Olivia radiated pure delight.
She let out joyful giggles and devoured all the food her father fed her.
Korbyn chortled.
âI am truly impressed.
Mark, you could run a nursery school.
You have a real knack for handling kids.
â
Mark responded promptly, âOlivia is quite a good girl.
â
Olivia held a deep fondness for Mark.
She nestled against his chest.
Mark couldnât resist rubbing her plump little belly.
During the meal, he refrained from eating much as he mostly focused on his daughter.
Cecilia harbored concerns about Mark, yet her entire family had gathered, and her shyness held her back.
She stole a quick glance at Rena.
Rena grasped Ceciliaâs unspoken message and addressed Mark, âUncle Mark, why donât you grab a bite?â
Mark appeared momentarily taken aback.
Then, he offered a gentle smile and replied, âIâm not much of an eater.
â
Rena let the matter rest and turned her gaze back to Cecilia, noticing the hint of wetness in her eyes.
In private, Rena inquired, âAre you worried about him?â
Cecilia felt a touch awkwardness.
âNo.
â
Rena refrained from further questioning.
Following the meal, Rena and Cecilia attended to the childrenâs belongings, while Mark was summoned to Korbynâs study.
The door closed behind him.
Korbynâs jesting ceased.
He motioned for Mark to take a seat.
The two grown men faced each other, their expressions serious.
In truth, Korbyn cherished his daughter deeply, valuing her even more than his own reputation.
Korbyn let out a soft sigh.
âI donât oppose your relationship, but I wonât actively support it either.
Whether you two make it in the long run depends on you.
Mark, Iâm being honest with you.
Cecilia isnât young and reckless anymore.
She canât chase after you as she did seven years ago.
â