The driver asked softly, “Mr. Evans, where are we headed to?”

He did not answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, appreciating the moment of silence.

His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of those major projects and a certain person.

After a while, he said in a hoarse voice, “Go back to the hotel.”

After the meeting the next day, he should go back to Czanch. After all, he was really busy.

He took over the task a few years ago.

Despite his successful public life, he struggled with personal matters.

He couldn’t even publicly show his love to the woman he loved. And he had to hide his real self and could only find solace in that secret apartment with her.

Two years ago, he broke up with someone he deeply cared for, and the pain still lingered.

He had always been abstinent, but he smoked two packs of cigarettes at that night. ©

He tried to stop himself from going to see her.

If he didn’t see her, he wouldn’t lose his mind and wouldn’t become a love-sick fool. It had been so long since they broke up and he thought he had moved on, but… He hadn’t.

Even now, he couldn’t help but eventually drive alone to see Cecilia.

However, when he found her, she wasn’t alone.

She was with a young gentleman, looking seemingly content with their companionship.

She had dinner with that man and they went to the cinema.

The man didn’t send her home until nine o’clock in the evening.

At the gate of the Fowlers’ villa, Mark’s car was parked not far away. Watching them from a distance, Mark felt a pang of jealousy.

He wished he could be younger, free of obligations, and able to confront the man openly.

But now, he could only watch from the shadows, feeling a mix of emotions.

Cecilia got out of the car and watched the man leave.

The man her mother’s friend Dora Carter introduced to her this time was actually very nice.

And Cecilia was willing to get along with him… She went to dinner with him, went to the movies with him and she felt OK.

Maybe they could get married after some time together.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her heart ached as she felt torn between her past and the possibility of a future with someone else.

Then, she heard Mark calling her name, “Cecilia.”

Startled, she took a step back, unsure of how to respond, but also guarded.

Mark raised his chin slightly, pointing to his car.

“Get in, and let’s talk.”

Cecilia hesitated, torn between her emotions and her apprehension, not sure if she was ready to confront the past that Mark represented.

She took two steps toward the imposing gate, her intention to ask the guard for assistance thwarted as Mark swiftly grasped her arm and half-forcibly pulled her into the waiting car.

The door closed with a resounding thud, and Mark glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his voice tinged with surprise.

“A blind date?”

Cecilia didn’t attempt to deny it. “Yes, he’s a nice person. He’s met Edwin and accepts him.”

Mark swallowed nervously.

The prospect of someone else becoming Edwin’s father seemed like a cruel joke, but now it was a very real possibility right now.

The woman he once loved so deeply would soon share her life with another man.

And their son, the one he cherished above all else, might call another man dad.

In an attempt to steady his emotions, Mark lit a cigarette.

The smoke curled around his handsome features, accentuating his allure.

He was undeniably good-looking, even with the cigarette in hand.

There had been countless moments when he passionately embraced her, their bodies entwined in the throes of desire. Then he would lean back against the headboard, smoking while grappling with mixed feelings and guilt.

After all, she was 16 years younger than him, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty for taking her.

Once, she leaned over and took a drag from his cigarette, and he trembled and almost dropped the cigarette.

In his new-found excitement, he had sought solace in their physical connection, feeling like nothing more than an instinct-driven animal.

As the car interior filled with smoke, Cecilia couldn’t help but cough weakly and pleaded,

“Let me get out of the car.”

Mark obliged and snuffed out the cigarette, his eyes conveying a profound gaze as he asked the question he had long yearned to voice, “What about you? Do you like him?”

Cecilia’s eyes welled up with tears, and she replied in a subdued tone, “Kind of.”

trying to piss

was simply accepting her fate and making the best of

they treated Edwin

caused her had led her to give up and

conflicting emotions, Mark

stared at her for a long time before handing her his phone, his voice returning to calm with a trace of imperceptible tenderness. “Call

not going out with

need to talk to you. If you don’t want to, I’ll call your mom myself. Cecilia, do you want this

streamed down Cecilia’s cheeks as she felt humiliated,

that she had something to discuss with him regarding Edwin

for a

phone to Mark, unaware of the conversation

voice, Mark assured, “I

he hung up

car started moving, and Cecilia leaned against the back of the seat, murmuring,

the steering wheel. “Do you know

news, Mr. Evans. With your debonair charm, you’re the center of

remained silent as he drove through the dark night with the woman he had once loved deeply seated beside

wished time could freeze, allowing them to be together

hour, they

Cecilia recognized the place.

violently, she desperately slapped at the window. “I won’t

I refuse!”

fathom why he was taking

Cecilia couldn’t accept any

were reddened from her futile

she

herself

stopped

and seeing the tears in her eyes,

fact that she still harbored feelings for him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have reacted

want to talk to you about something. Cecilia,

eloquence, leaving

she felt completely lost in the face of his

an elegant display, Mark alighted gracefully from the car, taking

around, he skillfully opened the car door, his eyes locking onto Cecilia in the obscurity

taut, revealing faint blue veins, a

abundance of patience,

stretch endlessly until, at last, Cecilia emerged from the vehicle and advanced ahead, disregarding

street lamp, her graceful silhouette concealed itself in the shadow

shut the car door

he reached out and captured her wrist, pulling her into his

of the night was too potent, or it was the nostalgic

sense of restraint

at the back of her head, not heeding any semblance of gentleness, even stifling her breath with the intensity

go

implored, her desperate struggle proving futile

of

enveloped her

she knew that the lingering aroma of his masculinity would cling to her skin for a

passionate kiss endured,

released his

surprising turn, his fine and handsome countenance received a resounding

was suave by

accommodate him. None dared to act spoiled in his presence, let alone raise a hand against

Except for Cecilia.

slap, she averted her gaze, her eyes reddened. “Who gave you the right

you think I am to you? Are

grazed his lip, a hint of pain

had

as he murmured, “I apologize. I lost

since he had been with her, and he was no saint. He knew his body craved her presence; the passionate encounters of the past years remained vivid in

a single moment

was aware of what he should do. He acknowledged that the recent kiss

he asked her, “Go upstairs. There are

they shared a child, and she feared his

time, they entered the

as

platter of fruits, all of which happened

the

her gaze and gently said, “This is what I asked Peter to prepare. Even after all these years,

a hint

reminding herself not to

had a gift for

the most

she not been hurt so deeply, she pondered whether she might have fallen under his spell again, or

longer resided

drop me home. I am different from you, Mr. Evans. lam currently involved with someone else, and it would be disrespectful to him if I continued any entanglement with

“Do you care for him so much? Are you determined

She remained silent.

the sofa and took a seat, gesturing for her to do the same. “Sit

facing a stack of papers before her. As she flipped

Cecilia did not decline.

no reason to reject his offer

that

have the man she wanted, she should

when Rena broke up with Waylen, the value of the checks

had complicated

as a top student in business school, the intricacies of the documents

her countenance, Mark noticed that she looked better than before; her face no

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