With a serene motion, Alexis signaled, and in one fluid movement, the room was secured, the door bolted. A formidable guard nudged Anika back onto the couch, leaving her no room to struggle. Alexis bypassed Anika's lock screen with ease, using her fingerprint. The phone's gallery revealed intimate moments captured on video-Leonel and Anika entwined in a fervent embrace, with subsequent clips displaying Leonel's casual air as Anika offered him juice, a semblance of normalcy in their interactions.

The video spanned over half an hour, painting a portrait of two people entangled in affection.

After watching the scenes play out for a quarter of an hour, Alexis' interest waned. She sent the video to her device and handed the phone back to Anika, her voice devoid of warmth. "Treasure this memory."

Anika, masking her emotions behind a frosty smile, taunted, “Does it hurt to see? He's mine. Any other is just a sideshow."

The guard, quick to discipline, delivered a sharp rebuke to Anika's cheek, chastising her arrogance.

Alexis maintained a tone of feigned propriety. “Let's remember our manners."

Through tears of frustration, Anika bit back, "Spare me your fake sympathies."

It was then Alexis noticed a coat draped over the armrest-a coat tailored by the renowned craftsmen of Ypsila, a Luxury only the elite could claim. This was a signature piece of Leonel's wardrobe.

Left here, in this space, it was a silent testament to his frequent presence, a stark reminder of his divided affections.

Alexis withdrew a small velvet box from within the folds of the coat.

Within it lay a necklace, Alexis' own initials etched into the metal.

Anika's features twisted into a scornful grimace as she mocked, "This token, meant for you, was chosen during a trip with Mr. Douglas to Hondrau. Imagine, your name on it! How strangely fate plays its cards."

Her voice was laced with bitter pride. "I was the one who helped him select it, even though it was your intended surprise. That evening, as fireworks burst overhead, he nearly kissed me. You two were each other's early romance, weren't you? It seemed to me he recaptured a long-lost sensation that night."

A twinge of sorrow pierced Alexis, yet she masked her anguish with a bland exterior. "His past affection is buried."

Anika's reaction was one of shocked silence.

Releasing a curt nod to the guard, Alexis approached Anika, her voice a murmur of indifference. "Miss Cohen, whether or not he turns to you, his eyes will eventually wander elsewhere. You hold no significance, and I actually hold no grudge against you."

Anika's disbelief was palpable. “How can you feel no resentment towards me?" She questioned the possibility, the concept foreign and unlikely in her eyes.

Alexis offered a subdued smile, opting not to delve into explanations with Anika. In her mind, Anika would never grasp the depth of the rift between herself and Leonel. To Leonel, Anika was merely a fleeting figure. The concept of Leonel, unbound by matrimonial ties, yet remaining loyal to one, seemed implausible.

With that, Alexis departed.

Settling into the car, the bodyguard inquired if she required driving assistance. She reclined briefly, signaling her autonomy with a simple, "There's no need."