Sylvia remained silent. After a pause, Marcus glanced up. “What is it?"

Sylvia's voice was barely above a whisper. "Mr. Fowler, Melissa... she's left."

Left...

Marcus' pen halted briefly before he replied, maintaining his composure. "She went back to Warsew, right? That's good. She has acquaintances there."

Sylvia fixed her gaze on Marcus.

After a significant pause, she spoke up again, her voice softer yet heavier with emotion. "No, Melissa didn't return to Warsew. I've tried calling her, and it's clear she's not there. Nobody knows where she's gone. It seems she's made a conscious choice to keep her location unknown."

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Mr. Fowler, it's possible you may never see her again.

I don't believe she'll return.

I'm not privy to the details of what transpired between you two, but I'm certain there's been some misunderstanding. Melissa isn't one for schemes... and she genuinely cares for you."

Marcus remained silent, his face turned away from the light, leaving his expression obscured. Sylvia couldn't read his thoughts.

In a gentle tone, he asked, "Do you care for her deeply?"

Sylvia didn't respond directly, instead reflecting, “My affection for her stems from yours. In truth, as a working woman, I don't often allow myself the luxury of such emotions."

A bitter smile touched Sylvia's lips. "In a way, Melissa's departure eases things for me. Yet, I can't say it brings me any joy."

With those words, Sylvia exited the room.

The door closed softly behind her, leaving Marcus alone, his expression still inscrutable...

Sitting alone, Marcus stared at the piles of document in front of him, thinking about what Sylvia had just told him.

She said that Melissa had left, and that Melissa didn't go back to Warsew.

Rather, she went somewhere they didn't know.

Perhaps the reason why Sylvia couldn't find Melissa was because she didn't want to be found.