But she didn't say anything. She just took Cordelia and left.

But Cordelia didn't want to leave. As her mother lifted her into her arms, she kept babbling and waving her arms towards Leonel. In fact, her eyes were filled with tears, as if she was about to cry.

“Daddy... Daddy," she called to Leonel.

Her cries made Leonel feel very sad. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

But Alexis quickly walked away with Cordelia.

The sound of her footsteps echoed from the stairwell. She walked quickly, desperate to get out of the place.

At this point, Leonel slumped down into his wheelchair, gasping heavily. He suddenly felt as if he was being suffocated. Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed again from the stairwell. This time, Noreen was the one coming in.

She had already heard what had happened. That was why she was rushing over to see Leonel.

She was really worried and anxious.

But Leonel didn't give her a chance to speak. Instead, he calmly ordered her, “Call her and ask her to come over. I need her to help me put on a show."

Noreen was reluctant to carry out this instruction.

She felt Leonel had been living a miserable life these past few years. Perhaps if he told Alexis the truth, there might still be a chance for them to be together.

But if he was persistent in what he was about to do, any chance he had of being with Alexis might disappear.

After hesitating for a while, Noreen finally replied, "Mr. Douglas, maybe you should reconsider."

"There's no need for reconsideration!" Leonel retorted. "Do you think there will still be a chance for me if Alexis finds out the truth? If any such chance exists, can it really be called a chance? Of course not! All she'll feel for me is pity. I don't need anyone to feel pity for me, and I can't imagine Alexis spending her whole life taking care of a useless cripple. She deserves better."

"But you're not useless!" Noreen couldn't help but wail.

Leonel didn't say anything. He just looked down at his left leg. He felt so much like a cripple now. Even if he learned to walk normally in the future, those ugly scars would always be on his leg.

"Go do as I ordered you!" he shouted at Noreen.

Noreen had no other choice but to go and make the call.

When Alexis finally arrived at the hospital, she found that Korbyn had just left surgery and was being taken to the ICU.