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

drive way, a white Bentley glided to a gradual

backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that

froze, her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

His gaze grew intense,

ways he never could have

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture

remarkable transformation had overtaken Cecilia, altering her

slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and charm

metamorphosis she had undergone signified her transition from a girl

very moment, Mark was hit with a profound realization that

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

seemed to be more overwhelmed than

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

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

“I’ll be there to pick

Rena’s embrace, firmly clutching the maid’s hand,

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

grasped her

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

gaze towards Cecilia, his voice barely above a whisper as he

her head, Cecilia silently complied, entering

she crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped

enclosing them in a small

his arm above her head. The faint scent of tobacco emanating from him momentarily distracted

parties lost in their own

voice quivering, finally broke the

continued to scrutinize her, lowering his voice as he responded,

abruptly met his

poised to cascade down her cheeks

dared not

his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and

too, bore his

briefly towards the door before returning to lock onto her face. Softly, he inquired,

had chosen not to

Occupied…

revealed an enigmatic

tenderly grazing her face, evoking

teeth chattered

you found someone else?” he queried

swept across Cecilia’s

teeth and replied, her

that instant, Mark’s eyes

his grip on

“Could you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is

Evans? Cecilia… Once upon a time, you

I failed to

placed her hand on his chest, exerting gentle pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon.

relinquished his hold

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

had always

she found her true love, he would offer his blessings. But before that, he wanted

prepared to grant her

before finally uttering in a hushed tone,

would never forget the

had embarked on a secret journey to Czanch, intending to surprise him,

hours, she endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily needs. Bound to a chair, she suffered in such a

demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

would spare no effort to

calm voice over the phone, he’d

then she had finally been

place in his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it

upon her that she was

concern for her

woman in his arms, his

realize that the

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

him,

could barely bring herself

night. The first words he uttered upon seeing

gaze, still

Why?

had quietly observed her for a prolonged

up

did not try

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

him as Uncle Mark, as well as the last time she had laid eyes

couldn’t bear

for him, but she evaded his

his gaze fixed upon her

door closed,

used pregnancy test stick lay, two lines distinctly

she had contemplated informing

he had declared that they were

in her heart still lingered as she

upon the sofa in the living

welling up in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled and asked, “Have you concluded your

a sob and cried

countenance bearing the weight of

ardent love for Mark all along, but he

still harbored affection for this man, and she could

Cecilia to

awkward atmosphere permeated the air as

let alone

care of her. I will return to Czanch

He prepared to depart…

last time I asked if you had considered starting a family. Now… I

halted in his

had pondered the prospect

with Cecilia, he had entertained the idea, for it had been a blissful period in

did it matter

could not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

the way… Grandma is here. She

Mark turned around.

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

Comments ()

0/255