To him, it seemed like Alexis hadn't truly considered their relationship at all. She appeared like a puppet, being with him solely for the sake of having a child, without any real consideration for their future together.

This thought pained him deeply, but he kept it to himself.

He wanted to ask her about her feelings towards Calvin, but his pride held him back from repeating the question. Instead, he wrestled with a mix of love and resentment for Alexis, desiring to possess her yet feeling uncomfortable with the situation.

As the night wore on, Alexis eventually fell asleep in the wee hours.

Leonel quietly got up and stepped into the hallway for a cigarette, a futile attempt to quell his inner conflict.