Discovering the phone still worked, she quickly made her exit, leaving no room for sentimentality.

Outside the hospital, snow began to fall.

Marcus watched Melissa climb into a blue taxi which soon blended into the snowy backdrop, leaving him in a state of unrest.

He paced, caught between the desire to see his son, Matthew, and the fear that any impulsive action might drive Melissa away from Duefron for good.

Melissa harbored resentment towards Marcus, a sentiment he understood all too well, though he felt hatred where she did not.

This absence of hatred from Melissa signified to him a loss far greater. She no longer loved him.

Later, Marcus found himself parked outside Melissa's apartment.

He simply stayed in his car, smoking as the snowfall intensified and darkness enveloped the city.

The buildings around him lit up, casting a soft, warm glow from the top floor window of Melissa's building, a beacon in the wintry night.

Downstairs, Julie emerged with Matthew, bundled up against the cold.

Grasping Julie's hand, he exclaimed with delight at the snowfall, “Julie, it's snowing."

Concerned for his safety, Julie lifted him to navigate to the trash bin.

Once the rubbish was disposed of, Matthew pleaded to stay outside and play for a bit.

Julie, unable to resist his plea, consented but with a caveat. "Fine, just a little bit. But we must go back before your mom returns, or she'll worry."

Matthew's face lit up with joy. “I'll make sure Mom won't get upset."

Julie found a sheltered spot for Matthew, where he could reach out to the snow without getting too cold. His eyes widened in wonder, taking in the snowy world around him.

Meanwhile, Marcus sat in his car, a cigarette between his trembling fingers, watching the scene unfold.

He caught sight of Matthew, the son Melissa had for him.

The boy's round face bore a resemblance to Melissa's, yet his features echoed the Fowler lineage. Matthew reminded Marcus of Alexis' son, Daniel, though Matthew seemed more delicate.

Marcus' grip on his cigarette tightened as he took a drag, his gaze fixed on Matthew with an intense longing.