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

a white Bentley glided to a gradual

from the car’s backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that

her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

hadn’t anticipated seeing her here. His gaze grew intense,

transformed in ways he never could have

eyes filled with a mixture of

overtaken Cecilia, altering her appearance

while exuding an air of maturity and charm through her

metamorphosis she had undergone signified her transition from a

was hit with a profound realization

he softly uttered, “It has been a

to be more overwhelmed than

managed to summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans, indeed, it has been

exchanged greetings,

She carefully scooped up Alexis, her daughter, and requested the assistance of the trustworthy driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted a kiss

“I’ll be there to pick you up in the

from Rena’s embrace, firmly clutching the maid’s hand, and obediently proceeded towards

turned around, she discreetly cleared her throat and declared, “I shall

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped her arm

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

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

head, Cecilia silently

firmly grasped her

enclosing them in a small

cornered by Mark, who positioned his arm above her head. The faint scent of tobacco emanating

prolonged silence ensued, both parties

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

lowering his voice as he responded,

met his

welled up with tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks

she dared not

The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering

too, bore his

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

had chosen not to return surely I must have

Occupied…

revealed an enigmatic

reached out, tenderly grazing her face, evoking a shudder throughout her

teeth chattered

repulse you? Have you found someone

pallor swept across Cecilia’s

intently at him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged

instant,

loosened his

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

a time, you used to

naivety, I failed

will be here soon. Release me, I implore you.

relinquished his

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 me as Uncle Mark once again, and I

had always owed

would offer his blessings. But before that,

prepared to grant

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

never forget the

Czanch, intending to surprise him, only

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

had demanded the chip

Fear had gripped her.

had believed he would spare no

had heard his calm voice over the

had

a place in his heart. But as she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it was not his embrace that awaited her. Instead, she witnessed a picturesque tableau of

that she was not

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

that woman in his arms, his gaze

then did she realize that the woman was… one

And those women possessed

him,

barely bring herself

arranged for her accommodation, only entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing her were, “Cecilia, let us

her gaze, still filled with lingering

Why?

quietly observed her for a prolonged

welled up

not try to make him

wept, her voice filled with sorrow, as

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

couldn’t bear it any

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

gaze fixed upon her before eventually

door closed, she

bathroom counter, a used pregnancy test

arrival, she had

had declared that they were ill-suited

in her heart still

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

smiled and asked, “Have you concluded your

sob and

her countenance

love for Mark all

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

to

awkward atmosphere permeated the air as Mark

Cecilia, let alone to Rena… In any case,

her. I will return to Czanch

He prepared to depart…

considered starting a family. Now… I wish to

in his

had pondered the prospect of

months he had spent with Cecilia, he had entertained the

what did it

not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

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