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 the

way, a white

smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that you weren’t

suddenly froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

here. His gaze grew intense,

had transformed in ways he never

fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled

had overtaken Cecilia, altering her

slender figure while exuding an air

undergone signified her transition from a

hit with a profound realization that his longing for

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

be more overwhelmed

her voice, she managed to summon her strength

exchanged greetings, acknowledging

of the trustworthy driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted a kiss on Rena’s

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

embrace, firmly clutching the maid’s hand, and

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

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped

and responded, “You two

gaze towards Cecilia, his voice barely above a whisper as he suggested, “Shall we step

Cecilia silently complied, entering the

threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist, compelling her into the confines of the

closed, 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,

prolonged silence ensued, both parties lost

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

he responded,

met his

with tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks

she dared

shed tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering upon her and crying

bore his

onto her face. Softly, he inquired, “Why haven’t you returned home

concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return

Occupied…

eyes revealed an enigmatic

face, evoking a shudder throughout her entire

teeth chattered

you? Have you found someone else?”

swept

him, she clenched her teeth and

instant,

loosened his grip

maintain her composure. “Could you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and

Cecilia… Once upon a time, you used to

my youthful naivety, I

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

his hold

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.

had always owed

found her true love, he would offer

to

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

the events of

journey to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only to

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

demanded the chip in

Fear had gripped her.

believed he would spare no effort to

had heard his calm voice over the

then she had

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

upon her that she was not the sole victim of

showing no concern for her well-being, yet he had utilized the chip to

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms, his gaze

did she realize that the woman was… one

And those women possessed a

stood before him, her dignity in

could barely bring herself to say

only entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her were, “Cecilia,

gaze, still

Why?

the sofa, he had quietly observed her for a prolonged moment

up

did not try to make

had wept, her voice filled with sorrow, as she softly uttered, “Alright.

final time she referred to him as Uncle Mark,

couldn’t bear it any

who held affection for him, but she evaded his grasp and

gaze fixed upon her

door closed, she continued

counter, a used pregnancy test stick lay, two lines distinctly marking

his arrival, she had contemplated informing him of her

that they were ill-suited for one

in her heart still lingered as she recollected

gracefully upon the sofa in the living room, two cups of

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

let out a sob

Rena, her countenance

harbored an ardent love for Mark all along, but he had

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

Cecilia to lean

awkward atmosphere permeated the

were certain matters he could not explain to Cecilia, let alone to Rena…

“Take good care of her. I will return

He prepared to depart…

last time I asked if you had considered starting a family.

halted in

had pondered the prospect of starting a

Cecilia, he had entertained the idea, for it

what did

could not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

way… Grandma is here. She is en

Mark turned around.

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