

She suddenly remembered his previous claim—that if she had stayed back then, she would have seen the wounds and bruises covering him.

It turned out he hadn't been lying.

She averted her eyes, her voice cold. "Blaming you for last night would be the height of ingratitude. The alternative could have been far worse. I was an idiot for trusting Samuel. What happened is ultimately his fault. Compared to the potential consequences... well, I suppose it's better it was you. You saved me. I should be thanking you. But my feelings are a separate matter entirely. There are some things I simply cannot accept, even if it breaks me. The trauma and shadows from when I was eighteen have never faded. Repeating that same mistake now... it just leaves me unable to face it."

William stared at her, watching the struggle as she suppressed her emotions.

She clearly harbored immense resentment towards him, yet she was forcing herself to rationalize the situation.

"Consider it my selfish desire," Elise continued. "I don't want to discuss anything about last night. I don't want to remember any of it. I'll just fool myself and pretend nothing happened."

She took a steadying breath. "So... you should leave."

"No," William stated firmly, without a hint of hesitation.

His eyes were resolute, burning with a flicker of anger.

Elise bit her lip hard.

Her own eyes flashed with fury.

"What right do you have to despise me so much?" William shot back.

Elise clenched her fist, forcing down the turbulent emotions threatening to erupt.

"It was the first time for both of us," William exclaimed, his gaze intense. "Yet somehow, mine counts for nothing?"

Elise felt her resolve waver slightly.

She was rendered speechless.

"Besides," William said bluntly, "you were the one who forced yourself on me!"

He let the accusation hang in the air.

"Shouldn't you take responsibility for me?!"

His words finally broke through her control.

She rarely lost her temper, especially regarding her feelings.

She always prided herself on facing them with composure, but at this moment, she couldn't hold back.

It felt like a dam had burst inside her.

"Then what do you want from me?!" she yelled. "To marry you?! Do you even have the right to ask that of me?! Don't forget you have a fiancée, William! What right do you have to demand I take responsibility for you?! You're an engaged man, yet you still couldn't resist temptation! Forget the first time—you were young and impulsive! But now? You're older, supposedly more mature. You should know your limits! Yet you were still so easily pulled into bed by a woman! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?!"

"Did I fucking touch you last night?!" William roared back, his anger matching hers.

He had never lost control like this before, and he didn't bother censoring his language.

"I knew you'd react like this! I knew you'd turn it all on me! That's why I didn't lay a single finger on you, even though I felt like I was going to explode!"

He glared at her, his chest heaving.

"It had nothing to do with that bullshit about being engaged! It was because I was terrified you'd hate me!"