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 Bentley glided

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

suddenly froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

seeing her here. His gaze grew intense, and

had transformed in ways he never

filled with a mixture

overtaken Cecilia,

while exuding an air of maturity and charm through

signified her transition from a

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

as he

however, seemed to be more overwhelmed

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

exchanged greetings, acknowledging each other’s

trustworthy driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying

“I’ll be there to

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

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

grasped her arm and

gentle smile and responded, “You two

his voice barely above a whisper as he suggested,

her head, Cecilia silently complied,

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

closed, enclosing them in a small

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

silence ensued, both parties lost in their

Cecilia, her voice quivering, finally

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

met

up with tears, poised to cascade down

she dared

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

too, bore his own

before returning to lock onto her face. Softly, he

chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied elsewhere… What right do you have to meddle in

Occupied…

eyes revealed an enigmatic

grazing her face, evoking a shudder

her teeth chattered

touches repulse you? Have you found someone

pallor swept

him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her words

instant, Mark’s

his

Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is no shortage of women vying for

upon a time, you

youthful naivety, I failed to understand things

as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you. Let us maintain a modicum of decency in parting

his hold on

raspy voice, he murmured, “Cecilia, are you truly

had always owed

offer his blessings. But before

prepared to

palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone, “No. I have

never forget the

had embarked on a secret journey to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only

she endured thirst and denied even

demanded the

Fear had gripped her.

he would spare no effort to

calm voice over the phone, he’d merely uttered,

she had finally

his arrival, hoping she would still hold 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 him standing side

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

her, showing no concern for her well-being,

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms, his

that the

Czanch, numerous women worshipped Mark. And those women possessed a

stood before him, her dignity

barely bring herself to

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

gaze, still filled with

Why?

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

welled up in her

not try to make

with sorrow,

as Uncle Mark, as well

couldn’t bear

she evaded his

his gaze fixed upon her before eventually

as the door closed, she

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

his arrival, she had contemplated informing

declared that they were ill-suited for

in her heart still lingered as she recollected the

upon the sofa in the living room, two cups of

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

out a sob and cried out,

beside Rena, her countenance bearing the weight

an ardent love for Mark all along, but

for this man, and she could not forgive herself

to lean against

atmosphere permeated the air as Mark

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

of her.

He prepared to depart…

considered starting a family. Now… I wish to pose the question once

in his

he had pondered the

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

did it

not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

understand. By the way… Grandma

Mark turned around.

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