Marcus had made it clear that anyone who spread the rumor would face the consequences.

But Alexis was uninterested in Hank's words. She hailed a taxi and got in without giving him a second glance.

Left alone, Hank clenched his fists, filled with frustration.

He was not ready to give up on Alexis, but her anger suggested there was no hope for him, at least for now. He had planned to use their business cooperation as a means to get closer to her and eventually foster a relationship.

Meanwhile, Alexis was preparing for a business trip the following day.

Before leaving, she stood on her bedroom balcony for a long time.

Finally, she took out her phone and sent a message to Leonel. It read, “I'm heading out on a business trip. Evelyn and Daniel miss you very much. If it's convenient, could they stay with you for a few days?"

It took all her courage to send the message, as she was uncertain about Leonel's current feelings or whether he was willing to look after the children.

If Leonel declined, she knew she would need to find a way to reassure the kids.

On the other side of town, after returning home, Noreen called a doctor to tend to Leonel's leg, which alleviated his pain somewhat.

It was then that he received Alexis' message, informing him of her business trip and the children's longing to see him.

Leonel stared at the message for a long time. Despite his depression, the words pulled him back to reality. He was more than just Alexis' ex-husband. He was the father of their three children.

The mention of their children in the text seemed to work magic on him, stirring emotions deep within.

It had been a long while since he last saw Evelyn and Daniel. He had kept his distance, not wanting the kids to discover his injury—that was why he never visited. Yet, he understood he couldn't conceal his condition forever.

Leonel pondered to himself that perhaps it was time to reveal the truth.

Alexis was no longer his, a thought that weighed heavily on him.

Resigned, he picked up his phone and replied to her message. After sending his response, he sat, lost in his thoughts.

After sending the message, Leonel began to feel regret. Frankly, he was not sure what exactly he wanted. He couldn't really say how things would evolve between himself and Alexis, but one thing that he just couldn't ignore or treat as unimportant was the feelings of their kids.

He had been immersed in his own world for quite a long time now. As a result, he had pretty much ignored Evelyn and Daniel.

But he wasn't blind to the fact that if the kids knew, sooner or later, Alexis would also discover the truth. He couldn't help but ask himself what she would do by then. Nevertheless, it was time for him to make a choice.