Cathy called out to his retreating figure, “Mark! She’s my child!”

Mark came to a halt.

Then he said quietly, “She is not! She’s Paul’s child, and she is quite unlike you.”

Laura’s innocent gaze held no cunning plots within.

Angela’s Library

Children embodied purity, and Laura shouldn’t be swayed by Cathy.

Mark walked away decisively, leaving Cathy alone, her smile tinged with self-mockery.

She chuckled at her hopeful imagination. Even a child could not keep Mark by her side.

Mark boarded his private jet, and his mood soured.

Peter was the kindest and most thoughtful of them all. Pouring a glass of red wine, he passed it to Mark, seated beside him, and grinned, remarking, “Cathy picked her path. She can’t blame anyone else.”

Cathy stirred up so much trouble that her family couldn’t welcome her anymore, believing she had disgraced them. It could be said that the people around her had distanced themselves from her.

Mark didn’t sip the wine, declining with a charming gesture, straightening his shirt.

“Peter, she wasn’t always this way. Once, she was reasonable and kind.”

He seemed to drift into his world of thoughts.

“Love can sometimes make people lose their way.”

Peter knew how to cheer Mark up and quickly responded, “That’s not always the case! Take Cecilia, for example. Her love for you is deep, yet she doesn’t compromise her values. Her career thrives. She’s your ideal one.”

Mark gave him a look.

Peter felt puzzled and asked, “Did I say something incorrect?”

Mark grinned and said, “No. It’s just I’ve thought about something the wrong way all the time.”

Mark had long believ

ed that women like Cathy and Miss Holt embodied independence. However, Peter’s words made him realize he was wrong on that.

Cecilia was the epitome of the self-reliant woman he had always admired.

Perhaps she lived comfortably with only modest goals.

Still, considering her origins in the Fowler family, how could anyone expect her to be ordinary?

Her love had its boundaries.

The thought of Cecilia made Mark’s heart flutter. He was eager to reunite with her.

Peter had a knack for reading Mark’s mind. After guessing what was on Mark’s mind, he refrained from adding more words.

By nine o’clock in the evening, the private jet touched down.

An hour and a half later, Mark was back at the villa.

In the hallway, there was just a single wall lamp still lit.

Surrounded by the gentle, golden light, he sensed the warmth of home.

A sweet home with Cecilia and Edwin.

Mark removed his coat and gazed around the villa adorned with decorations from a while ago, and his heart warmed with nostalgia.

He made his way upstairs and headed straight to the child’s bedroom.

Edwin had dozed off. While sleeping, he remained perfectly still, lying on his side with his small body snugly wrapped under the quilt.

Only half of his soft face was visible. His brown hair had a shiny, vibrant color.

Mark perched on the bed’s edge, loosened his shirt and leaned down to plant a kiss.

Edwin remained asleep, but he murmured something in his dream.

Mark watched over him tenderly for some time.

Angela’s Library

At last, he carefully tucked Edwin in and returned to his bedroom, where Cecilia was still engrossed in her tasks.

Perched on the couch in her white robe, Cecilia was absorbed in a script.

Her slightly wet hair was draped down, and a fresh scent emanated from her.

She had just stepped out of a shower.

Mark eased the door shut, speaking softly.

“It’s late. Are you still going over your lines?”

Cecilia lifted her gaze to him.

Delight flickered in her eyes, but she kept it subtle, not wanting to reveal too much.

Leaning against the doorframe, Mark undid the buttons on his shirt and grumbled, “I’m completely worn out!”

He had a talent for handling relationships with women.

Revealing vulnerability would often evoke women’s sympathy, and Cecilia, at the very least, felt a bit concerned.

However, she remained seated and refused to get up.

Mark sat beside her, wearing a gentle smile, and affectionately ruffled her hair.

“How did your day out shopping go?”

Cecilia shared some information about Rena with him, and without overthinking, she remarked, “Once Elva is born, Waylen and Rena will have two little girls.”

Yet, they had no daughters of their own.

