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

way, a white Bentley glided

emerged from the car’s backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi

froze, her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

seeing her here. His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily

in ways he never could have

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity

had overtaken Cecilia, altering her appearance

slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and charm

undergone signified her

with a profound realization that his longing

as he softly

be

summon her strength and

greetings, acknowledging each other’s

her daughter, and requested the assistance of the trustworthy driver

kiss and reassured Alexis, “I’ll

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

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

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped

gentle smile and responded, “You two carry on with

voice barely above a whisper as he suggested, “Shall we

her head, Cecilia silently

firmly grasped her wrist,

door closed, enclosing them in a small

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

silence ensued, both parties lost in their

voice quivering, finally broke the stillness, pleading,

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

abruptly met

to cascade down her

dared not

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

too, bore his own

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

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

Occupied…

eyes revealed an

reached out, tenderly grazing her face, evoking a shudder throughout her entire

her teeth chattered

touches repulse you? Have you found someone else?” he queried

swept

intently at him, she clenched her teeth and

instant, Mark’s

loosened his grip

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

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

I failed

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 decency in parting

his hold on

on the doorknob, she clenched 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 watch over

had always owed

true love, he would offer his blessings. But before that,

would be prepared to grant her

so slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering

forget the events of the

intending

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

kidnappers had demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

spare no

the phone, he’d merely uttered, “Sorry, I

had finally

hold a place in his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it was not his embrace

that she

showing no concern for her well-being,

woman in his arms, his gaze filled

realize that the woman

worshipped Mark. And those women possessed

him, her dignity in

bring

arranged for her accommodation, only entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her were, “Cecilia, let us put an end to our

still

Why?

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

up in

not try to make him

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

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

bear it any

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

stunned, his gaze fixed upon her before

as the door

the bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test stick lay,

arrival, she had contemplated informing him

that they were ill-suited

her heart still

Rena sat gracefully upon the sofa in the living room, two cups of fragrant tea adorning the

tears welling up in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled

out a sob and cried

beside Rena, her countenance

all along, but he

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

Cecilia to lean

permeated the air as

Cecilia, let alone to Rena…

whispered, “Take good care of her. I

He prepared to depart…

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

in his

the

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

what did

could not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

the way… Grandma is here. She is en route to

Mark turned around.

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