"Why didn't you reach out to me later that evening?" Raegan inquired.

Heaven knew the desolation she experienced upon glimpsing the empty screen of her phone in the morning.

Previously, Mitchel would persist with his messages even if she didn't respond. He would at least inquire, “Are you asleep?"

Label her capricious or accuse her of anything, but in relationships, women frequently tend to be more attentive to these minute details.

Particularly someone like Raegan, who had undergone therapy for psychological concerns. She was more attuned to any subtle shifts, perpetually questioning if the other person had changed or if she had erred. People like her crave constant reassurance to ease their worries.

Mitchel's voice resonated with a subdued yet captivating tone as he confessed, "I feared you were asleep."

To Raegan, this explanation seemed like a mere justification. For her, reaching out first was a clear indicator of her willingness to communicate openly. She couldn't fathom how someone as perceptive as Mitchel couldn't grasp that.

Admittedly, Mitchel comprehended her perspective, yet he grappled with his own bouts of insecurity as well. For someone who had previously exuded excessive arrogance, | acknowledging — such vulnerabilities proved to be a challenging feat.

But for Raegan's sake, Mitchel admitted, "I wasn't certain about what was on your mind. If I posed another question, I was worried you might see me as bothersome, and I'm scared of you disliking me..."

In Mitchel's subdued tone, Raegan detected a hint of insecurity. She was taken aback. When did this proud man, perennially admired by others, begin to harbor feelings of insecurity? She was rendered speechless.

However, Raegan nursed a sense of grievance. She had waited for him in his office, only to drift off to sleep, awakening to darkness and chill, abandoned and on the verge of freezing.

"Why didn't you come back to your office to find me earlier?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of pain. Just contemplating the darkness and chill reignited the feeling of unfairness all over again. Had she not lingered in anticipation of sharing her thoughts with him, she wouldn't have inadvertently drifted off to sleep on the couch, subsequently finding herself locked in by mistake.

“It's my fault," Mitchel said. “It's entirely my fault. I promise, I won't abandon you like that again.”

Despite contemplating giving up, when Erick suggested he distance himself from Raegan, it felt like his heart was being torn out. It was only then Mitchel realized he still desired Raegan to spend their rest of lives together. If Raegan agreed to be with him, he was determined not to give up.

Despite his restricted mobility, Mitchel was resolved to do everything in his power to protect Raegan for as long as he could.

When he learned Raegan's marriage with Stefan was a sham, he no longer wanted to stand by idly. He yearned to become an integral part of her life, as well as that of their children. They held the utmost significance to him in this world.

Raegan blushed in response. How had Mitchel undergone such a swift transformation? Wasn't he distant just a short while ago? Yet now, he was articulating everything she longed to hear.

However, Raegan still harbored some anger about being left alone.

Wanting to vent, she said, "You claim you won't abandon me, but I'm already married. Are you intending to become involved as the ‘other man'?"

Mitchel's gaze flickered slightly, realizing that Raegan was unaware of the fact that he knew the truth. "I'm willing to risk my reputation for you," he replied.