Once they were gone, Alexisâ tone was distant and matter-of-fact.
âMr.
Douglas, who I choose to be with isnât your concern.
Iâm telling you this so youâll understand.
Please, stay out of my life from now on.
â
Leonel could only stare.
âIT donât want Calvin to misunderstand,â Alexis continued calmly.
âWeâre very close.
â
She walked past Leonel, who seemed lost for words.
As she passed, he reached out, grasping her wrist.
Leonelâs voice was rough, filled with desperation.
âAlexis, Iâve waited three years for you.
Everyone deserves a chance to defend themselves, right?â
Leonelâs mind wasnât on Calvin or his relationship with Alexis.
His sole focus now was on getting back what he had lost.
Alexis looked at Leonelâs hand on her wrist, her smile soft yet sad.
âThereâs nothing to explain.
I find you⦠questionable.
â
With that, she pulled away, leaving without another word.
Leonel watched her leave, swallowing hard, but he didnât follow.
His secretary approached, breaking the silence.
Her face alight with excitement, the secretary announced, âMr.
Douglas, the puppy is waiting in the car.
Your daughter will be thrilled to see it.
â
Leonel, turning away, gripped the wash basin.
His voice was bitter.
âTake the puppy back to the villa.
I need some time alone.
â
The secretary, taken aback, didnât dare to question him.
Once alone in the bathroom, Leonel raised his eyes to his reflection in the mirror.
His expression was dark.
He had never put much stock in genetics, but now, he wondered if he was inherently as horrible a man as his father, doomed to a similar fate of separation from his wife and child.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Pulling it out, he saw the caller was Darwin, the one he had anticipated.
Darwin sounded both weary and relieved.
âHeard you went to pick her up today.
Got turned down, didnât you?
And Calvinâs with her, right? Iâm sorry, Leonel.
I shouldâve told you sooner.
â