She nestled her face into his shoulder, finding solace as he held her, offering silent comfort.

After a lingering moment, Cecilia murmured, "When I heard the news, my biggest fear wasn't the thought of you being with someone else; it was the fear that something might happen to you."

Her voice held a mature understanding, a far cry from the stark perspectives she once held in her youth.

Mark felt a pang of regret listening to her.

He smoothed her hair, reassuring her softly, “Cecilia, I promise there's nothing to worry about. I'm yours, completely.”