Waylen was accustomed to such hostility.

He entered resolutely and knelt before Mark.

Mark sneered again. “Your kneeling means nothing to me, Mr. Fowler. I cannot bear witness to it. What now? What have you done this time that you need to kneel and apologize?”

Waylen conveyed the doctor’s words to Mark.

Concern for Rena’s well-being had been weighing heavily on Mark’s mind and his heart sank upon

Mark asked Waylen, “What do you intend to do? Are you truly willing to watch your child perish? Can you be that merciless? If you dare to do so, I will end your life.”

Waylen calmly laid out his plan.

An icy silence engulfed the room.

Even Mark, who had been present throughout, was stunned by Waylen’s bold words. He was shocked and incensed. Without delay, he hurled the nearest object he could grab at Waylen…

It was a company stamp.

The stamp struck Waylen’s forehead with force.

Waylen couldn’t dodge at all.

A slender rivulet of crimson blood trickled down his countenance…

Undeterred, Mark positioned himself before Waylen and uttered with a quivering voice, “Waylen, have you pondered upon the repercussions of your actions? Can Rena endure it? What if… What if… If the baby really perishes, there will be no way back for you, Waylen. You will be doomed.”

Waylen slightly closed his eyes and replied, “I know. I am well aware.”

Waylen found himself without alternatives.

Rena’s loathing towards him was intense. He couldn’t offer her anything. He could no longer bear witnessing her agonizing in pain either. If she had even the slightest chance recovering in a different setting, he was willing to… He was willing to… set her free.

Mark maintained silence for an extended duration.

However, Waylen understood that Mark concurred.

Waylen wiped the blood from his brow, rose to his feet and departed.

As the door shut, Mark’s anger erupted in solitude. He forcefully shoved the papers to the floor and berated, “He is insane. If he truly loved her, why did he inflict so much harm upon her before?”

While venting his frustrations, Mark dejectedly took a seat.

His eyes were bloodshot. In truth, he knew this course of action could, at the very least, save Rena’s life.

Waylen returned to the ICU ward.

Rena remained fixated on the baby. He couldn’t determine if she slept more than three hours a day.

She was gradually expending her life for the sake of this child.

Following Waylen’s decisive choice, he felt a tinge of sorrow. It was an emotion he had never

experienced before but now he comprehended it.

He was a husband and a father.

Yet, he had failed in all his duties.

He had caused his wife to endure such suffering…

He embraced her.

Perhaps it would be the last time he could hold her so unabashedly.

Naturally, Rena resisted.

Waylen clung to her tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder, and whispered, “Allow me to hold you for a while. Just this once, Rena… Please don’t push me away.”

She lacked the strength and simply allowed him to embrace her in silence.

He couldn’t perceive her warmth.

Nevertheless, he pressed close to her neck, inhaling her scent, evoking countless cherished memories of their time together.

It was evident that he loved her…

She was the first woman he had made love to.

He kept her by his side, showering her with various gifts to please her, engaging in battles with Harold for her sake, and feeling jealousy towards Tyrone, Robert and Zack…

Every time she shed tears, he fretted over her, and every time she left him, he regretted it deeply.

Clearly, he loved her…

Waylen kissed her hair and whispered with a tremor in his voice, “Rena, I love you.”

Rena stiffened.

It mattered not to her anymore whether he harbored love for her or not.

No response came from her. He sealed his eyelids shut and clasped her with increased intensity, as though he intended to expend every ounce of his strength. The pressure inflicted upon Rena caused her great pain and discomfort. In a raspy voice, she uttered, “You’re hurting me.”

“I am in pain. Rena, I am hurting.”

In the past, she had always worried about him but, now, no matter how much he suffered, she remained indifferent.

The nurse entered, bearing medication, but was overwhelmed by the scene.

Subsequently, the nurse placed the medicine down and hurriedly departed.

Waylen gazed at the two pills resting on the tray. Rena had previously taken antidepressant pills but, today, those two pills had been replaced by sleeping pills.

Should Rena consume them, she would succumb to a slumber lasting at least ten hours.

Slowly, Waylen released his hold on her.

His voice quivered slightly as he said, “Rena, it is time for you to take the pills.”

Rena did not refuse the medication. She acknowledged her illness and was willing to undergo treatment. Soon enough, she ingested the two pills with warm water.

Drowsiness gradually enveloped her….

She experienced an unprecedented weariness, as if she could slumber for an eternity.

“Waylen… Why do I feel an overwhelming desire to sleep?”

Rena began to feel a pervasive weakness throughout her body. Then she found herself cradled within his embrace.

He gently placed her upon the bed and observed her silently.

Prior to giving birth, she weighed about 110 pounds, yet now she had dwindled to a mere 80 pounds. She had become nothing but skin and bones, her delicate visage evoking deep concern.

