Even though it felt like it was yesterday, that unpleasant experience had actually happened a long time ago.

Nevertheless, she brushed all these thoughts from her mind and calmly went upstairs. One of the domestic staff saw her and greeted her, addressing her as Mrs. Douglas. "Just call me Miss Fowler," Alexis corrected her with a faint smile.

“Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am," the young woman gasped. “I... it was an innocent mistake."

Noreen also intervened on her behalf. “Miss Fowler, please don't be mad at her," she begged. "These people have been working in the house for many years, so they're used to calling you by that title.”

Of course, Alexis understood this. She knew it was no fault of the maid's in any way.

When they finally got to the second floor, Alexis saw Leonel. It was clear to her that he was indeed suffering from the gout. Wearing a dark colored pajama, he was stretched out lazily on the sofa.

The moment the group walked in, he looked up and immediately, his eyes met Alexis’.

His gaze was piercing as usual.

The two of them stared at each other for a long time. Finally, Leonel spoke in a hoarse voice. “I'm sorry for what happened yesterday," he apologized.

But Alexis simply fixed her eyes on him and said nothing.

After a while, she walked over and put little Cordelia in his arms.

Leonel could smell the faint fragrance of her shampoo as she leaned forward to drop the baby in his arms. This familiar scent made his heart skip a beat.

Cordelia, with her innocent eyes wide open, nestled peacefully in his arms.

After letting go of the baby, Alexis suddenly asked in a low voice, “Why do you have gout attacks so frequently now? You didn't have something like this when we were together."

Leonel was caught off guard by Alexis' question. Even he, usually the talkative one, was stumped for an answer.

The atmosphere in room suddenly grew tense.

Finally, he said, “It doesn't happen overnight. I've been battling with it these past couple of months."

Since they'd been getting along well lately, Alexis was willing to show concern. She gently petted Cordelia and said to him, "Just ease up on the drinking and take care of yourself."

Her concern felt genuine. Leonel couldn't help but ask, "Do you still care about me?"

Alexis froze and said nothing.