While holding her in his embrace, Mark's eyes darted toward the trash bin where the used condom lay.

He kissed her and muttered, "Not for now. Let's have fun for a while after we get married. We can have another child after marriage."

After all, he planned to let Edwin live in Duefron for a period of time. He should be very busy at that time.

Given his tight schedule, Cecilia would be busy taking care of their baby if there were one more.

Cecilia didn't retort.

As she lay on the bed for a while, her eyelids started to feel heavy as if they were encouraging her to take a nap. However, Mark shook her awake and gently coaxed her to wash up and take a shower. Unable to refuse him, she went to take a shower but ended up having sex with him again in the bathroom.

Cecilia had reached a point of sheer exhaustion.

As she finally succumbed to sleep, her dreams danced with possibilities. She imagined Mark as a future teacher, guiding young minds with a wisdom she admired. She believed he possessed a unique talent for educating children, a talent she wasn't entirely sure she could match.

The soft rays of Christmas Eve's morning sun spilled into the room as Cecilia stirred from her slumber.

Mark, ever the diligent businessman, had been picked up to the company to attend to pressing matters.

Cecilia, however, enjoyed the luxury of a later morning. Her day began at ten, as she rose from her cozy cocoon of blankets. With deliberate care, she attended to her personal grooming, preparing for the day ahead.

Just as she was about to step out, her phone rang, its chime breaking the stillness of the room. The caller's name was displayed on the screen: Rena.

Cecilia's heart skipped a beat. Rena's voice, gentle and kind, flowed through the phone's speaker.

“Have you settled into life with Mark?"

Blushing at the thought of her newfound life, Cecilia replied, “I'd say it's going pretty well."

Rena then shared her plans, her words igniting a spark of excitement in Cecilia's eyes. Rena was planning to pay a visit to them in just a couple of days, and she would be bringing her children along.

Cecilia couldn't contain her joy, and her playful spirits surfaced.

“Well, Rena," she teased, "I have a special Christmas gift for you.

I can't wait to see you!"

Rena, momentarily taken aback by Cecilia's unexpected enthusiasm, replied with a soft smile, "Then I'll have Waylen have a good talk with you by then."