He surmised that Waylen had already gleaned fragments of the truth.
Mark’s voice grew raspier, tainted with a hint of anguish.
“Why… why hasn’t she returned home?”
Waylen locked his gaze fiercely upon Mark, as if he could rend him apart with his eyes.
Indeed, Waylen had come to confront Mark.
But his intention did not involve disclosing Edwin’s existence.
After all, Cecilia belonged to the illustrious Fowler family, and she was Waylen’s beloved sister. She had no reason to employ her child as a means to retain a man…
Waylen bore into Mark’s eyes and inquired deliberately, each word meticulously chosen, “How long have you been intimate with her?”
Mark was taken aback, shocked by the sudden exposure of the secret he had harbored for three long years.
Taking a deep drag from his cigarette, he paused, then confessed, “About six months. It began during Rena’s hospitalization… and continued sporadically for half a year thereafter.”
Waylen recollected this.
During the subsequent six months, while Rena ventured overseas, Mark seemingly embarked on frequent business trips to Duefron.
And so, the tale unfolded in this manner.
Waylen sneered. “Mr. Evans, did you ever think about how old you were and how old Cecilia was before you did such a thing?”
Waylen’s lips curled into a scornful sneer, his words dripping with contempt. “Mr. Evans, did you ever pause to consider the vast disparity in age between yourself and Cecilia? Moreover, she’s your niece’s sister-in-law! Ah, but of course, you needn’t concern yourself with such trivial matters. It may not be deemed unlawful to engage in relations with her, but… reflect upon this. How many times did you share your bed with her? Did you ever do so with the intention of marrying her? Was there even a single instance when your desire transcended mere physical gratification?”
Mark’s eyes bore an unfathomable depth, for he had no counterargument to offer.
Waylen extinguished his cigarette, discarding his coat with disdain, and then proceeded to roll up his sleeves.
A sneer still etched upon his face. “You find yourself unable to answer, don’t you?”
With a furrowed brow, Mark inquired, “Are you suggesting a physical altercation?” @
Waylen sneered once more. “Mr. Evans, does that displease you?
Let me make it clear… I am now standing in front of you as Cecilia’s brother. While she may be innocent and timid, I am not so easily deceived. Hence, I pose the question to you, what do you intend to do?”
Mark had always possessed an unwavering decisiveness, knowing all too well that a past entanglement with Cecilia was impossible to revive. Having spent over two years apart, there was no need to entangle her in the complexities of his life.
Silently, he stubbed out his cigarette and uttered, “It is impossible for us to be together.”
Without mercy, Waylen unleashed a punch, striking Mark with force.