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…

yearned to freeze time in this very

remained a devoted

for a full 24

blank canvas, but then she rose from the bed and hurried towards the glass

Alexis…

How was she?

other side,

empty, all equipment removed, leaving only an

named Alexis

streamed down her face. She

is here.

Rena’s trembling form. Waylen held her tightly, pressing his lips against her hair, desperate to

frozen in

distorting her vision. The world before her

She couldn’t fathom it.

had merely dozed off. How could Alexis vanish into thin

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

like an illusion, a haunting

could awaken from this slumber, Alexis would

a frenzy of destruction. She believed that the shattering sounds would surely rouse her from

amidst the chaos. The

was

Rena gradually succumbed to the stark reality that

had vanished

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

with hysteria. “Waylen…

Waylen endured it all.

towards him,

He held her.

onto the last

her for

herself in a daze. She murmured softly. “Where is she? I need

surely frightened without her mother by her

want Rena to go, fearing it would trigger further distress. “Give it one more

But Rena persisted.

Waylen… She is my child. I

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

Betty’s tomb stood a small

stumbled out of the car, her steps

sight of the diminutive tomb, she froze, her weakened legs giving way as

clung to her palms, revealing

that moment, the harsh reality finally

Alexis was truly gone…

with heavy clouds, casting a somber

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

appeared devoid of her very essence, as if her soul had

thoughts as she pondered whether Alexis

Rena questioned, “Alexis, are

you gripped by

What should Mommy do

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

Why did you deny me a final glimpse of

He held her.

onto the last remnants of tenderness

her for

herself in a daze. She murmured softly.

was so young, surely frightened without her mother by

want Rena to go, fearing it would trigger further distress. “Give it one

But Rena persisted.

Waylen… She is my child. I

the earth lay cloaked in the shadow

tomb stood

of the car, her steps

sight of the diminutive tomb, she froze, her weakened legs giving way as she knelt on the ground, her trembling hands

clung to her palms, revealing tender

the harsh

Alexis was truly gone…

heavy clouds, casting a somber tone

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

her face, Rena appeared devoid of her

plagued her thoughts as she pondered whether

“Alexis, are you departing without

gripped

should Mommy

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

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

up but his hand

a nice sight. I feared you would never forget seeing

slipped into a

partially closed, she whispered, “Waylen, you are cruel beyond measure. She is your own flesh and

Alexis’ fate were too painful for Rena to

she

heap the earth upon the grave. Sharp stones mingled within

devoid

will bring you

they give you

had the chance to love and pamper you

your countenance countless times, yet none were

night, my

Mommy is here…”

sky cloaked itself

from the

Rena into his arms. “Let

he realized she had succumbed to unconsciousness, her body unnaturally

tranquilly upon the bed, her body attended to by Waylen’s gentle

hushed tone, he whispered into her ear, longing

The doctor affirmed that the weight of her emotional turmoil had rendered her

Cecilia stood

“Waylen, will Rena never awaken again? Maybe you should not have deceived

away her tears in

Waylen’s wild plan, they dared not cling to hope.

couldn’t see

was being so

sister, Waylen clasped Rena’s hand,

stood in stunned

Rena lay ensconced

nighttime when she finally

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

Rena observed him silently….

an instant, Waylen roused

her in the subdued

the trials they had endured, languished in a dire state. When they looked into each other’s eyes

formed between them, leaving them with

eyes fluttered closed, and she

tenderly replied, “Are you hungry? Let

fill a bowl

away, her tone icy. “There’s

faltered, the joyous smile on his 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,

need it. How many times must I say

slightly as he gently

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

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