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

the drive way, a white

a smile. “Rena,

suddenly froze, her gaze locking

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

hadn’t anticipated seeing her here. His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily lost

ways he never

eyes filled with

overtaken Cecilia, altering her appearance

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

she had undergone signified her transition from a girl into

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

on her visage as he softly

however, seemed to be

her voice, she managed to summon her strength

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, “Goodbye,

“I’ll be there to pick you

detached herself from Rena’s embrace, firmly clutching the

she discreetly cleared her throat and declared, “I shall prepare some fragrant tea

grasped her arm and

gentle smile and responded, “You

towards Cecilia, his voice barely above a

Cecilia silently complied, entering the

threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist, compelling her

enclosing them in

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

both parties lost in their own

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

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

abruptly met

welled up with tears, poised to cascade down

dared

presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and crying

bore his own

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

as she responded, “What concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen

Occupied…

revealed an

her face, evoking a shudder throughout her

her teeth chattered

found someone else?” he queried in

pallor swept across

teeth and replied, her

instant,

loosened his grip

composure. “Could you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a

Once upon a time, you used to call

I failed to

placed her hand on his chest, exerting gentle pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you. Let

his hold

firm grip 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

had always owed

believed that if she found her true love, he would offer

prepared to grant

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

would never forget the events of the

Czanch, intending to surprise him, only to be ensnared

thirst and denied even

demanded the chip in

Fear had gripped her.

would spare

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

then she had finally

the dilapidated cottage, it was not his embrace that awaited her. Instead, she witnessed a picturesque tableau of

then dawned upon her that she was not the sole victim of

for her well-being, yet he had utilized the chip to

woman in

then did she realize that the woman was… one of his

women possessed a

stood before him, her

could barely bring herself to

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

her gaze, still filled with lingering

Why?

observed her for

up

try to make

voice filled with sorrow, as she softly

as Uncle Mark, as well as the

bear

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

stood there, stunned, his gaze

the door closed, she

used pregnancy test stick lay, two

she had contemplated informing

that they

heart still lingered as she recollected

sofa in the living room, two cups of fragrant

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

sob

Rena, her countenance bearing the

ardent love for Mark all along,

pitiable aspect was that she still harbored affection for this man, and

Cecilia to lean against her

atmosphere permeated the air

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

good care of her. I will

He prepared to depart…

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

in

pondered the prospect of

Cecilia, he had entertained the idea, for it had been a blissful

did

not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

way… Grandma is

Mark turned around.

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