She sent the photo of Alexis to Mark and, after a while, she received a call from him. The night was hushed, and all he whispered was her name.

She responded him.

In that moment, words were unnecessary. Their feelings for each other were understood and Alexis' recovery brought them renewed hope for a future together.

Perhaps they no longer needed to hide their love in secrecy.

Cecilia held her phone close and drifted off to sleep...

The early morning brought a call from Mark, informing Cecilia that he would arrive at the apartment in an hour.

His voice was slightly hoarse, a testament to his overnight work and the early hour of his visit. Cecilia was both elated and worried for him. In a soft tone, she insisted, "I'll drive there myself. Don't come to pick me up."

Furthermore, she was mindful of her brother's presence at home, knowing he had a keen eye.

Mark agreed, his concern evident in his gentle request for her to drive safely.

Almost simultaneously, they reached the apartment entrance, serendipitously encountering each other. Peter greeted Cecilia warmly, carrying bags of groceries upstairs ahead of them.

It was a cold winter morning.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Cecilia rushed into his arms, playfully pushing him against the car. Mark held her close, his head lowering to kiss her tenderly.

Age was not a barrier to his irrational yearnings in this moment.

After a lingering kiss, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you miss me?”

Her response was a resounding “Yes.”

Peter arrived at the entrance with a smile.

"Everything is put away. I'll pick you up at two o'clock in the afternoon.”

Feeling a touch of bashfulness, Cecilia held Mark's hand as they ascended the stairs together.

Upon entering the house, Mark couldn't contain his desire, immediately removing her coat and tenderly caressing her body with one hand while stealing more kisses. Sex outside the bedroom was something rare for them, but today was different—his eagerness led him to carry her to the sofa in an embrace...

In the embrace of their love, they took their time to intimately connect, savoring every moment.

For Cecilia, it was an unparalleled experience, a profound and passionate intimacy she had never encountered before. Wrapped in his strong arms, her eyes sparkled with infatuation for him.

Mark's body glistened with sweat as he began to kiss her with ardor...