Elise hesitated for a brief second.

Then she quickly slipped into William's car after him.

"Miss!" One of the officers called out. "We need you to accompany us to the station to give your statement."

"Matthew, go with the police. Robert will drive you home later."

"Of course. You should go, Ms. Scott," Matthew agreed immediately.

Meanwhile, Elise and Samuel helped William into his Maybach.

The car sped toward the finest private hospital in Crestwood.

Samuel sat in the front passenger seat, already calling the Levines' family physician.

Elise kept stealing glances at William.

He was leaning back against the seat, eyes shut.

His face grew paler with each passing moment.

Where exactly had that steel pipe struck him?

Had it fractured any bones?

Could it have caused internal bleeding?

Elise refused to let her thoughts spiral further.

Her eyes remained fixed on the car's navigation system, desperately wishing they would arrive at the hospital instantly.

Still, the journey took two long hours.

A line of white-coated doctors was already waiting when they pulled up.

Nurses swiftly helped William out of the vehicle.

The moment someone touched him, Elise distinctly heard William groan in pain.

Was he in that much agony?!

Elise's fingers curled into tight fists.

She followed closely as the medical team rushed William toward the emergency room on a gurney.

"It's going to be alright," William managed to reassure her, just before the doors closed behind him.

Elise bit down hard on her lower lip.

A chaotic storm of emotions swirled inside her regarding this man.

It had been over a month since he returned from his business trip.

She had maintained a firm, neutral distance from him since.

She would join him for dinner if James was present.

But she spoke only to James throughout those meals, pointedly ignoring William and barely looking his way.

William had made efforts initially.

Eventually, he seemed to grow accustomed to her cold shoulder.

He became quieter, more reserved himself.

Yet, he still visited her with James every couple of days.

She assumed it was solely to appease the little boy's clear attachment to her.

That was precisely why his sudden appearance today had thrown her completely off balance.

Elise stared anxiously at the sealed emergency room doors, her knuckles white with tension.

Three hours later, the doors finally swung open.

William was wheeled out, surrounded by doctors and nurses.

Samuel rushed forward immediately. "Doctors, how is he?"

Elise stayed where she was, her heart hammering violently against her ribs.

"He's stable. However, he has extensive soft tissue damage across his back. There's a minor fracture to one right-side rib. We also noted slight renal contusion. We recommend strict bed rest for up to four weeks. We'll monitor his recovery progression before determining the next steps."

Samuel released a loud, relieved breath. Thank God his boss was okay.

Elise felt her own composure slowly return.

"We're transferring him to his private room now," one of the doctors informed them.

"Okay, yes, of course," Samuel responded quickly.

The group moved toward the prepared VVIP suite.

William lay silently in the hospital bed, eyes closed.

It was impossible to tell if he was in pain or simply resting.

Samuel and Elise listened intently to every instruction and precaution the medical team provided.

It felt like an eternity before the doctors finally departed.

Several nurses and physical therapy staff remained in the room, however.

Eventually, Elise found herself drawn to William's bedside.

She looked down at his handsome, albeit strained, features.

His lips were pressed into a thin, tight line.

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.

William's dark eyelashes fluttered.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers directly.

"Yes," he admitted, his voice a low rasp.

"Then why did you do it? Why risk yourself like that? What if that pipe had hit your head instead?" The terrifying 'what if' still gripped Elise's heart, the potential consequences too horrifying to fully contemplate.

"Because..." William's voice was hoarse, each word measured. "It would have hurt me far more... if it had struck you."