Ethan had already walked away by then.

William glanced back at them one final time before departing.

Victoria naturally fell into step beside him.

Andrew frowned, saying to Nathan, "Don't you think Ethan seems off today? Even his gait looks strange."

Nathan remained impassive, offering no response to Andrew's observation.

Instead, he stated, "I'm leaving. Don't concern yourself with matters between me and my girlfriend. You should focus on your own wife. With so many admirers surrounding her and all the attention she's attracting, you'll regret it if you lose her."

With those words, Nathan strode off purposefully.

Andrew watched their retreating figures.

Something felt fundamentally wrong about this entire group. His gaze shifted to Samantha, and he couldn't suppress a derisive snort.

Admirers surrounding her? So what?

Elise and Samantha finally managed to extricate themselves from the reporters and made their way back to the vehicle.

Samantha was driving unusually slowly.

"Not used to driving?" Elise inquired.

She could sense Samantha's excessive caution behind the wheel.

Samantha hesitated momentarily before recovering. "No, I've been driving for years, but I'm not particularly skilled. I prefer driving slower. I hope you don't mind?"

"I'm not pressed for time."

Elise smiled gently before suggesting, "Personally, if you lack confidence in your driving abilities, hiring a professional driver might be wise. Matters involving life and death shouldn't be taken lightly."

Samantha's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

Andrew had yelled at her in frustration recently about requesting a driver from the Saunders family. He wanted her to ask the Saunders for one, which she had refused to do.

Yet, the Saunders had unexpectedly offered to assign her a driver.

She detested unnecessary complications and preferred not having someone follow her around if possible.

So she had declined the Saunders' offer.

Now that Elise mentioned it, she suddenly wondered if she should have accepted.

Was this the difference in perspective between people?

"Samantha, watch out!"

Elise's sharp warning snapped her back to attention.

Samantha slammed hard on the brakes.

Without the seatbelt securely fastened, Elise was certain she would have been thrown forward.

Both women were visibly shaken.

The driver behind them was equally startled, laying on the horn repeatedly to express his fury.

"Let me take over," Elise offered.

Samantha didn't object.

They switched seats smoothly.

"I'm sorry. I..." Samantha apologized, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"It's fine. But I genuinely recommend hiring a driver for yourself."

"Okay." Samantha agreed quietly.

"I'll drive you home first. I'll arrange for someone to pick me up later," Elise said.

She didn't feel comfortable letting Samantha drive back alone.

"Thank you."

"Do you think there will be any developments in my court case?"

Elise changed the subject deftly.

When it came to professional matters, Samantha's awkwardness vanished as she responded fluently, "Unlikely. When we were gathering evidence previously, we found no traces leading back to Sophia or Victoria. Essentially, even if there are further developments, the outcome won't be what we want. It will probably end with some minor figure taking the fall, and the case will be closed hastily."