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

a white Bentley glided to

a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned

suddenly froze, her gaze locking

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

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

ways he

gaze fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a

remarkable transformation had overtaken Cecilia,

slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and charm

metamorphosis she had undergone signified her transition from

with a profound realization that his longing for

eyes remained locked on her visage as he softly uttered,

to be more overwhelmed

strength and responded, “Mr. Evans, indeed, it

two exchanged greetings, acknowledging

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

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

clutching the maid’s hand, and obediently proceeded towards

and declared, “I shall prepare

dependent on Rena, grasped her arm

offered a gentle smile and responded,

barely above

silently complied, entering

she crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist,

door closed, enclosing them in a

her back against its surface, Cecilia found herself cornered by Mark, who positioned his arm above her head.

ensued, both parties lost in

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

voice as he responded, “I waited for you throughout the entire night

abruptly met

poised to cascade down her cheeks with every

dared

breakup had inflicted immense

too, bore

lock onto her face. Softly, he inquired, “Why haven’t

smile graced Cecilia’s lips as she responded, “What concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied elsewhere… What right

Occupied…

eyes revealed

grazing her face, evoking

teeth chattered

you found someone else?” he queried

swept across

intently at him, she clenched her teeth and replied,

that instant, Mark’s eyes

his grip on

Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is

Cecilia… Once upon a time, you used to call me Uncle

naivety, I failed to

pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release

his

on the doorknob, she clenched her teeth, summoning her strength to open the door. Behind her, in a raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia,

had always owed

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

would be prepared to

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

never forget the events of

intending to surprise him, only to be ensnared by

hours, she endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily needs. Bound to a chair, she suffered in such a

demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

had believed he would spare no

heard his calm voice over the

had finally

still hold a place in his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage,

that she was not the sole victim of

not to know her, showing no concern for her well-being, yet he had utilized

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms,

did she realize that the woman

those women possessed a sensuality and sweetness surpassing

before him,

barely bring herself to say

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

still filled with

Why?

on the sofa, he had quietly observed her for a

had welled up in her

try to

sorrow, as she softly uttered, “Alright.

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

bear it any

to embrace the innocent girl who held affection for him, but she evaded his grasp and uttered in a restrained tone,

stunned, his gaze

soon as the door closed, she

used pregnancy test stick lay, two lines distinctly marking

had

that they were ill-suited

in her heart still lingered as she

gracefully upon the sofa in the living room, two

gently smiled and asked, “Have you concluded your conversation? Come, have some

out a sob

countenance bearing the weight of

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

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

Cecilia to

atmosphere permeated the air as

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

her. I will return

He prepared to depart…

the last time I asked if you had considered starting a family. Now… I wish to pose the

in

truth, he had pondered the

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

did

not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255