A sheen of cold sweat broke out across Elise’s forehead. Every trace of color drained from her face.

Five years had passed, yet Quinn’s words ripped open old wounds with brutal precision. In an instant, the blood-soaked memories she had spent years trying to bury surged back to the surface.

Her clenched hands began to tremble. Her chest rose and fell violently.

Each breath felt sharp and difficult.

Quinn watched her reaction with poisonous satisfaction. There was venom in her gaze, along with unmistakable triumph.

She knew she had succeeded. She had dragged Elise back into that nightmare.

So what if Elise was better than her? So what if she was intelligent?

In the end, she still hadn’t been able to save her children.

A cold laugh escaped Quinn’s lips.

Turning away, she carefully concealed the malice in her expression and resumed her elegant composure. With measured steps, she approached the reception desk.

"Hello," she said pleasantly. "Is my medicine ready?"

"Yes, Miss Foster."

The receptionist handed over the prepared herbal medicine.

"These are the instructions for brewing and taking it. There’s also a phone number on the package. If you have any questions after you get home, feel free to call us."

"Thank you."

Quinn accepted the medicine and headed toward the exit.

To Elise, her retreating figure seemed to flicker in and out of focus.

The world around her warped. The clinic blurred. A piercing ringing filled her ears.

Quinn’s mocking voice merged with the savage laughter of the kidnappers from years ago until she could no longer distinguish one from the other.

Tears spilled from her eyes.

Then she moved. She took one step. Then another. Straight toward Quinn.

"How dare you!" Her voice tore from her throat like a wounded scream. "How dare you speak to me like that!"

With a cry filled with years of grief and hatred, Elise lunged at her.

Outside the clinic, Quinn had just reached the Maybach. Hearing the furious shout behind her, she turned.

The moment she saw Elise charging toward her, she staggered backward and put on an expression of pure terror.

"Ah!" Her voice trembled dramatically. "Dylan, help me!"

The rear door of the Maybach flew open, and Dylan strode forward. In a single motion, he stepped between them and grabbed Elise’s arm.

"Elise!" His voice was sharp. "What is it? Calm down!"

Quinn immediately hid behind him like a frightened rabbit, both hands clutching the back of his suit jacket.

Her voice sounded weak and fragile.

"Dylan, I think something’s wrong with Elise again." She lowered her eyes pitifully. "She looks insane. I’m scared."

Yet while speaking, she shot Elise a look filled with blatant provocation.

Dylan’s expression remained severe.

Without turning around, he ordered, "Take Robin home."

The corners of Quinn’s lips curled upward. Under Elise’s furious gaze, she obediently nodded.

"Okay." Her voice softened. "I’ll take Robin home."

Then she looked at Elise and added deliberately, "Take good care of her. She probably heard Mr. Gray talking about pregnancy and was reminded of those poor children."

Dylan said nothing. Quinn slowly released his jacket.

"I’m leaving then."

She opened the driver’s door and climbed into the car. The door slammed shut.

Dylan tightened his grip on Elise’s arm, his fingers locking around it like iron shackles.

"Let me go!"

She struggled desperately, but all she could do was watch as Quinn drove away.

Something inside her finally snapped.

She fought like a trapped animal. Her palm struck Dylan’s face. Her fingernails raked across his cheek. A sharp line of blood appeared on his skin. It stung.

Dylan closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath before speaking through clenched teeth.

"Elise." His voice was low and dangerous. "Have you had enough?"

A bitter laugh escaped her chest.

"Me?"

She grabbed his collar. Her knuckles turned white from the force. Hatred blazed in her tear-filled eyes.

"Dylan, tell me something." Her voice shook violently. "When the kidnappers called you five years ago..."

Dylan froze.

"...what were you doing?"

He flinched, his lips trembling with unspoken truths.

"Answer me!" Elise slammed both fists against his chest.

Again.

And again.

And again.

"Answer me!" Her voice cracked. "Why won’t you answer?"

The grief she had carried for years finally burst free.

"Why are you afraid to answer me?"

Dylan’s lips pressed into a thin line. His dark eyes reflected the broken woman standing before him.

A storm of emotions churned beneath the surface.

"The kidnappers called you over and over again!"

Tears streamed down Elise’s face. Her voice was ragged with despair.

"Those were calls for help." Her body shook. "They were begging for help."

Then her voice collapsed into heartbreak.