Despite his fatigue, Mark’s smile remained. He reclined against the sofa, too weary to move much.

Nevertheless, he drew her into his embrace.

He took her hand, sliding it inside his shirt to feel the warmth of his skin.

Cecilia pulled back her hand.

“I’m not kidding!”

With a tender grin, Mark said, “Don’t we already have a little girl at home?” As he said this, he playfully tugged at her long hair.

Cecilia got the hint.

her youthful days were now behind

“Do you feel embarrassed?”

energetic and was itching

exclaimed,

Mark released her hand.

leisurely undoing his belt, almost as if

“What’s the matter?”

lifted her

without hesitation, appearing just

genuinely admired

her way and teased, “Feeling tempted?

and feigned focus on

out, slightly annoyed, “What do you say

already walked toward the bathroom, and his response drifted

going out. She’s content with her life

you and Edwin. Maybe she will agree to come over if you invite her with

Cecilia kept quiet.

exiting the bathroom, Mark noticed Cecilia lost in

across from her, inquiring, “What’s

stared at him. She wanted

She’ll stay there alone for now. We will take Edwin

a soft

appreciated the way Mark

if

AngelasLibrary

Mark drew her close.

overflowing with passion. Despite knowing he might not last, he couldn’t hold back his desire, kissing her until her body nearly melted from

swept them off their

wasn’t until midnight that Mark stirred from

phone buzzed, and it was a

quietly for a few seconds before finally hitting the mute

light flickered on and

him, so he tenderly embraced Cecilia, nuzzling his

Cecilia’s eyes fluttered open.

She sensed Mark’s melancholy.

liked Laura dearly. She mused that if Laura hadn’t been Cathy’s daughter, they might have

not bring

to say, but Mark silenced her with a

prevented her

in his

to

the night wore on, Mark believed she had dozed off, so he

stepped outside, a cool breeze swept into the bedroom, leaving a touch of chill

cheek rested against

her eyes open, wide awake, unable to return

the urge to rise

wearing her thin pajamas until she eventually

cast a gentle glow on him, resembling a comforting embrace amid

His handsome face wore a slight frown

for Cecilia to see Mark in such a

task, he had

downward and drifted into

>

path ahead turned gloomy. Not tending to the sole

now, Mark became aware

deep to decipher, and Cecilia replied with a

held more

was in her

said, “Here’s your

swiftly passed him the phone and hurriedly departed as if she

which remained on silent, its screen

answering, he glanced towards the

formed in

button and Laura’s voice

young girl sounded

delicately between his fingers. He asked softly, “It’s late. Why

quietly, “I’m

surge of sympathy for the

given birth to Laura and entrusted her care

in an unfamiliar environment, a harsh

Mark requested that she pass the phone

then did Paul’s parents learn that Laura was having trouble

assured Mark that they would take

heavily on her. She had been deprived of a family’s warmth since childhood and now couldn’t often see Mark, who gave

hung up the phone, feeling a surge

he knew that Cecilia felt

his cigarette and returned to

enough, Cecilia was still

waterfall, making her look striking as

placed his phone

her tenderly on the lips, noting that they felt slightly

asked softly, “Don’t you have work tomorrow morning? If you

>

to him, resting

time until his shirt

and returned to the

enough, Cecilia was still

like a waterfall, making her look striking as she leaned

his phone on

to kiss her tenderly on the

work tomorrow morning? If you don’t

resist, and instead, nestled closer to him, resting her head on his

stayed that way for a long time until his shirt became damp

gently stroked her hair and then kissed her once

Cecilia trembled slightly.

if it was their souls connecting. In that moment, neither of them needed words to

following morning, Cecilia awoke to

had already left for

she descended the stairs, she was surprised to find Mark still

and dark coffee casual pants, exuding a gentle

was having breakfast with Edwin. When he saw Cecilia coming down, he flashed

a seat and brushed her long

have a morning commercial shoot today,” she

handed her a glass of warm milk and offered, “I’ll drive you

sip of

“You don’t have to

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