Leonel replied calmly, “He may be dim but he's very wealthy. Easy money, you know. It would be our loss not to cooperate with him."

Noreen wanted to protest but Leonel stopped her. “Let it go. The contract has been signed, and that's all that matters."

She apologized, feeling bad.

But Leonel didn't blame her. As they were Leaving, he spotted Alexis.

She was with a guy and they were walking together. They seemed close.

The man looked about thirty-something. He appeared suave and seemed perfect for Alexis...

Leonel was stunned. Was he her date?

He hadn't expected it so soon...

Worried Alexis might spot him, he clenched his fists. “Push me that way. I need a smoke."

Noreen saw Alexis too. Shocked, she wheeled Leonel away to a quiet spot.

The wheelchair felt like it weighed a ton, though they weren't far away.

She fought back tears.

Her voice trembling, she said, "Why not tell Miss Fowler the truth..."

“What truth? That I ended up disabled protecting her, hoping she'd pity me? So she'd feel obligated to look after me forever?"

Leonel's words dripped with bitterness.

Noreen couldn't hold back and she slipped away to cry.

Leonel lit a cigarette. He knew he shouldn't, with the pain in his leg, but sometimes he couldn't resist. Like now, he just needed that drag...

He had seen Alexis with someone else and now he was feeling utterly useless.

Once proud, now hiding like a coward...

How pathetic! Leonel couldn't help but laugh at himself.