With resignation, she began to unbutton her shirt under his watchful gaze.
Melissaâs buttons were halfway undone.
Overwhelmed by shame, her body trembled, making it difficult to proceed with undressing.
Marcus stood a step apart from Melissa, his eyes devoid of warmth, as if gazing at a stranger who had betrayed him, tinged with a hint of contempt.
Given his background, if he hadnât maintained his chastity, scenes like this might have unfolded countless times before.
However, it didnât.
He wasnât the kind to sleep around.
Apart from Melissa, no one had ever captivated his attention.
Yet, here she was, unbuttoning and shedding tears before him.
She seemed more willing to exchange her body for money than to marry him and bear his children.
âEnough,â
Marcus suddenly spoke, looking at Melissa.
She was still trembling as she gently wrapped her arms around herself.
After a prolonged gaze, he remarked, âI havenât reached a point where I canât find a woman to share my bed.
â
Turning away, he leisurely extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.
He moved with deliberate slowness, appearing lost in thought.
Eventually, he stood upright, delivering in a solemn tone, âIâll gift you this watch as a token of our time together.
As for anything else, let it go.
â
With those words, he offered a faint smile.
His smile radiated charm, even in moments of intense anger or composure.
Greedily, Melissa fixated her gaze on him.
Yet Marcus turned away, whispering, âLeave.
Donât let me encounter you again.
I canât predict my actions if our paths cross once more.
â
Melissa remained motionless for an extended period of time.
It wasnât a lack of desire to move; rather, she felt unable to do so.
After a brief pause, Marcus, without turning around, reiterated, âLeave.
Do you understand?â
âFine.
â