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

drive way, a white

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

froze, her gaze locking onto

Likewise, Mark stood motionless.

her here. His gaze grew intense, and he momentarily

ways he never

upon Cecilia, his eyes filled with a mixture of

overtaken Cecilia,

a stunning beauty, she had now acquired a slender figure while exuding an air of maturity and charm through

she had undergone signified her transition from a

was hit with a

her visage as he softly uttered, “It has

be more overwhelmed

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

exchanged greetings, acknowledging each other’s

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

and reassured Alexis, “I’ll

clutching the maid’s hand, and

turned around, she discreetly cleared her throat and

on Rena, grasped her arm and

and responded, “You two carry on

his voice barely above a whisper as he suggested,

head, Cecilia silently complied,

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

door closed, enclosing them in a small

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

parties lost

her voice

he responded, “I waited

abruptly met

poised to

dared not

tears in his presence. The aftermath of their breakup had inflicted immense suffering

too, bore

to lock onto her face. Softly,

of you, Mr. Evans? If I had chosen

Occupied…

revealed an enigmatic

reached out, tenderly grazing her face,

teeth chattered

Have you found someone

pallor swept across Cecilia’s

him, she clenched her teeth and replied, her words tinged with defiance,

instant,

his

to maintain her composure. “Could you please release me now? Mr. Evans, you are a man of charm and I’m certain there is no

Cecilia… Once upon a time, you used to

youthful naivety, I failed

gentle pressure as she pleaded, “Rena will be here soon. Release me, I implore you.

relinquished his

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

always

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

prepared to grant her

head ever so slightly, her restraint palpable, before finally uttering in a hushed tone, “No. I have no need for

the events of the

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

for 36 agonizing hours, she endured thirst and denied even the simplest bodily needs. Bound to a chair,

demanded the chip in Mark’s

Fear had gripped her.

had believed he would spare no effort to rescue

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

had finally

dilapidated cottage,

she was not the

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

beheld him cradling that woman in his arms, his gaze

she realize that the woman

Mark. And those women possessed

stood before him, her dignity

barely bring herself to say

entering her room late at night. The first words he uttered upon seeing

her gaze, still

Why?

observed her for a prolonged moment before stating, “We

welled up in her

not try

wept, her voice filled with sorrow, as she softly uttered, “Alright.

final time she referred to him as Uncle Mark, as well as

couldn’t bear it

but she evaded his

gaze fixed upon

soon as the door

used pregnancy test stick

his arrival, she had contemplated informing him

that they were

still

the sofa in the living room, two cups of fragrant tea adorning the

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

out a sob and cried

Rena, her countenance bearing the

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

aspect was that she still harbored affection for this man, and she could not forgive

Cecilia to lean against

the air as

let alone to Rena… In any

whispered, “Take good care of her. I will return to

He prepared to depart…

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

halted in

pondered the prospect of

entertained

did

not voice

Softly, Mark responded, “No.”

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

Mark turned around.

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