Cecilia took off her coat and glanced around, impressed by the grandeur.

Mark went to the kitchen to pour some milk for her.

She followed him, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. “Mark, what does this mean?”

She was worried about becoming his mistress.

Even if he wasn’t married, any woman he kept outside the public eye would be considered his mistress.

Ina soft voice, Mark replied, “Drink your milk.”

She shook her head stubbornly, insisting on an explanation.

Mark gently touched her hand and spoke with a hint of bitterness. “Cecilia, for now, I can’t offer you a legitimate marriage. I can’t even walk with you openly on the streets. We can’t keep meeting only in hotels. It’s too humiliating for you. I understand what you’re thinking, but I’ve never seen it that way… Here, you can consider this place as your home, and me as your husband. I’m all yours here.”

This was the best he could provide at the moment.

Aprivate sanctuary where he would do his best to spend time with her.

When Alexis’ condition stabilized, they could be together publicly.

Cecilia felt a bit embarrassed after hearing his explanation, her emotions shifting.

She felt a mix of shyness and happiness.

This was the home Mark had given her.

Knowing that the little girl had been coaxed, Mark said in a soft voice, “I also put two rabbit dolls in the bedroom. Peter asked someone to line up to buy them for you. Go see if you like them.”

She still held him said softly, “I like you more.”

Mark pulled her to face him, enveloping her in his arms, and kissed her tenderly. After their sweet moment, she mentioned that she was feeling hungry. He playfully patted her on the butt and teased, “You eat like a horse, but you never seem to gain weight.”

In truth, she had a lovely figure, with a slender waist and ample curves.

Mark admired and appreciated it very much.

She wondered why Peter wasn’t around, and Mark replied with a mischievous smile, “Do you want him to be here all the time? Are you suggesting he should be watching us while we make love?”

Cecilia was about to cry with anger.

Mark’s teasing ways sometimes got under her skin, and she felt he only did it because he was a little older than her.

Later on, Mark took Cecilia to the counter and sat her down to watch him cook for her.

Despite not being skilled in housework, he felt elated to spend this time with Cecilia. Doing this simple task together brought him immense joy, far more than his usual activities at the club with friends or listening to Flora sing.

He recalled the time Cecilia had asked him why he hadn’t married yet.

Mark realized it wasn’t because of his busy schedule or his social status.

The truth was, he hadn’t met the right person until he found Cecilia.

Previously, he had imagined his future wife to be a capable and polished woman. But when he found his true love, she was nothing like his initial expectations. She couldn’t do much in terms of life skills, but it didn’t matter to him.

He adored her for who she was. The woman who called him “Uncle Mark” and could be both clingy and coy, yet ignore him when she was upset.

For him, it made perfect sense to love a woman like her.

Mark cherished Cecilia deeply. He treated her not just as his wife but also as a precious innocent little girl. Despite occasionally taking advantage of her in playful banter, he always gave in to her wishes and desires.

After their late-night snack, Cecilia noticed that Mark was quite tired, so she insisted on washing the dishes herself.

However, Mark didn’t want her to get wet and quickly took over the task.

He was significantly older than Cecilia, and he felt the need to compensate for her in other ways. Mark doted on her immensely, believing that when she was with him, she should experience a better life than she had at the Fowler’s house. If not, he considered himself an inadequate husband.

As the night passed, Cecilia now saw this place as her true home.

But not going back for the night meant she had to explain things to her family. Luckily,

Shelly came to her rescue, helping her sort things out.

In the middle of the night, Cecilia finished her phone call with her friend and returned to her bedroom.

Mark had already taken a shower and was now in a bathrobe as he lay against the headboard, seemingly asleep.

Seeing the tiredness on his face, Cecilia felt a pang of guilt. She decided to lie down beside him quietly, but he woke up as she lay down and gently pulled her into his arms.

He softly touched her waist and inquired, “You finished the phone call?”

Cecilia confirmed it, and he held her closer, their faces now inches apart.

Their rapid breaths and closeness seemed to stir their emotions.

He huskily whispered, “Shall we… do it?”

With those words, Mark opened the bedside drawer and placed a small box beside the pillow.

Without delay, he pressed her against the pillow and kissed her passionately.

Although Cecilia was not opposed to the idea, she worried about his fatigue. She didn’t want him to waste any more energy pleasing her, so she wrapped her arms around his waist and lied, “I’m on my period right now.”

Mark was momentarily taken aback. but then playfully rubbed his nose against hers and chuckled.

He realized she wasn’t serious about it. There wasn’t any smell of blood at all.

Cecilia, feeling a bit embarrassed, held onto his hair and whispered, “Let’s just cuddle and talk. We don’t have to do it.”

Mark didn’t force her.

Mark didn’t insist and pulled her close to him when they settled in bed, pretending to complain, “Don’t pull my hair anymore. I won’t look good if I go bald.”

He playfully expressed his concern for his age.

With a smile, Cecilia held him tightly and softly asked, “How long can you stay?”

Mark gently caressed her head and replied, “I have to leave tomorrow afternoon.

