But even the bright lights did little to lift Marcus’ spirits. He drove in silence with a blank face, all the way to the apartment.

He stopped the car and sat quietly in it.

His gaze drifted to the top floor.

It had been ages since his last visit here. Ever since he learned about Melissa's background, he hadn't returned.

Marcus lit a cigarette.

Eventually, he stepped out and made his way to the elevator.

After a while, he unlocked the apartment door and entered. Everything looked as it always had, but the apartment was empty.

The fridge had been cleared out by the cleaning lady.

In fact, there were originally some of Melissa's belongings here.

Items like her hand soap, hand cream, and a few miscellaneous girly things could be found here and there.

ALL those items had since been removed.

Marcus had told Sylvia back then, "I don't want to see anything that reminds me of Melissa."

Sylvia had always been very efficient.

As Marcus ran his fingers over the table's edge, the back of the sofa, and everything Melissa had once touched... memories of that night resurfaced.

He didn't really have sex with her.

But to be precise, they had shared a passionate moment.

He had tenderly caressed her, to make her feel good.

And he had felt the same.

As Marcus grew up, he had observed the love shared by his parents, and the bond between Alexis and Leonel. He believed that if a woman allowed a man to share her bed, it signified her affection for him.

But now he realized that wasn't really true!