"Mommy, you're so beautiful,” she said.

Rena tucked her in and asked softly, "It's late. Why aren't you sleeping?"

‘Snuggling against Rena's chest, Alexis replied in a hushed voice, "| miss Daddy."

Rena felt a pang of sadness but managed to reply gently, "Then why don't you call him, my dear?"

Alexis’ face lit up with joy.

She took out her pink phone and dialed Waylen's number. The call connected quickly.

Rena didn't want to give Waylen any false hope. She left Alexis alone to talk to her father.

Alexis adored her father.

“Daddy, | miss you."

She longed to sleep next to him and feel the warmth of his belly under her little feet.

Waylen just got home when he got his daughter's call. Loosening his tie, he asked in a deep voice, “Where's your mom?"

Alexis answered delicately, "Mommy is back. She smelled so nice. But | still miss you... | want you to read me fairy tales.”

Waylen's heart quickened.

He had always been stern, but at this moment, listening to the soft voice of his child, he missed Alexis terribly.

He yearned for a family more than anything in the world at that very moment.

Waylen fetched a fairy tale book and read it to Alexis gently and patiently.

As the night grew darker, Alexis slowly drifted to sleep, cradled in the world of fairy tales.

Finally, Rena went back in, took Alexis’ phone and whispered, "She's asleep now."

Waylen's heart raced as he heard Rena's soft voice on the phone. He finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been haunting him, "Rena, is there any possibility for us to be together again?"

Rena was taken aback by the question.

After a moment of silence, she replied in a low voice, "No."

And with that, she hung up the phone.