Mark offered no further words. He reached out as if to caress her hair, but eventually refrained, offering a gentle smile.

"Drive safely."

Cecilia nodded, turned and made her exit.

Throughout the encounter, no accusations or resentments surfaced between them, for Cecilia and Mark were far from being a couple, and she had no right at all to be mad at him.

She had no right to even harbor romantic feelings for him.

The grand bronze gates glided shut slowly.

Mark found himself surrounded by numerous women.

Meanwhile, Cecilia stood alone, her figure elongated by the luminous crystal chandelier above the hallway.

Back in the box, merriment resumed.

Flora, ever devoted, continued to pamper and attend to Mark tenderly. Charlie and the others engaged in playful banter.

"You should have kept the little girl with you. Mark, she's like your own daughter. How can you bear to let her go?"

Mark responded casually and jocularly to their comments.

Yet, inwardly, he felt perturbed, a sentiment he should not entertain.

Being single, he had every right to socialize but his actions were now witnessed by Cecilia.

She wasn't his girlfriend and he should have felt unbound by her opinions. Nonetheless, a nagging unease persisted within him.

"I've had enough of this game."

With a decisive gesture, Mark brought the card game to a close.

The room fell silent.

Moments later, Flora forced a smile and tenderly suggested, "Feeling uneasy? Come to my place and I'll give you a massage... You're just working yourself too hard."

With haste, Charlie chimed in, "Indeed, let Flora attend to you.”

Mark was mindful not to put Flora in an uncomfortable situation.

His demeanor remained indifferent.