Ihave a full day of meetings ahead.”

their only night together, he cherished

she felt a tinge of disappointment, Cecilia understood and appreciated his efforts. Mark showed her how

her face against his neck,

Uncle Mark.

already doing so well in being a loving

her up and they made love twice,

took a shower, prepared breakfast and lunch for her, instructing

the edge of the bed, looking at Cecilia, who was

“I’ll have dinner with you tonight

and

kissed her

the car, Peter couldn’t help but tease Mark, “Cooking and doing laundry for a young girl, and you’re so

casually. “She was in a bit of a mood, and I

lingered on his

happy for Mark who finally finding a girl he like. How could Peter

of Mark’s happiness, secretly wishing he

moment of contemplation, Mark generously gifted Peter a house in Czanch. It was a precious gift, as many people couldn’t

also arranged a job for the

gestures demonstrated Mark’s deep

knew that keeping Cecilia safe depended on those around him staying

noon rays caressed Cecilia awake, casting

it was-the house

held the rabbit doll he had given her close to her chest and playfully rolled

sky, she got up and found the

meticulously washed and cut into bite-size, a testament to his caring nature. Cecilia couldn’t help but feel spoiled by him, grateful for the tender gestures that came from his elevated position

kindness, Cecilia had

skills proved to be less than perfect and, despite her best efforts, she ended up burning the food in the frying pan. Defeated, she decided to

day, as the clock struck four, Mark returned

table set for dinner, he playfully teased

showed him her nicked finger

softened as he scolded her gently and he carefully bandaged her wound before joining her for

sofa, exuding an air of elegance as he quietly smoked. The way he carried himself was akin to an exquisite painting, an embodiment of both

turned down an opportunity related to the development of a groundbreaking new

were desperate to take on

four years, his future would be

tempting offer, he recommended a junior for the

felt no regrets, for his priorities had shifted—he now yearned for a life with

snuggled up close to

cast a contemplative gaze at her.

loving arms, and in a soft, hushed tone, she revealed her heartfelt desire to learn the culinary arts

a faint yet affectionate

a hint of melancholy danced in the depths of his eyes, he welcomed the opportunity to engage in conversations

over her lack of a job. Seeking solace, she nuzzled her face against his sturdy abdomen, her delicate fingers gently toying with the buttons of his shirt. In a soft, almost timid whisper, she revealed a recent development, “A few days ago, a magazine approached me to become their cover

few fingers, proudly

his head, pinching her cheek affectionately, and admiringly praised, “My

joy, Cecilia’s

it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to be in the public eye as

praised her discreetly before inquiring about

young girl hesitated, “How about I decline

wasn’t an issue for her, she simply

take care of me?”

assuring her, “Yes, I will always take

as a couple in the lap of luxury within their beautiful

intimacy and affection. He cooked for her and she lovingly massaged his back and legs. At night, she found

like Charlie. If any were necessary, his assistant Peter would handle them. Mark seldom attended such events, especially

about these gatherings, to which Mark would simply say it was not

gave her freedom in dealing with

witness the mesmerizing aurora,

busier and

distance, Cecilia laid on her bed, talking to

sound reached Mark’s ears—the sound of

Mark couldn’t help

voice, Cecilia replied, “I’ll go downstairs to

hurried downstairs, only to find her brother, Waylen, standing in the hall, comforted by their weeping mother

scene left Cecilia

amidst her tears, called out to Cecilia, pointing at a photo. “Come

downstairs, her heart

the

a picture of six-month-old Alexis, whose brown hair and flawless skin made her utterly adorable like

her mouth in awe, whispering,

the fact

asserting, “She’s better off looking like her mother. If she resembled your brother, she’d be destined for hardship. No man would dare marry her when

gentle yet reproachful glance at her

every day. Let us look forward to the future with

disapproval, “Dad, are you comparing my brother to a mere breeding

words elicited a laugh

recovering, but someone vital was still absent from the family—the thought of Rena

past midnight when Cecilia finally returned to her

Mark and, after a while, she received a call from him. The night was hushed,

She responded him.

for each other were understood and Alexis’ recovery brought them renewed hope

no longer needed to hide

held her phone close and

a call from Mark, informing Cecilia that he would arrive at the apartment

overnight work and the early hour of his visit. Cecilia was both elated and worried for

of her brother’s presence at home, knowing he had a

evident in his gentle request for her

Peter greeted Cecilia warmly, carrying

was a cold

emotion, Cecilia rushed into his arms, playfully pushing him against the car. Mark held her

to his irrational yearnings in

kiss, he asked in a hoarse

response was a

at the entrance with a smile. “Everything is put away. I’ll pick you up at

of bashfulness, Cecilia held Mark’s hand as they ascended

desire, immediately removing her coat and tenderly caressing her body with one hand while stealing more kisses. Sex outside the bedroom was something rare for them, but today was different—his eagerness led him to carry

of their love, they took their time to intimately

she had never encountered before. Wrapped in his strong arms, her eyes sparkled with

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