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

white Bentley glided to

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

her gaze locking

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

His gaze

in ways he never could

eyes filled with

had overtaken

acquired a slender figure while exuding an

she had undergone signified her transition from

Mark was hit with a profound realization that his

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

be more

find her voice, she managed to summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans, indeed, it has been quite some

two exchanged greetings, acknowledging each other’s

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

“I’ll be there to

embrace, firmly clutching the maid’s

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

grasped her arm

and responded, “You two carry on

above

her head, Cecilia silently

she crossed the threshold, he firmly grasped her wrist, compelling her into the confines

enclosing them

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

parties lost in

voice quivering, finally

he responded, “I waited for

met

tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks with

dared

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

bore his

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

Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely

Occupied…

revealed

out, tenderly grazing her face, evoking a shudder

teeth chattered

repulse you? Have you found someone else?” he queried

pallor swept across Cecilia’s

him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her

instant, Mark’s

loosened his

Evans, you are a man

Once upon a time, you used to call me

naivety, I failed

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

his hold on

Behind her, in a raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia, are you

always

true love, he would offer his blessings. But before that, he wanted

would be prepared to grant her every

her restraint palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone,

forget the events

Czanch, intending to surprise him, only to be ensnared

agonizing hours, she endured thirst and denied even the

had demanded the chip in

Fear had gripped her.

would spare no effort to rescue

over the phone, he’d merely

had

in his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it was

dawned upon her that she was not the sole victim

her, showing no concern for her well-being, yet he

in his arms, his

then did she realize that the woman was…

Mark. And those women possessed a sensuality and sweetness

before him, her

bring herself to say

room late at night. The first words he uttered

still filled

Why?

sofa, he had quietly observed her for a prolonged moment before stating, “We

up

try to make him

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

Uncle Mark, as well

couldn’t bear it

but she

his gaze fixed upon her before eventually

the door closed, she

the bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test stick lay, two lines distinctly

had

that they were ill-suited

her heart still lingered as she

in the living room, two cups

welling up in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled

out a sob and cried

settled beside Rena, her countenance

all along, but he had merely toyed with her

for this man, and she could not forgive

allowed Cecilia to lean against her

the air as

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

of her. I will return to

He prepared to depart…

considered starting a family.

halted in

truth, he had pondered the

he had spent with Cecilia, he had entertained the idea, for it

what did it

could not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

the way… Grandma

Mark turned around.

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