Early in the morning, when Alexis woke up, she discovered a limited edition teddy bear beside her pillow.

She should have been overjoyed, but today she didn't feel happy at all.

Clutching the teddy bear to her chest, she ran to the guest room in search of Waylen. Still groggy from sleep, Waylen hadn't awakened yet, and Alexis crawled under the covers.

As he opened his eyes, Waylen ran his hand through her curly brown hair.

Alexis nestled her face against his chest, remaining silent.

Waylen pinched her cheek and asked, "Do you miss me?"

Alexis continued to remain silent.

Waylen refrained from forcing her and instead held her in his arms.

Unlike other children, Alexis exhibited signs of autism, and Waylen knew better than to push her when she didn't want to speak. As a father, he felt a deep sense of remorse for her struggles, willing to do everything in his power to make her happy.

But sometimes, happiness couldn't be bought with money.

To soothe Alexis, Rena went out of her way to cook things the little girl liked. She then found Alexis hiding under the quilt.

Waylen glanced at Rena, silently telling her that he got this.

He cradled Alexis in his arms from 7 a.m, to nearly 9 a.m.

During those two hours, Jazlyn called Waylen, and Rena answered the phone for him, rescheduling the meeting for the afternoon.

After hanging up, she gazed at Waylen.

Their eyes shared a depth of understanding that words couldn't convey.

When 9 a.m. finally arrived, Alexis emerged from under the quilt, clutching her beloved teddy bear.

She expressed her desire to go to school, and Rena and Waylen accompanied her, showering her with kisses and affection.

However, as Rena and Waylen sat in the car once more, a somber ambiance hung in the air, a touch of heaviness clouding their spirits.

Waylen, seeking solace, reached for a cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he whispered, "She has experienced moments like this before. This isn't the most severe instance."

Rena sank back in her seat, her body weighed down by a mixture of fatigue and guilt.

It was the first time she had witnessed Alexis in such a vulnerable state. Alexis, typically vibrant and full of life, seemed like a completely different child that morning, and it broke Rena's heart.