Occasionally, he would receive an urgent call in the dead of night, compelling him to depart for a day or two without return.

Rena remained oblivious to his whereabouts and she did not seem to care either...

In this manner, their relationship soured, yet they clung to each other for half a month. Later, Waylen reflected that this might have been the most heart-wrenching half month he had ever endured.

She stood right before him, but he could discern no glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Two days prior to Rena's discharge from the hospital, Waylen had a preexisting legal matter to attend to promptly at ten o'clock in the morning.