The butler, upon seeing Leonel, voiced his surprise. "Mr. Douglas, you're out and about quite late. Why not retire for the night? What brings you here? Mr. Fowler mentioned a possible intruder, though I find it hard to believe. Even a thief would find the cold too much. Yet here I am to check. Didn't expect to see you though!"

Leonel's gaze was penetrating.

Unfazed by the butler's sarcasm, Leonel inquired softly, “How is Alexis? Is she alright?"

The butler paused before responding, “Miss Fowler is well. Was there a reason to think otherwise?"

"Why did she miss Albert's wedding?"

The butler chuckled. "I have no answers for that. It's her choice, after all. Let's not dwell on it. You should focus more on Daniel and Evelyn and move forward."

Leonel regarded the butler with a silent, penetrating gaze.

He cast his gaze downward and murmured, "Understood. Thank you." With that, Leonel slipped into his car, ignited the engine, and drove off into the night.

Throughout the lengthy night, the butler lingered, shaking his head with a hint of sorrow. "Such a shame! They were once so close as children."

The butler returned to report, ascending to the second floor and gently pushing open the door of a bedroom. Inside, Alexis lounged against the sofa, a heater positioned nearby. Though the temperature at home wasn't particularly chilly, Alexis enjoyed leaning against the heater, a habit she had developed the previous winter.

Her belly had yet to swell, and she appeared slender.

Catching sight of the butler entering, she lifted her gaze and inquired softly, "Has he left?”

With a sigh, the butler confirmed, "Yes, he's gone. Miss Fowler, it's late. You should retire for the night."

Alexis nodded, draping a shawl around her shoulders as she made her way into the bedroom.

Pausing momentarily, the butler noticed the phone on the tea table.

He suspected that Leonel had texted Alexis, preventing her from falling asleep and prompting her to request his assistance in asking Leonel to leave.

The butler sighed once more.

Alexis wasn't intentionally avoiding Leonel, but as her pregnancy progressed, she rarely ventured outside. Even her visits to the law firm were brief, limited to checking accounts before returning home.

She abstained from attending any social gatherings.

Gradually, her belly swelled with her advancing pregnancy.