Having spoken her piece, Rena proceeded towards her apartment.

After taking a few strides, she halted abruptly and declared, "Do not come to me again!"

Waylen silently observed her retreating figure, knowing deep down that she would never turn back, regardless of his actions.

“Rena...”

He murmured her name, feeling a dizzying whirl of emotions.

In the subsequent weeks, Waylen descended into a state of decadence.

Aside from fulfilling his work obligations, he frequented clubs and bars, drowning his sorrows in copious amounts of alcohol.

Korbyn endured this for half a month but, eventually, he personally intervened and brought his son back home.

He took a bucket brimming with icy water and emptied its contents over Waylen's head.

Suddenly jolted back to reality, Waylen hastily wiped his drenched face and exclaimed, "Dad!"

Pointing accusingly at Waylen, Korbyn unleashed a torrent of curses,

“What a pathetic loser! Does drowning yourself in alcohol serve any purpose? Will Rena return to you when she sees you inebriated? I suspect witnessing you in such a state will only amplify Rena's disdain for you. Waylen, have I not taught you anything? As a man, you must fight for what you desire. Do you possess any fewer capabilities than others?”

Waylen's visage remained stoic and impassive.

He maintained a prolonged silence...

Eventually, he tenderly adjusted the collar of his shirt and replied with a calm demeanor, “Dad, I know it now.”

Korbyn furrowed his brow, his expression filled with concern.

"What do you know?"

Waylen gently brushed off the remnants of ice from his clothes, lost in a momentary trance.

After an extended pause, he spoke with a raspy voice, heavy with emotion.

“Ever since I ended things with Elvira, I've lost the desire to love anyone else. It seems unlikely that I'll ever fall in love again. So when Rena and I first started dating, I viewed it as a consensual game. I'm aware that Rena has feelings for me, but I never intended for our relationship to be permanent."

In a fit of rage, Korbyn hurled an ashtray in Waylen's direction.

Korbyn's anger was so intense that his eyebrows involuntarily twitched.