For a moment, Cecilia just watched them in silence. Then, notifying Mark of her intention, she ascended the stairs.

Mark’s attention remained fixed on Olivia.

Edwin observed Mark, a thought brewing in his mind.

After a moment, he ventured, “Mom’s not with Mr. Smith anymore. Dad… does that make you happy?”

Mark hesitated.

The complexities of adult relationships weren’t something easily distilled into simple words.

Yet, Mark understood the crux of what Edwin sought.

Turning to him, Mark responded gently, “Your mom’s having a tough time. Try to be there more for her and help look after your sister, okay?”

Edwin nestled up to Mark, pressing his lips together in thought.

The question hanging in the air was whether Edwin would like to spend a few more days with him. Though the boy yearned to stay with his father, he couldn’t bear the thought of parting from his sister, his goodnight kiss to her a cherished ritual.

After wrestling with the idea, Edwin inquired, “Can I bring Olivia along?”

Mark shared the wish to have Olivia over, but her tender age made it impractical. She needed her mother’s presence.

Edwin’s desire to remain with his father was palpable.

Sitting close, he ran his fingers through his sister’s brown locks, his tone mature beyond his years.

“Olivia, I’ll be away for a week.

I’ll come back next week, I promise.”

Bottle in hand, Olivia paused to gaze at her brother with her bright, black eyes.

Overcome with affection, Edwin leaned in for a kiss.

He whispered, “So adorable.”

After Olivia’s feeding, Mark spent some time playing with her before ascending the stairs to hand her over to Cecilia.

Cecilia was propped against the sofa, script in hand.

Beside her stood a treadmill. Mark set Olivia down, allowing her some space to play.

“What’s up?” Cecilia lifted her gaze to inquire.

Taking a seat opposite her, Mark studied Cecilia’s eyes, noticing the slight redness.

He couldn’t tell if it was from lack of sleep or the melancholy of parting ways with Thomas. Although he yearned to know, it wasn’t his place to ask. After a pause, he ventured, “You and he…”

“Wie broke up,” interjected Cecilia, her tone casual.

She then strolled over to the window, reaching for her coffee cup.

Mark’s eyes followed her, noting a touch of solitude in her posture.

She was still in her early 30s, he thought, surely she yearned for companionship. He’d encountered Thomas a few times, and the man seemed to mesh well with Cecilia. Love aside, Mark believed they could have had a fulfilling life post-marriage.

His emotions were a tangle.

It was a blend of relief and self-reproach.

Olivia, in her playful zest, scampered toward Mark, intending to Leap into his embrace, but the treadmill stood in her path.

She stamped her little feet, craning her neck to look up at him.

In response, Mark scooped her up.

Olivia’s arms found their way around Mark’s neck. Admiring how handsome her father was, she planted kisses on his face, leaving a trail of drool on his chin.

Mark didn’t mind.

He ambled slowly behind Cecilia, Olivia secure in his hold.

After what felt like an eternity, he managed to ask, “Did you care for him?”

Eyes downcast, Cecilia offered a smile.

“If I admit I did, would you cease to appear before me, or stop visiting my house?”

A pang of pain shot through Mark’s heart.

They were both acutely aware of her split with Thomas.

Yet, Mark couldn’t make that promise.

He accepted his own selfishness, understanding that when someone craves something deeply, they might just do anything to obtain it.

Cecilia’s demeanor remained even.

“Mark, there’s no hidden message here. I’m simply stating that Edwin and Olivia hold more space in my heart than anyone else… It’s not about you.”

Her words, stark and grounded in reality, stung.

But they were Mark’s to bear.

He grasped her intent. She was signaling her rejection, not just of his advances but of any romantic entanglement.

Though she’d ended things with Thomas, she still didn’t envision a future with Mark.

Mark nodded in acquiescence.

“I understand.”

“What do you understand?”

Cecilia spun around, tears brimming in her eyes, a hint of anger in her voice.

Yet, there Mark stood, Olivia in his arms, the little one busily smearing her saliva on his chin with a look of innocent delight.

Beneath it all, Mark’s gaze held a profound depth.

And in that moment, his allure remained undiminished, even amidst the domestic chaos.

Cecilia held back her rising irritation.

Mark, ever perceptive, sensed it. He playfully tapped Olivia’s backside, remarking, “Your cute little devil.”

Oblivious, Olivia merely wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and planted a kiss on him.

Mark didn’t beat around the bush.

He handed Olivia to Cecilia, his hand lingering on the child’s soft cheek for a moment.

a bit older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today.

shifted

agree to

emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over

found herself unable to

out her son’s attire with one hand,

never wavered from

mature allure, a quality that never failed to captivate

to listen

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

Edwin’s hand and shared a parting kiss with Olivia,

his warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting a slight

eyes lifted to

shoulder

get

retort, Mark had whisked Edwin

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

tea with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble

now I

a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep

beckoned the boy over with a wave, ruffling

Korbyn’s final words carried

There are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going

implication wasn’t

woo Cecilia,

smile held a

“I understand, Dad.”

of discomfort crossed Korbyn’s features, finding Mark’s familiarity

call me that. You are no longer married to

response was a simple, amiable

tow, Mark headed back. Midway, his phone rang; Waylen

concerned Cecilia, Mark

question

“Is Rena with you?”

“No, she’s not here. I haven’t heard from her

Concerned, Mark probed further.

prelude to

Angela’s Library

had a bit of

familiar with their

relationship, marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back

situation was complex, neither

wouldn’t head home

well-known in their

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his

call, Mark reached out to Rena. She answered

Mark?” her voice

hushed tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening between

with Vera at a bar, couldn’t

to check on me,

Mark offered no denial.

major,” Rena

smooth things over in a day

to pry into their

ended the call. Vera shot her a questioning

plans on heading back

more than half of Duefron’s nighttime

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile

I’ll stay at a

glasses with

the kids?”

gaze dropped to her shimmering crystal glass, her mind

there, he’ll

Rena had its roots

night, Rena encountered

acted like the bigger man and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena,

ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could have been

villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor,

could forget all those unpleasant things he said

yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or via

appeared protective in his defense was, in truth,

Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered her phone was

a fit of defiance, she

the couple

details from even Vera,

ordeal as a grand love

for Rena, it

of the depth of his affection for her, but she

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided

the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew an extra glance from

no mind,

to a

phone vibrated. It was

She answered this time.

was

“I’m with Vera.”

only to blacklist

cradled her chin

love for

through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the

side of him,

a male voice drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss on

his prime, Waylen exuded an alluring blend of charm and

leaned in to kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly beautiful

observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the kiss,

fingers traced her

Romance saturated the air.

Vera grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you two to

I offer you a ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”

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