After a pause, he ventured, âYou and heâ¦â
âWie broke up,â interjected Cecilia, her tone casual.
She then strolled over to the window, reaching for her coffee cup.
Markâs 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.
Heâd 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.
Oliviaâs arms found their way around Markâs neck.
Admiring how handsome her father was, she planted ki*ses on his face, leaving a trail of drool on his chin.
Mark didnât mind.
He ambled slowly behind Cecilia, Olivia secure in his hold.
After what felt like an eternity, he managed to ask, âDid you care for him?â
Eyes downcast, Cecilia offered a smile.
âIf I admit I did, would you cease to appear before me, or stop visiting my house?â
A pang of pain shot through Markâs heart.
They were both acutely aware of her split with Thomas.
Yet, Mark couldnât make that promise.
He accepted his own selfishness, understanding that when someone craves something deeply, they might just do anything to obtain it.
Ceciliaâs demeanor remained even.
âMark, thereâs no hidden message here.
Iâm simply stating that Edwin and Olivia hold more space in my heart than anyone else⦠Itâs not about you.
â
Her words, stark and grounded in reality, stung.
But they were Markâs to bear.