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.

accompanied him to the

the drive way, a white

a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that

her gaze

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

her here. His gaze grew intense,

transformed in ways he

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled

remarkable transformation had overtaken

a slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and

signified her transition from a girl into

this very moment, Mark was hit with a profound realization that

on her visage as he softly uttered, “It has been a

seemed to be more

to summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans, indeed, it has been

greetings, acknowledging

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

gesture, Rena reciprocated the kiss and reassured Alexis, “I’ll be there to pick

detached herself from Rena’s embrace, firmly clutching

turned around, she discreetly cleared her throat and declared, “I shall

dependent on Rena, grasped her arm and

a gentle smile and responded, “You two

voice barely above a whisper as

her head, Cecilia silently complied,

he firmly grasped her wrist, compelling her into

closed, enclosing them in

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

parties lost in

voice quivering, finally broke

he responded, “I waited for you throughout the

abruptly met his

to cascade down her

dared not

tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and crying in front of him

too, bore

door before returning to lock onto her face. Softly, he inquired, “Why haven’t you

smile graced Cecilia’s lips as she responded, “What concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have

Occupied…

revealed an

grazing her face, evoking a shudder throughout her entire

teeth chattered

repulse you? Have you found someone else?” he queried in a

pallor swept across

her teeth and replied, her words tinged with

instant,

his

now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is

a time, you used

I

exerting gentle pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore

relinquished his hold

a raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia, are you truly forsaking me? We can resurrect our former bond. You may refer to me

had always

he would offer his blessings. But before that, he wanted to look

be prepared to

palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone, “No. I have no

the events

to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only to

she endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily

demanded the chip in

Fear had gripped her.

he would spare no effort to rescue

heard his calm voice over the phone, he’d merely uttered, “Sorry, I do not know

had finally been

in 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 standing

she was

concern for her well-being, yet he

in his arms,

she realize that the

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

stood before him, her

could barely bring herself to say

late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her

gaze, still filled with

Why?

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

up in her

not try to

with sorrow, as she

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

couldn’t bear it any

she evaded his grasp and uttered in a restrained tone, “Tomorrow morning… I’ll be

stunned, his gaze fixed upon her before

as the door closed, she continued

used pregnancy test stick

she had

they were

in her heart still lingered as she recollected

sat gracefully upon the sofa in the living room,

gently smiled

out a sob and

settled beside Rena, her countenance bearing the

for Mark all along, but he had

for this man, and she could not forgive herself or

Cecilia to lean against her

awkward atmosphere permeated the

to Cecilia, let alone to Rena…

good care of her.

He prepared to depart…

if you had considered starting a family. Now… I wish to pose the question

in his

had pondered the prospect of

had entertained

did

not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

understanding. “I understand. By the way… Grandma is here.

Mark turned around.

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

Comments ()

0/255