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

white Bentley

backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi

froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

seeing her here. His gaze

ways he

gaze fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and

overtaken

a stunning beauty, she had now acquired a slender figure while exuding an air of maturity

had undergone signified her transition from a girl into

Mark was hit with a profound realization that his longing for

on her visage as he softly

be more overwhelmed

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

two exchanged greetings,

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

reciprocated the kiss and reassured Alexis, “I’ll be there to pick you up in the

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

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

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped her arm and appealed,

a gentle smile and responded, “You two

his voice barely above

head, Cecilia silently complied,

crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped

door closed, enclosing them in

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

ensued, both parties lost in their own

an eternity, Cecilia, her voice quivering, finally broke the stillness, pleading,

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

abruptly met

welled up with tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks with

she dared not

to shed tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and

bore his

onto her

Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied elsewhere… What right do you have to meddle

Occupied…

eyes revealed

her face, evoking a shudder throughout her

teeth

Have you found someone else?” he

pallor swept across

clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged with

that instant,

his grip on

Evans, you are a man of

a time, you

youthful naivety, I failed

hand on his chest, exerting gentle pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you. Let us maintain a modicum of

his hold

door. Behind her, in a raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia, are you truly forsaking me? We can resurrect

always owed

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

would be prepared to grant her every

slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone,

forget the events

journey to Czanch, intending to surprise

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

Fear had gripped her.

had believed he would spare no effort to rescue

heard his calm voice over the phone,

then she had

cottage, it was

dawned upon her that she was not the sole victim

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

woman in his arms, his

that the woman was… one of his

those women

him, her

barely bring herself to say

words he uttered upon seeing her were, “Cecilia, let us put

still

Why?

observed her for a prolonged moment before stating, “We are not

up in her

did not try to

sorrow, as she softly uttered,

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

bear it

girl who held affection for him, but she

stunned, his gaze

as the door closed,

the bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test

his arrival, she had

had declared that they were ill-suited for

still lingered

the sofa in the living room, two cups of fragrant tea adorning the

the tears welling up in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled and asked, “Have you concluded your conversation? Come, have

a sob and cried

her countenance bearing the

harbored an ardent love for Mark all along, but he had merely

most pitiable aspect was that she still harbored affection for this man, and she could not forgive herself or him exactly because of that

allowed Cecilia to lean against her

the air

Cecilia, let

whispered, “Take good care of her.

He prepared to depart…

you had considered starting a family. Now…

halted in

had pondered the prospect of

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

did it

not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

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