After a moment, Hank spoke up softly, his words tentative.
âYou still love him, donât you?â
Alexis was stunned by Hankâs words.
She wasnât sure if her feelings for Leonel still lingered, yet she knew he had always been the one who held her heart.
Despite their separation, no one could take his place.
Those memories, both sweet and bitter, were intertwined with thoughts of him.
She preferred to keep her personal life private though.
She sensed Hankâs intentions were more personal than professional, given her keen instincts.
Facing him squarely, she said firmly, âMr.
Flores, please consider our professional relationship carefully.
â
With that, she turned and walked away.
Just as she was about to call a taxi, Hank approached, seemingly about to reach for her hand.
However, he paused, reconsidering at the last moment.
Instead, he offered politely, âLetâs set aside business for now.
May I offer you a ride home?â
To his surprise, Alexis proved more resolute than he anticipated.
Clearly, Hank had overstepped.
They were business partners, not a couple, so Alexis declined his offer straightforwardly.
âNo, thanks.
Iâll get a taxi myself.
Regarding our cooperation, Iâm sorry, but itâs not going to work for me.
â
Hank, frustrated by her directness, couldnât hold back.
âWhatâs so special about that man, Alexis? I might not have been a match for him before, but now he is-â His voice trailed off abruptly.
In Duefron, the topic about Leonelâs injured leg was a sensitive subject, one that no one dared discuss openly.
Marcus had made it clear that anyone who spread the rumor would face the consequences.
But Alexis was uninterested in Hankâs words.
She hailed a taxi and got in without giving him a second glance.
Left alone, Hank clenched his fists, filled with frustration.
He was not ready to give up on Alexis, but her anger suggested there was no hope for him, at least for now.
He had planned to use their business cooperation as a means to get closer to her and eventually foster a relationship.
Meanwhile, Alexis was preparing for a business trip the following day.
Before leaving, she stood on her bedroom balcony for a long time.
Finally, she took out her phone and sent a message to Leonel.
It read, âIâm heading out on a business trip.
Evelyn and Daniel miss you very much.
If itâs convenient, could they stay with you for a few days?â
It took all her courage to send the message, as she was uncertain about Leonelâs current feelings or whether he was willing to look after the children.
If Leonel declined, she knew she would need to find a way to reassure the kids.
On the other side of town, after returning home, Noreen called a doctor to tend to Leonelâs leg, which alleviated his pain somewhat.
It was then that he received Alexisâ message, informing him of her business trip and the childrenâs longing to see him.
Leonel stared at the message for a long time.
Despite his depression, the words pulled him back to reality.
He was more than just Alexisâ ex-husband.
He was the father of their three children.