Elise moved forward through the crowd.
William quickly matched her pace, falling into step beside her.
From behind, their silhouettes looked perfectly synchronized.
Every guest in the grand hall found their eyes drawn to the pair.
Whispers began to circulate. Were they truly involved?
Inside William's luxury car, Elise felt the world tilt.
The champagne had been too much, too fast.
She hadn't touched alcohol in months, not since leaving Samuel and Mitchell Corp behind.
But tonight…
A bitter taste coated her tongue. Resentment, sharp and familiar.
She had always prided herself on her resilience, her impenetrable armor.
Tonight proved it was just a facade, full of hairline cracks.
The car purred to a halt outside her apartment building.
William glanced over. Elise was asleep, her head resting against the cool window glass.
Her cheeks were flushed a warm pink. Her breathing was deep and even.
He exited the vehicle, came around, and carefully gathered her into his arms.
She stirred, a small frown creasing her brow, discomfort evident.
But the dizziness and lethargy from the alcohol left her pliant in his hold.
He carried her to her apartment door. "What's the passcode?" His voice was a low, resonant murmur against her ear.
Whether enchanted by his tone or simply drunk, Elise mumbled a response.
"It's my… birthday…"
She didn't get to finish. The electronic lock beeped.
A feminine automated voice announced, [Door unlocked.]
William shouldered the door open and stepped inside.
His eyes immediately went to the shoe cabinet by the entrance.
Two pairs of slippers, one male and one female, were placed neatly side-by-side.
A slow, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
He bent, retrieving the men's loafers with his free hand.
Then he carried her through the living room and into the bedroom.
He laid her gently on the soft duvet.
Elise shifted, a restless movement.
The constricting evening gown and the weight of his suit jacket were clearly bothering her.
William first removed her high heels.
His gaze caught on her ankles. The fair skin was red and raw, marked with lesions from the new shoes.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
He carefully removed his jacket from her shoulders.
His eyes then dropped to the intricate fastenings of her gown.
He hesitated, his fingers pausing mid-air.
After a moment's internal debate, he withdrew his hand.
He turned and went into the ensuite bathroom.
He returned with a warm, damp washcloth.
Gently, he began to wipe the makeup from her face.
The touch, though soft, roused her.
Her eyelids fluttered open.
She stared, dazed, at the man leaning so close.
His distinctive scent of sandalwood and fresh pine filled her senses.
Even through her blurred vision, she knew it was him.
"You're awake?" William's voice was husky. He sensed a shift in her, a vulnerability he hadn't seen before.
"How did you know… about the setup?" The question slipped out, unbidden.
It caught William off guard. He froze for a second.
"When I was eighteen," Elise whispered, her voice thick with memory.
Understanding dawned on William. He opened his mouth to speak, but she continued, lost in the past.
"I was tricked. But no one believed me." A hollow laugh escaped her. "My own father… Benjamin… he said I’d shamed the family. He wanted me gone."
Tears, hot and silent, began to trace paths from the corners of her eyes down her temples.
She had never moved past it. The wound had never truly healed. Her strength was just a scab over a festering hurt.
Now, that scab had been torn away, and the pain beneath was as fresh as ever.
"I'm sorry." The apology was quiet, sincere.
Elise gave a faint, watery smile. "It wasn't your fault." She closed her eyes again.
As she did, the dam broke. Tears flowed freely now, soaking into her pillow.
"You're the only one," she breathed, her voice barely audible. "In this entire world… you're the only one who ever stood by me."
Even Samuel, during their relationship, had only ever said he could overlook her past.
He had never once believed she was innocent. Not truly.