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 to a gradual

smile. “Rena,

suddenly froze, her gaze locking

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily lost his

in ways he never

Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity

transformation had overtaken

slender figure while

undergone signified her transition from a girl into

this very moment, Mark was hit with a profound realization that his longing for her

eyes remained locked on her visage as he softly uttered, “It

seemed to be

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

exchanged greetings,

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 a kiss on Rena’s cheek and

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

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

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

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped her arm and

a gentle smile and responded, “You two carry on

voice barely above

head, Cecilia silently complied,

firmly grasped her wrist, compelling her into

door closed, enclosing them

cornered by Mark, who positioned his arm above her

prolonged silence ensued, both parties lost in their

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

he responded, “I waited for you throughout the

abruptly met his

poised to cascade down her

she dared not

their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and crying in

too, bore

briefly towards the door before returning to lock onto her face. Softly, he inquired, “Why haven’t you returned home for two

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

Occupied…

eyes revealed an enigmatic

her face, evoking a shudder

teeth

found someone else?”

swept across

she clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged with

that instant, Mark’s

loosened his

you are a man of charm and I’m certain there

upon a time,

my youthful naivety, I failed

pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me,

relinquished his hold on

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

always owed

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

to grant

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

the events of the

had embarked on a secret journey to Czanch, intending to

for 36 agonizing hours, she endured thirst and denied even the

had demanded the

Fear had gripped her.

believed he would spare no effort to rescue

she had heard his calm voice over the phone, he’d merely uttered, “Sorry, I

had finally been

dilapidated cottage, it was

upon her that she

her well-being, yet he had

in his arms, his gaze filled

that the woman

numerous women worshipped Mark. And those women possessed a

him, her dignity in

could barely bring herself

night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her were,

her gaze, still filled

Why?

for a prolonged moment before stating, “We are not

welled up

did not try to make

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

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

couldn’t bear

but she evaded his grasp and uttered in a restrained tone, “Tomorrow morning…

stunned, his gaze

door closed, she continued to

test stick lay, two lines distinctly marking

arrival, she had contemplated informing

declared that they were ill-suited for

still lingered as

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

gently smiled

out a sob

countenance bearing the weight of

an ardent love for Mark all along, but he

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

to lean against her

atmosphere permeated the

he could not explain to Cecilia, let alone to Rena… In any case, he had failed

care of her. I will return

He prepared to depart…

you had considered starting a family.

halted in his

pondered the prospect

he had entertained the idea, for

what did

could not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

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