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

smile. “Rena, Lexi mentioned that

her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily

ways he never

fixated upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity

overtaken Cecilia,

while exuding an air of maturity and charm

had undergone signified her transition from a girl into

very moment, Mark was hit with a profound realization that

locked on her visage as he

be more

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

two exchanged greetings, acknowledging

caught in an awkward position. 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 on Rena’s cheek and bid her

affectionate gesture, Rena reciprocated the kiss and reassured Alexis, “I’ll be there to pick you up in the afternoon,

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

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

Rena, grasped her arm and appealed,

smile and responded,

above a whisper

silently complied, entering the

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

enclosing them in a

positioned his arm above her head. The faint scent of tobacco emanating from him momentarily distracted her, causing a

ensued, both parties lost

an eternity, Cecilia, her voice

continued to scrutinize her, lowering his voice as he responded, “I

abruptly met his

with tears, poised to cascade down her

she dared

tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup

too, bore

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

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

Occupied…

eyes revealed

her face, evoking a shudder throughout her entire

her teeth chattered

touches repulse you? Have you found

pallor swept

her teeth

instant,

his grip

you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there

time, you used to call me

naivety, I failed to understand

be here soon. Release me, I

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

had always owed

found her true love, he would offer his

to

before finally uttering in a hushed tone, “No. I have no need for

would never forget the events

on a secret journey to Czanch, intending

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

had demanded the

Fear had gripped her.

would spare no effort to

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

then she had

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

upon her that she was not the

for her well-being, yet he had

in

the

Mark. And those women possessed a

stood before him,

could barely bring herself to

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

raised her gaze, still filled with lingering

Why?

the sofa, he had quietly observed her for a

welled up

did not try to

with sorrow, as she

Uncle Mark, as well as

couldn’t bear

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

gaze

the door closed,

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

to his arrival, she had contemplated informing

declared that they were ill-suited

in her heart still lingered as she

in the living room, two cups

in Cecilia’s eyes, Rena gently smiled and asked, “Have you concluded your conversation? Come, have

out a sob and cried

beside Rena, her countenance bearing the

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

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

to

awkward atmosphere permeated the

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

of her. I

He prepared to depart…

had considered starting a family. Now…

halted in his

he had pondered the prospect of starting a

he had entertained the idea, for it had been a blissful period

did

could not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

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