They stared at each other for a moment.
Then Alexis smiled and started the car.
After rolling up the window, she drove off.
âAlexis!â Leonel called out to her.
But she didnât stop.
Leonel knew she wouldnât come to any harm, so what he should do was to go back upstairs and think about how to deal with the days ahead.
But he didnât seem to want to move at all.
He just stood there, staring in the direction her car had just gone.
But all of a sudden, he remembered the maple tree in the backyard.
Ignoring the pain in his leg, he slowly walked towards the tree.
He could see the tender red leaves hanging onto the branches.
Since it was late summer, the tree had now started changing color.
Leonelâs lips trembled and his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.
Now that the maple tree had changed color, would he really have a chance to start anew with Alexis again?
On her way back, Alexis took some medicine to stop the bleeding.
The wound appeared daunting, yet it was actually nothing.
By the time she reached home, the bleeding had ceased.
The villa was silent.
In the drawing room, Waylen sat on the sofa, a financial magazine in his hands.
His attention, however, seemed elsewhere.
As Alexis entered through the doorway, Waylen looked up and noticed the cut on her wrist.
âWhat happened, Alexis?â
Hearing Waylenâs gentle voice, Alexis paused, taken aback.
Despite being a mother of three, in Waylenâs eyes, she remained the little girl who would snuggle on his lap, listening intently to the fairy tales he read her deep into the night.
âIâm fine, Dad,â Alexis replied softly.
âDonât lie to me, girl! Itâs written all over your face⦠Did you find out about Leonelâs injury?â
Alexis blinked, giving Waylen a blank stare.
Seeing her response, Waylen didnât press further.
He retrieved the medical kit, and then carefully bandaged the wound on Alexisâ wrist.
Initially, Alexis resisted, prompting Waylen to admonish firmly, âBe a good girl, Alexis.
â
As he dressed the wound, Waylen inquired, âNow that you know, what will you do? Reunite with Leonel to repay him? I know itâs not easy for you to sever ties completely; after all, Leonel and you have grown up together, and now he has sacrificed a leg.
But follow your heart before deciding anything, Alexis.
There are many ways to repay him.
I just donât want you to get hurt, alright?â
Alexis understood what Waylenâs was trying to say.
She listened in silence, reflecting for a considerable time before responding quietly, âDad, I canât predict the future, but Iâm certain Iâll regret it for the rest of my life if I donât do this.
More than that, I canât let him avoid facing it.
â