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

the drive way, a white Bentley glided to

the car’s backseat, wearing a smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that you weren’t feeling

suddenly froze, her

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

seeing her here. His gaze grew intense, and he

in ways he never could have

fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of

overtaken Cecilia, altering her appearance

figure while exuding an air of

undergone signified her transition

with a profound realization that his longing

he softly uttered, “It has been a

seemed to be more overwhelmed

to find her voice, she managed to summon her strength and responded, “Mr. Evans,

greetings,

driver and maid to escort Alexis to kindergarten. Alexis, displaying obedience, planted a kiss on Rena’s cheek and bid her farewell, saying,

kiss and reassured Alexis, “I’ll

clutching the maid’s hand, and obediently proceeded

throat and declared, “I shall prepare

somewhat dependent on Rena, grasped her

responded, “You two carry on with your

his voice barely above a whisper

head, Cecilia silently complied, entering the

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

enclosing them in

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 him momentarily distracted

both parties lost in their own

eternity, Cecilia, her voice quivering, finally

lowering his voice as he responded, “I waited for you throughout the entire night

abruptly met his

with tears, poised to cascade down her cheeks with every

dared

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

too, bore

lock onto her face. Softly,

concern is it of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen not to return surely I must have been occupied elsewhere… What right do you have to

Occupied…

revealed an

hand reached out, tenderly grazing her face, evoking a

teeth

my touches repulse you? Have you found someone else?” he queried in a subdued

swept

clenched her teeth and

instant, Mark’s eyes

his grip

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

a time, you used to call me Uncle

my youthful naivety, I failed to understand

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

relinquished his

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

had always owed

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

to

so slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering in

the

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

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

had demanded the chip in

Fear had gripped her.

would spare no

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

she had finally been

she emerged from the dilapidated cottage, it was not his

she was not

for her well-being, yet he had utilized

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms, his gaze filled with

she realize that the woman

Mark. And those women possessed a sensuality and sweetness surpassing

stood before him, her

bring herself

accommodation, only entering her room late at night. The first words he

still filled with

Why?

sofa, he had quietly observed her for a

up in

did not try to

with sorrow, as she softly uttered, “Alright.

the final time she referred to him as Uncle Mark, as well as the last time she had laid eyes on

couldn’t bear it

the innocent girl who held affection for him, but she evaded his grasp

gaze fixed

as the door closed, she continued

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

his arrival, she had contemplated informing

they were

heart still lingered as she

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

smiled and asked, “Have you

let out a sob and cried out,

Rena, her countenance bearing the weight

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

for this man, and she could not forgive herself or him exactly because of

allowed Cecilia to lean against

permeated the air

let

care of her. I will

He prepared to depart…

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

in

pondered the prospect of

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

did it

could not

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

understand. By the way… Grandma is here. She is

Mark turned around.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255