Collecting herself, she spoke, "Are you intent on overpowering me again? Have I become nothing more than an object for your lust within this hollow shell of a marriage?"

His gaze sharpened. "Is that your belief?"

Her retort was tinged with bitterness. "What else should I think?"

Standoffish and unyielding, they faced off until Leonel closed the gap between them, leaning in, his presence overwhelming as he framed her with his arms on the sofa. Their breaths mingled, his nose nearly touching hers.

His tone was icy. “Evelyn is questioning if we're splitting up. The servants' whispers fill the house, and their fear of the future looms large. What do you presume our children make of this? Imagine their distress when the truth unfolds."

Alexis understood his tactics and questioned him softly, "You brought that woman into your company's anniversary, allowing our children to watch her fawning over you. What do you presume our children make of that? Are you trying to unsettle me or just flaunting your allure?"

Her resolve was clear. “I want no part in any of this, Leonel."

She pressed on, “Should you have any regard for the children, let's work together to spare them any further upheaval. Your liaisons are no longer my concern. I will make it clear to the children." She dismissed his excuses.

"Anika isn't the wedge between us. That night means nothing. I wasn't that drunk and nothing happened."

Leonel's frustration was palpable as he confronted her. “Why cling to these accusations? Consider the torment I endure, living with Calvin's shadow over us. I wanted you to feel a fraction of my agony."

The raw honesty in his voice carried his pain. "It's been relentless, these years of hurt. When will you release the past and begin anew with me?"

With a soft sigh, Alexis shut her eyes, a pulse of pain echoing through her chest. She had always hoped to exit their union with grace, yet Leonel seemed intent on exacting a vengeful toll. The state of their union weighed heavily on her.

Confronted by him, her response was raw and direct. “It hurts. Have you taken enough, Mr. Douglas? I'm asking you to release me. I need to rest."

Disappointment in him had grown to the point where talk of divorce seemed redundant.

Leonel's gaze held hers before he suddenly claimed her lips with fervent intensity. His force was such that it threatened pain, an attempt to ignite a passion she no longer felt.

The discomfort was too sharp, too jarring for any shred of warmth to surface.

Alexis offered no resistance, meeting his actions with a detached gaze.

The chill of her indifference struck him, and as he rested against her, his voice was a hushed plea. “Alexis, I don't want this separation. Please, don't force my hand. Please?"

Her response was silence.

Reclined on the sofa, her shirt partly undone, marked by his impulsive acts, she heard him out, remaining still as he adjusted her attire.