When her eyes fluttered open, she discovered herself ensconced within Waylen's embrace. His grip was tight, causing her ribs to ache and his breath engulfed her senses.

“Waylen, have you lost your mind? Release me!" Rena vehemently pleaded, struggling to free herself.

Yet, Waylen clung to her tenaciously, rendering her immobile. Not only that, he yearned for more. He pressed Rena against the tree, their bodies intimately colliding and intertwining.

He possessed an intimate knowledge of her physique, aware of precisely how to ignite her desires.

His aim was to awaken Rena's memories, desperate to ascertain if she still harbored feelings for him...

He yearned for her thoughts to be consumed by him, not Tyrone.

Waylen's desire for her burned urgently, consuming his every thought.

Rena's eyes welled up with tears, her anguish evident as she delivered a resounding slap across his face. Her body quivered with a mix of emotions.

Seizing her chin, Waylen once again pressed his lips against hers with an urgent fervor.

Rena ceased her resistance.

She allowed him to kiss her, her face tenderly turning away as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Waylen, do not push me further into hatred.

Even if it's not Tyrone, someone else will inevitably enter my life. I will fall in love and eventually marry another. Will you continue to pester me endlessly?"

Waylen came to a sudden halt.

Resting his forehead against her neck, he exhaled softly, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“Rena, I'd rather you hate me. If you hate me, at Least I still hold a place within your heart. But you treat me as if I were air. You knew I was waiting downstairs, yet you prepared a meal for him. You even walked him to his car, smiling... You gave him an opportunity."

He looked into her eyes and continued, "Rena, even if your heart were made of stone, it is time for it to soften. Is it so arduous to grant me a chance? I know that feelings for me still Linger within you. When I kissed you and touched you, your response was undeniable..."

The corners of Rena‘s eyes glistened with even more tears.

Gently closing her eyes, she uttered, “Yes, Waylen, I was indeed aroused. But is that not a natural reaction for a woman? Even if I were to engage with a skilled male companion, I could still experience the same sensation. What does it truly signify?"

Waylen's countenance grew pale.

Rena stood tall, her gaze steady in the midst of the nocturnal breeze.

“Waylen, you abandoned me. What purpose does it serve to voice these sentiments now?"