Caressing her slender waist, Mark remarked with a hint of teasing, "You can be such a child at times."

Indignant, Cecilia retorted, "Why didn't you ask Waylen to leave Olivia and Edwin here? Some uncle you are, not uttering a word in protest in his presence!"

Gazing at her intently for a while, Mark finally murmured, "I just wanted some time alone with you."

As soon as Mark said that, the entire ward turned quiet.

Although they had been together for so many years already, Cecilia still couldn't bear to hear such sweet words coming out of his mouth.

She stood up to hide her embarrassment as she casually flipped her long black hair.

"I'll get you a glass of water," she offered.

“I'm not thirsty," Mark responded, his voice sounding low and husky.

He then grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

“Mark!" she gasped.

Then, he placed his hand at the back of her head and kissed her passionately.

Since the ward was as quiet as a crypt, the sound of their kissing was clearly heard, making Cecilia feel shy.

It sounded like kittens licking paste.

Although he was still ill, Mark's behavior was audacious. His palms kept roaming Cecilia's body, and no matter how many times she tried to remove them, she couldn't really stop him.

Once he was finally satisfied with the kiss, he let her lean on his shoulder so that she could breathe.

After a while, Cecilia rested her face on the side of his neck.

There, his skin was scalding. She could smell his unique, manly breath, which stirred her even more.

"The effect of that thing you took should've been long worn off already," she complained.

Mark lowered his head and stared at her.

After a while, he gently brushed her nose with his thumb and said, "I'm not that old yet. I don't need that thing to help me get it up, you know."