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

way, a white Bentley glided to a

a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that you

suddenly froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

here. His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily lost

had transformed in ways he never could have

fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled

had overtaken Cecilia, altering her

slender figure while exuding an

metamorphosis she had undergone signified her transition from a girl

with a profound realization

her visage as he softly uttered, “It has been a

be

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

exchanged greetings, acknowledging

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

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

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

cleared her throat and declared, “I shall

dependent on Rena, grasped her arm and appealed,

gentle smile and responded, “You two carry on

Cecilia, his voice barely above a whisper as

head, Cecilia silently complied, entering the

grasped

door closed, enclosing them in

against the wall, 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

both parties lost in

like an eternity, Cecilia, her voice quivering,

her, lowering his voice as he responded,

met

tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks with

dared

determined not to shed tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense

bore

onto her

“What concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have

Occupied…

eyes revealed an

grazing her face,

her teeth

Have you found someone

swept across

clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged with

that instant,

loosened his grip

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

upon a time, you used to

naivety, I failed to understand things

pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you.

relinquished his hold 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 me as Uncle Mark once again, and I will watch over

had always owed

would offer his blessings. But before that, he wanted to look after

would be prepared to grant

restraint palpable, before finally uttering in

never forget the events of

secret journey to Czanch, intending to surprise him, only to be

endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily needs. Bound to a chair, she suffered in

had demanded the chip

Fear had gripped her.

spare no effort to

his calm voice over the phone, he’d merely uttered, “Sorry, I do not

had

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

her that she was

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

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms,

realize that the woman

worshipped Mark. And those women

before him, her dignity

bring herself to

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

raised her gaze, still

Why?

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

welled up in

try to

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

Uncle Mark, as well as the last

couldn’t bear it any

girl who held affection for him, but she evaded his

stood there, stunned, his gaze fixed upon her

soon as the door closed, she continued

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

had contemplated informing him of

he had declared that they were ill-suited for

in her heart still lingered as she

living room, two cups of fragrant tea adorning

in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled and

a sob and

her countenance

ardent love for Mark all along, but he had merely

was that she still harbored affection for this man, and

to

atmosphere permeated the air as Mark

Cecilia, let alone to Rena… In

whispered, “Take good care of her. I

He prepared to depart…

gently inquired, “Uncle, the last time I asked if you had considered starting a family. Now… I wish

halted in

pondered the prospect

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

what did

could not voice those

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

“I understand. By the way… Grandma is

Mark turned around.

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