In a low voice, he warned, “Don't show up again, or you'll regret the day you were born."

With that, he got in the car and ordered the driver to go.

"Leonel, I love you!" Anika pounded on the window, shouting after him.

The driver grimaced, unable to hold it in. "Mr. Douglas, women like her will stick around forever. You're better off cutting ties completely as soon as possible! Even I, an outsider, can't stand it. Imagine how annoyed your wife would be if she saw that woman keep popping up?!"

Leonel stayed silent, so the driver let it rest.

Soon, they arrived back at the villa.

It was quiet, with most of the staff gone. Only a few lingered, yet to find new work.

With nothing else to occupy him, Leonel poured a drink and thoughts of Alexis flooded his mind.

He dialed her number repeatedly.

But it went straight to voicemail each time.

Drinking more than he realized, he drank himself into oblivion. When he woke the next day, the sun was high in the sky.

Noreen was there, wiping his face with a towel. "Nova called. Asked me to check on you! Are you enjoying the solitude? I warned you, you'd regret this sooner or later."

Leonel swallowed hard.

Glancing around, he saw he was in the bed he used to share with Alexis. And there, on the bedside table, sat the glass ball, just like old times.

Noreen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight of it.

Leonel croaked out, "I have nothing urgent today on my schedule, so I'll stay home. My head's pounding!"

Noreen nodded. "Got it. But tomorrow's Mr. Waston's birthday bash. It's kind of a big deal. Are you going to show?"

“Which Waston guy?" Leonel murmured as he shielded his eyes from the bright sun.

Noreen couldn't believe it. “Albert Waston, the big cheese at Waston Group! Oh, and Miss Fowler might be there as well. She's tight with Miss Brown, so she's probably going."

Her words jolted Leonel awake.