"But I don't want to! Leonel, I did have feelings for you once, but not anymore. I'm not going to change my mind just because of a past physical connection—" She paused, and then continued, "I don't want to force things.”

Leonel's face drained of color at her words.

To him, her sentiment felt like a rejection of their entire history.

Unable to stay in the room any longer, Alexis rose to leave. As Leonel reached out to her, she forcefully shook off his grasp. Her voice low and strained, she implored, “Leonel, have some self-respect.

Let's preserve some dignity here."

With that, she exited the room, though she couldn't help but slam the door in frustration.

In the lamplight, Leonel looked even more pallid, a stark contrast to the warmth of the room.

Alexis, stepping into the cold hallway barefoot, felt an even deeper chill.

She realized with surprise that she was crying.

Lifting her head, she questioned her own tears. Why cry over someone like Leonel? It wasn't worth it.

Upstairs, the light in the study was on.

Waylen stood in the doorway, watching her in silence.

Alexis approached and embraced him softly.

“Dad.”

He responded with a gentle pat on her back.

“Why are you barefoot?

Come to the study; it's warm inside."

In his embrace, Alexis felt a sense of comfort, albeit mixed with the embarrassment of her rare emotional outburst.

Waylen showed nothing but understanding and warmth. To him, Alexis was his first little girl, unique in her own way compared to Marcus and Elva. He had raised her with his own hands for years, fostering a special bond between them.

Despite her achievements in the legal world, she was still his little Alexis in his eyes.