Yet, from the beginning to the end, the only thing he offered her was clandestine happiness within the confines of that apartment.

He never even acknowledged their relationship publicly.

*

Mark sat inside the car.

As the car halted near the apartment building, he placed a call.

In truth, he shouldn’t have come but he couldn’t resist making this special trip, even keeping it hidden from his personal secretary.

Cecilia declined his offer.

Mark ascended the stairs and unlocked the door to the apartment.

He had already arranged for it to be cleaned beforehand.

Everything remained unchanged, except for the absence of that one person.

Mark, known for his scheming nature, had never felt such deep desolation and longing to see someone in his entire life.

He sat on the sofa throughout the night.

Recalling the intensity of their past connection, he remembered how she would lie in his embrace and affectionately call him Uncle Mark. @

There had never been a girl as pure and uncomplicated as her.

Everyone around him seemed seasoned and sophisticated.

Individuals like him had long lost their innocence, but in his early forties, he found himself entangled in a love affair with a young woman. He cherished her, yet he didn’t wish for her to be entwined in his dangerous world.

His world held too many perils.

However, she lacked the means to protect herself, so he had to divert his attention to safeguard her.

Subsequently, following that incident two years ago, she appeared disheartened, and he also began to feel that they were ill-suited for each other…

They had been separated for over two years, and he had believed that he had moved on, but Waylen had unintentionally reopened his old wounds.

As it turned out, he hadn’t truly gotten over her.

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the apartment.

Mark rose and prepared breakfast. Subsequently, out of habit, he made his way to the bedroom, intending to wake the girl and share their usual meal together. She had a hearty appetite but was undemanding. She always had a fondness for junk food.

However, the bedroom was empty.

The fragrance of her hair had long dissipated from the bed.

Mark walked out of the bedroom with a heavy heart and ate breakfast alone…

Peter called, informing him of a meeting scheduled for ten o’clock.

Mark responded casually, “Postpone it until tomorrow. I’m in Duefron. I want to see Rena and Alexis.”

Peter understood the situation all too well.

He sighed, recognizing that Cecilia was the sole person in Mark’s life whom he had failed.

Mark indeed went to visit Rena.

He brought toys that Alexis adored and arrived early.

Fortunately, he managed to avoid encountering Waylen, as the man had departed on a business trip early that morning.

However, Rena was perceptive. She felt a slight unease upon seeing Mark.

Observing the loving expression on Mark’s face as he spent time with Alexis, Rena couldn’t help but think of Edwin.

In a hushed voice, she inquired, “Uncle, have you ever considered starting a family?”

Mark smiled. “What? Are you here to persuade me on behalf of your grandmother?”

Rena remained silent and prepared coffee silently.

After a while, she softly said, “I’ve noticed how fond you are of children.”

Mark lifted Alexis and planted a tender kiss on her cheek. “I have Alexis, and that’s enough.”

Alexis returned the affectionate gesture, holding Mark’s handsome face in her small hands. Speaking softly, she remarked,

“Edwin is handsome too. He has brown hair and smooth skin, just like me.”

Mark furrowed his brow and inquired, “Who is Edwin?”

Rena placed the coffee on the table and cradled Alexis in her arms. “He is a child from the Fowler family.”

It wasn’t a falsehood.

Without dwelling too much on it, Mark forced a smile.

He had come here to inquire about Cecilia, yet Rena remained tight-lipped, refusing to utter a single word regarding her.

Mark thought Rena was astute.

While conversing with Mark, Rena tossed a phone to Alexis.

Alexis glanced at Mark and then at her mother.

Rena smile, and Alexis instantly grasped her intention.

With determination, Alexis began typing on the phone.

“Auntie Cece, I miss you.”

“Mom isn’t feeling well. Can you come and drive me to school?”

Afterwards, Alexis tossed the phone onto the sofa.

Mark voiced his disapproval. “It’s not suitable for such a young child to play with a phone.”