Waylen tenderly caressed her face, assessing her temperature.

After a considerable duration, he removed the necklace from around her neck. Adorning it was a ring he had bestowed upon her.

Only when she was ensconced in slumber could he delicately slide the diamond ring onto her ring finger.

He and she had finally become a genuine couple.

Waylen reclined, cradling her within his arms, and buried his face in the curve of her neck. In an instant, her neck was moistened….

Alexis was surviving…

to freeze time in

Rena remained

slumbered for a

At first, her mind was a blank canvas, but then she

Alexis…

How was she?

side, she was struck with

room stood empty, all equipment removed, leaving only an abandoned quilt that once cradled

girl named Alexis had

her face. She pounded upon the

here. Alexis… Where have

desperate to shield her from further anguish. In à

stood frozen

distorting her vision. The

She couldn’t fathom it.

merely dozed off. How could Alexis vanish into

her as she pounded the glass relentlessly. Her palm grew swollen,

seemed like an illusion, a

from this slumber, Alexis would undoubtedly still be

that the shattering sounds would surely rouse her

the

was streaked

wreckage before her, Rena gradually succumbed

vanished from

clung to her, his embrace a refuge of soláce. He uttered,

cries filled with hysteria. “Waylen… Alexis is gone.

Waylen endured it all.

understood that Rena harbored immense animosity towards him, yet he could only endure

He held her.

the last remnants of tenderness

her

She murmured softly. “Where

surely frightened without her

it would trigger further distress. “Give it one more day. You need to rest

But Rena persisted.

is my child. I need to

the Fowler family cemetery, the earth lay cloaked in the shadow of towering trees, the sun sinking beyond the

Betty’s tomb stood

of the

way as she knelt on the ground, her trembling hands scooping up a handful of fresh,

her

that moment, the harsh reality finally

Alexis was truly gone…

heavy clouds, casting a somber tone over the

the sun began its descent, its dying rays played upon the ebony leaves, casting an eerie aura

tears streaming down her face, Rena appeared devoid of her very essence,

thoughts as she pondered whether Alexis

are you departing without

you gripped by

Mommy

a handful of fresh soil against her chest, bowing her body. Even through her garments, the frail silhouette of

final glimpse of her?” Her words trembled

He held her.

the last remnants

held her for an

She murmured softly. “Where is she? I need

young, surely frightened

go, fearing it would trigger further distress. “Give it one more day. You need

But Rena persisted.

is my child. I

descended, within the Fowler family cemetery, the earth lay cloaked in the shadow of towering trees, the sun sinking beyond

Betty’s tomb

out of the car, her steps

legs giving way as she knelt on the ground, her trembling hands scooping up a handful of

clung to her

harsh reality finally

Alexis was truly gone…

heavy clouds, casting a somber tone over the

its descent, its dying rays played upon the ebony leaves, casting an eerie aura upon the ground, as

down her face, Rena appeared devoid of her very essence, as if her soul

somehow still plagued her thoughts as she

“Alexis, are

gripped

should Mommy

against her chest, bowing her body. Even through her garments, the

did you deny me a final glimpse of her?” Her words trembled with

Rena up but his hand froze midair upon hearing

“It was not a nice sight. I feared you would never forget seeing her like

into a

you are cruel beyond measure. She is your own flesh and blood. How could you… allow her

describe Alexis’ fate were too painful for Rena to

she

grave. Sharp stones mingled

devoid

I will

give

never had the chance to

your countenance countless times, yet none were as radiant as

my sweetest

Mommy is here…”

cloaked

withdrew from

Rena into his

cradled her, he realized she

at the ward, Rena lay tranquilly upon the bed, her body attended to

whispered into her ear, longing for her

that the weight of her

Cecilia stood

“Waylen, will Rena never awaken again? Maybe you should not have deceived her… Oh, the sorrow

her

plan, they dared not cling to hope. After all, the

couldn’t see the little

was being so

his mother and sister, Waylen clasped Rena’s hand, his gaze fixed upon her face as he softly uttered, “I have

stood in stunned

days, Rena lay ensconced

nighttime when

the bed, his weary face resting against her hand. The visage she had once admired now bore the

Rena observed him silently….

Waylen

glanced up at her in the subdued

had endured, languished in a dire state. When they looked into each

a void had formed between them, leaving them with nothing to

closed, and

voice, Waylen tenderly replied, “Are you hungry? Let me fetch you something

fill a bowl with

away, her

face freezing, but he quickly resumed ladling the soup, attempting to maintain a casual tone as he continued, “The doctor mentioned that you lack proper nutrition, so I

need it. How many times must I say it? I don’t

hands trembled ever so slightly as he gently set the bowl

being strangers, unable to meet each other’s gaze. Perhaps it

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