"Do you know what this place once was? Before its abandonment, it served as a mental institution for the disturbed. It's rumored that no one confined here lives past the age of 35. Whether due to chronic understaffing or haphazard medication, their lives were all marked by misery before their demise."

Anika's face paled, her snow-white body trembling. “Leonel, you can't do this to me."

"I can't? And why is that?"

Leonel spoke indifferently before pressing the extinguished cigarette against her arm, eliciting a scent of searing flesh as Anika screamed in agony.

However, Leonel remained calm.

In a deceptively gentle tone, he uttered, “Who gave you the right to harm my daughter? Who allowed you to mistreat Alexis? I granted you a chance to walk away, yet you chose to harm them. I won't send you to jail. Instead, I'll leave you to wither away in this hidden place, unknown to anyone. You'll witness your own decay, your flesh turning black and putrid, and the stench engulfing you bit by bit."

Two men restrained Anika, preparing to give her an injection.

Despite her desperate struggles, she hurled curses at Leonel, wishing for his death.

Leonel observed calmly as the liquid was injected into Anika's body.

Soon, she would lose her ability to move, and her lower body would succumb to unconsciousness. Day by day, she would be confined to a cold and squalid existence, reduced to the humility of a dog when it came to her meals. "I won't allow you the mercy of a swift death," he declared coldly.

Anika lay curled on the floor, convulsing uncontrollably.

Leonel observed her silently for half an hour before rising to leave.

Though the sun shone brightly outside, as he stepped out, he could smell a scent of decay in the air. The sun couldn't cleanse his rotten heart. Once deeply mired in darkness, it was Alexis who pulled him into the Light.

But he had hurt Alexis.

As a green maple leaf hung on Leonel's car window, he reached out to remove it, but after a moment's contemplation, he plucked two maple leaves instead and carried them back to the hospital. He intended to show them to Alexis.

Alexis had the maple tree they planted together cut down.

Despite this, they still had the opportunity to nurture new growth together in the future.

Alexis remained unconscious, her condition deteriorating day by day as she grew thinner. Leonel tirelessly administered blood transfusions and called out her name in hopes of rousing her.

Occasionally, Timmy would visit Alexis to monitor her condition and provide medication. Leonel silently observed Timmy's actions without objection.

During the nights, Leonel would gently wipe Alexis’ face.