Rena discreetly checked the messages and smiled. “She was just checking her kindergarten homework. Waylen always insisted that she do it on her own.”

Thereafter, Mark fell silent.

He remained seated for a while before preparing to take his leave. His mood was already sour.

Rena invited him to stay for another cup of coffee. Just as the sound of a car echoed in the courtyard, she smiled and remarked, “Alright, I won’t keep you any longer if you have other business to attend to. I’ll bring Alexis to visit Grandma in Czanch another day.”

Mark gently patted her head, turned around and departed.

him to the

way, a white

a smile.

her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

gaze grew intense, and he

in ways he

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity

transformation had overtaken Cecilia,

now acquired a slender figure while exuding an air of maturity

signified her transition from a girl into a

with a profound realization that his longing for

eyes remained locked on her visage as he softly uttered, “It

to be more overwhelmed

her voice, she managed to summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans, indeed,

greetings, acknowledging each

assistance of the trustworthy driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted a kiss on Rena’s cheek and

and reassured Alexis, “I’ll be there to pick you up

detached herself from Rena’s embrace, firmly clutching the maid’s hand, and obediently proceeded

Rena turned around, she discreetly cleared her throat and declared, “I shall prepare some fragrant tea for

Rena, grasped her arm and

offered a gentle smile and responded, “You two carry on

Cecilia, his voice barely above a whisper

Cecilia silently complied, entering the

as she crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist, compelling

closed, enclosing them in

cornered by Mark, who positioned his arm above her head. The

parties lost in their own

like an eternity, Cecilia, her voice quivering,

to scrutinize her, lowering his voice as he responded, “I waited for you throughout

abruptly met his

eyes welled up with tears, poised to cascade down

dared

aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and crying in front

too, bore his own

before returning to lock onto her face. Softly, he inquired, “Why

as she responded, “What concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied elsewhere… What right do you have to

Occupied…

eyes revealed an enigmatic

reached out, tenderly grazing her face, evoking a

her teeth

you found someone else?” he queried in

swept across

intently at him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her

instant,

his grip

release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a

a time, you used to call me

my youthful naivety, I failed to

“Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you. Let us maintain a modicum

relinquished his

to open the door. Behind her, in a raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia, are you truly forsaking me? We can resurrect our former bond. You may refer to me as Uncle Mark once again, and I will watch

always owed

would offer his blessings.

would be prepared to grant her every

so slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering

the events

to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only

in a darkened room for 36 agonizing hours, she endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily needs. Bound to a chair, she

kidnappers had demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

he would spare no

voice over the

she had

his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it was not his embrace that awaited her. Instead, she witnessed a picturesque tableau of him

her that she was not the sole victim

to know her, showing no concern for her well-being, yet he had utilized the chip

in

the woman was…

numerous women worshipped Mark. And those women possessed a sensuality and sweetness surpassing her

before him, her dignity

bring herself to

only entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her were, “Cecilia, let us put

still

Why?

the sofa, he had quietly observed her for a prolonged moment before

welled up in her

did not try to

with sorrow, as she softly uttered, “Alright. Farewell, Uncle

final time she referred to him as Uncle Mark, as well as the last time

couldn’t bear it any

affection for him, but she evaded his grasp and uttered

there, stunned, his gaze

the door closed, she continued

the bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test stick lay,

to his arrival, she had contemplated informing

he had declared that they were ill-suited for one

in her heart still lingered as she recollected the

Cecilia emerged, Rena sat gracefully upon the sofa in the living room, two cups

smiled and

out a sob

beside Rena, her countenance bearing the weight

love for Mark all along, but he had merely toyed with her

for this man, and she could not forgive herself or him exactly

to lean

atmosphere permeated the air as

let alone to Rena… In any case, he

her. I

He prepared to depart…

if you had considered starting a family. Now…

in

he had pondered the

spent with Cecilia, he had entertained the idea,

did it matter

could not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

nodded, her expression understanding. “I understand. By the way… Grandma

Mark turned around.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255