Mark's eyes steeled as he nodded. If the child hadn't been sick, his heart would've been stirred.

They went downstairs and got on the car.

As Mark started the car, Cecilia called Thomas.

“Olivia has a fever.

I'll have to go back first. No need... Yes, he'll go too."

Mark listened to the conversation while driving.

Thought it wasn't mentioned, he was sure that they were referring to him.

In the end, Thomas didn't follow them. Perhaps it was because the Smith family was the host of the party. Or maybe because he thought that the relationship between Mark and Cecilia wasn't that deep.

Once Cecilia hung up the phone, Mark asked her casually, "Does my presence trouble you?"

Cecilia was sitting beside Mark.

She was still wearing her evening dress, which made her look extremely beautiful and elegant. Her eyes were directed outside the window as the view of the city blurred past her.

"If I say that it does, would you just stopped showing up?" she asked softly.

There was a tinge of anger in her voice.

Mark swallowed the lump in his throat. He slowly pressed the brake pedal as the lights at the intersection turned red. Once the car had stopped, he turned to look at her.

Cecilia's arms were crossed, her gaze refusing to meet his as she simmered in her seat.

“Why are you mad at me again?" he asked in a soft tone.

Cecilia sank her head and pretended to play with her nails.

“I am not."

Mark stared at her with a quiet, unbelievable tenderness that he himself didn't know he had. After a brief silence, he asked, "Is it because of Flora? If you're unhappy, I won't see her anymore. In fact, she and I are now just old friend. We were done a long time ago."

At the mention of this, Cecilia's eyes turned red.