Despite his seemingly innocuous look, Raegan remained on high alert.

His past filled with trickery and lies was not something she could easily forget.

"am I cruel?" With a wry smile, Raegan responded, "I thought it was clear that we're nothing more than strangers after our last encounter at the International Banquet Center."

Raegan made their relationship status clear.

Henley's exit from the center that day was a silent admission of defeat. He was always one to measure the pros and cons. Clearly, he felt Raegan wasn't worth the risk to his life.

At her words, Henley momentarily lost his composure before regaining it. “Raegan, is risking one's life the only way to prove love?"

Looking directly at her, he questioned, “If I hadn't left that night, if I'd been ready to face life and death alongside you, would you have fallen for me?"

"I wouldn't," Raegan stated firmly.

Henley scoffed. "See, that's why I hesitated then."

"And that's why I could never love you," Raegan retorted. “Everything you do is calculated. Family, friendships, and love... You use them all as pawns. That's why you end up alone."

As she spoke, Henley's face grew darker. Raegan's words were spot-on.

Those who had once supported him abandoned him upon seeing his true self. Alexis was behind bars, and his ex-fiancée had lost her mind upon learning she'd been manipulated.

Henley gave Raegan a mocking laugh. "It seems you're quite concerned about me."

Raegan shook her head dismissively. "I don't need to keep tabs. Everything about you is splashed across the legal news."

Indeed, it was a foregone conclusion that those who followed Henley would eventually depart. Their connections were mere conveniences, fragile and easily broken. The only person who might have truly cared for Henley, Alexis, found himself back behind bars.

It was uncertain if Alexis had acted out of a sense of duty as a father, or simply chose not to betray Henley for other reasons.

Certainly, Alexis' actions were hardly driven by love. They seemed more like a last resort.

Knowing that both he and Henley facing prison would be disastrous, Alexis took the entire blame upon himself, allowing Henley to remain free with the chance to salvage his own situation.

Like Henley, Alexis had weighed the benefits and consequences before deciding to shoulder the burden alone. But to say he didn't love Henley at all would be incorrect. His love, however, was conditional, laden with terms and calculated moves.

Raegan's deepest regret concerned Henley's former fiancée, Matilda.