"But you..." A sob caught in her throat. "You were too busy being with Quinn to answer even one of them."

She stared at him through blurred vision.

"It was you." Her voice trembled. "It was you and Quinn who—"

The rest of the sentence never came out.

Her vision darkened. The strength finally drained from her body.

Before she could hit the ground, Dylan caught her in his arms, desperately pressing her against his own body.

By the time Alexander heard the commotion and hurried out of Mr. Gray’s consultation room with Lily in his arms, Elise was already gone.

Dylan had taken her away.

Alexander immediately turned to the receptionist, his eyes wide.

"What happened?"

The young woman looked miserable, nervously twisting her fingers.

"Mr. Bennett told me not to say anything."

Alexander pursed his lips, angry. His instincts immediately told him something was wrong.

Unfortunately, he had no personal connection with Dylan.

When he called Elise, she didn’t answer. His messages went unanswered as well.

With no other option, he called Madeline and explained everything he had witnessed, asking her to help find out what had happened.

About thirty minutes later, Madeline finally returned the call.

"Alex, don’t worry." Her voice sounded cheerful. "I checked. Elise is fine. All is good."

Alexander frowned. Something about the response felt off.

"Madeline..." His tone turned even more serious. "Tell me the truth."

He paused. "What condition is Miss Harper in right now?"

Another pause.

"I called her several times. She hasn’t answered."

Madeline glanced nervously at the man standing opposite her. At that moment, Dylan looked colder than the Ruler of Hell himself.

Swallowing hard, Madeline forced a laugh.

"Oh, that’s because her phone died."

She continued quickly.

"I’m actually at Bennett Residence right now. Elise is with Old Madam Bennett."

"Grandma’s surgery is tomorrow morning, and she’s a little nervous, so all of us younger relatives came over to keep her company."

Alexander remained silent. He still wasn’t entirely convinced. But knowing Madeline was there eased some of his concerns.

"As long as she’s safe..." His voice softened slightly. "I just wanted to confirm that."

"Of course she’s safe!" Madeline laughed. "What kind of friend would I be if I joked about something like that?"

Alexander finally nodded.

"Alright. If she needs anything, call me."

"Definitely." Madeline nodded so vigorously it looked as though her head might fall off. "Okay. Talk later! Take care."

The call ended.

Madeline lowered her phone and looked at Dylan with an awkward smile.

"Mr. Bennett, my colleague takes every client very seriously."

She cleared her throat.

"He’s like that with everyone. Please don’t misunderstand."

Dylan’s expression remained oppresively cold. After a long moment, he said only one thing: "You can leave."

Madeline flinched. Then, summoning what little courage she had left, she asked, "Can I stay until Elise wakes up? Maybe talk to her for a while?"

Dylan’s gaze shifted toward the closed bedroom door.

"She won’t wake up tonight." His voice was flat. "You can come back tomorrow morning."

With that, he turned and pushed open the master bedroom door.

The door shut behind him.

Madeline remained alone in the hallway.

Staring at the closed door, she released a long, exhausted sigh.

Even now, she couldn’t bring herself to believe Dylan had cheated.

Nor could she imagine him betraying Elise for a woman like Quinn.

But if he hadn’t cheated... Why was Quinn living at Orchard Manor?

Why had Dylan been openly bringing her to banquets and elite social events lately?

Rumors had already spread throughout North City’s upper circles that Quinn was about to replace Elise as the next Mrs. Bennett.

Every piece of evidence pointed in the same direction. No matter how she looked at it, Dylan appeared guilty.

Unable to make sense of any of it, Madeline shook her head and headed downstairs.

On the first floor, Mrs. Lander was leading a newly arrived visitor toward the staircase.

The man wore a tailored suit, but carried a medical case in one hand.

The moment Madeline saw him, her eyes widened.

"Aaron?" She stared, surprised. "When did you get back?"

The handsome man grinned.

"Your friend has completed his glorious mission abroad."

He casually ruffled her hair.

"Now I’m back to inherit the family business."

Madeline slapped his hand away. Aaron laughed.

"We’ll catch up later." He lifted the medical case in front of his face.

"I need to go upstairs first and change Mr. Bennett’s bandages."

Madeline instantly perked up.

Bandages?

That sounded suspiciously interesting. The scent of fresh gossip practically hit her in the face.

She immediately followed after him.

Lowering her voice, she asked eagerly, "Why does he need bandages? Did Mr. Bennett get hurt?"