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

drive way, a white Bentley glided to a gradual

wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned

her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

her here. His gaze grew intense,

had transformed in ways he

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with

overtaken Cecilia, altering her

now acquired a slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and charm through

she had undergone signified her transition from a

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

as he

to be more overwhelmed than Mark

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

greetings, acknowledging each

caught in an awkward position. She carefully scooped up Alexis, her daughter, and requested the assistance of the trustworthy driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted

Alexis, “I’ll be there to pick you up in the

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

discreetly cleared her throat and declared, “I shall

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped her arm and appealed,

a gentle smile and responded, “You two carry

barely above a whisper as he

Cecilia silently complied, entering the

crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist,

closed, enclosing them

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

silence ensued, both parties lost in their own

seemed like an eternity, Cecilia, her voice quivering, finally broke the stillness,

as he

met

poised to cascade

dared

determined not to shed tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering

bore his

her

If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied

Occupied…

revealed an enigmatic

face,

her teeth

Have you found someone else?” he queried

swept

him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged with defiance,

instant,

his

“Could you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is no shortage of women

Evans? Cecilia… Once upon a time, you used to call

I failed to understand things

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

relinquished his hold on

her teeth, summoning her strength 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

had always

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

prepared to

ever so slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone, “No. I have no need

would never forget the

on a secret journey to Czanch, intending to surprise

a darkened room for 36 agonizing hours, she endured thirst and denied even the simplest

kidnappers had demanded the chip

Fear had gripped her.

believed he would spare no effort to

had heard his calm voice over the

then she had finally been

the dilapidated cottage, it was not his embrace that awaited

dawned upon her that she was not the sole victim

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

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms, his

the woman was… one of his

Mark. And those women possessed a sensuality and

him, her

barely bring

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

raised her gaze, still filled with

Why?

had quietly observed her for a prolonged

up

try

voice filled with sorrow, as she softly uttered,

Uncle Mark, as

couldn’t bear

held affection for him, but she evaded his grasp and uttered in a restrained tone, “Tomorrow morning… I’ll

there, stunned, his gaze fixed upon her before eventually

as the door closed, she

bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test stick lay,

to his arrival, she had contemplated informing him of

they were ill-suited for

her heart still lingered

the living room, two

in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled and asked, “Have you

let out a sob and

countenance bearing the weight

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

affection for this man, and she could

allowed Cecilia to lean against her

the air

explain to Cecilia, let alone to Rena… In any case, he

good care of her. I will

He prepared to depart…

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

in

the prospect of

had spent with Cecilia, he had entertained the idea, for

what did

could not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

understanding. “I understand. By the way… Grandma is here. She is en route to the Fowlers’

Mark turned around.

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