Out of courtesy, he had intended to inquire about her mother's name.

However, his phone abruptly rang.

Lyndon glanced at his device, offering Rena an apologetic smile.

“Apologies, it's my daughter calling. She has just arrived in Duefron and I must fetch her from the airport!"

Rena nodded in understanding.

Inexplicably, Lyndon felt a reluctance to depart. Though aware of the impropriety, he gently caressed Rena‘'s hair and said softly, “The next time we meet, I will treat you to a splendid feast."

Rena returned the smile.

Her smile was irresistibly endearing.

Once again, Lyndon found himself Lost in thought.

Rena bore an astonishing resemblance to Reina. If only her mother were still alive, he might have delved deeper into her story.

*

In the evening, Rena recounted the encounter to Waylen, mentioning

Lyndon's presence at the cafe.

Waylen grinned, teasingly remarking, “Don't you harbor great affection for him? Did you seize the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee together?"

Deliberately, Rena responded, "You are the one I love."

A visible delight adorned Waylen's face.

In a melancholic tone, Rena continued, "We only conversed briefly before he received a phone call. It was his daughter calling, and he mentioned having to pick her up from the airport.”

Elvira...

Waylen remained silent, fixating his gaze upon the television screen.

Lost in his thoughts, he seemed distant.

Recently, Rena and Waylen had developed a strong rapport. Waylen's maturity and exceptional qualities made her value his perspective on matters. In this moment, she couldn't resist discussing the DNA database with him, yearning to hear his opinion.

She spoke at Length, but Waylen appeared unengaged, his attention elsewhere.