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 to

a white Bentley glided to a

emerged from the car’s backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that you weren’t

suddenly froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

seeing her here. His gaze

ways he never could

eyes filled with a mixture of

had overtaken Cecilia, altering her

slender figure while exuding an air

she had undergone signified her transition from a girl into a

with a

eyes remained locked on her visage as he softly

seemed to be more overwhelmed than

summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans,

greetings, acknowledging

driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted a kiss on Rena’s cheek and bid her farewell, saying,

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

clutching

throat and

grasped her arm

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

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

silently

she crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist,

closed, enclosing them in a

arm above her head. The faint

prolonged silence ensued, both parties lost

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

scrutinize her, lowering his voice as he responded, “I waited for

met his

with tears, poised to cascade down her

she dared

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

bore his own

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

you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied

Occupied…

revealed an

grazing her face, evoking a

her teeth chattered

found

swept across

teeth and replied, her

that instant,

his

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

a time, you used to call me

my youthful naivety, I failed

be here soon. Release me, I implore you. Let us maintain a

his hold

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

always

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

be prepared to

finally

the events of the

a secret journey to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only

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

demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

would spare no

she had heard his calm voice over the phone, he’d merely

then she had

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

dawned upon her that she

for her

woman in his

the woman was…

numerous women worshipped Mark. And those women possessed a sensuality

before him, her dignity

barely bring herself to

for her accommodation, only entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her

raised her gaze, still

Why?

sofa, he had quietly observed her for

had welled up in her

not try to

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

she referred to him as Uncle Mark, as well

bear

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

his gaze fixed

the door closed, she

used pregnancy test stick lay, two lines distinctly marking

to his arrival, she had contemplated informing him

he had declared that they were ill-suited

heart still

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

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

let out a sob and cried

her countenance bearing

all along, but

for this man, and she could not forgive herself

allowed Cecilia to

atmosphere permeated the air

Cecilia, let alone to Rena…

whispered, “Take good care of her. I

He prepared to depart…

asked if you had considered starting a family. Now…

halted in

had pondered the prospect of starting

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

what did

not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

expression understanding. “I understand. By the way… Grandma is here.

Mark turned around.

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