After a pause, Marcus' voice softened. "Believe it or not, there was a time I truly despised you."

"Really? And you feel you have the right to?" Melissa retorted with a sneer.

Marcus responded with a weary smile, lighting a cigarette. “It started the first year after you left.”

He had tried to find her but to no avail.

The thought of giving up often crossed his mind, yet every time he saw someone resembling Melissa, hope flickered anew.

Marcus harbored deep resentment towards her during those days!

During his years in Livebop, Marcus hadn't been involved with any woman. When he moved back to Duefron, thinking his past was behind him, he planned to start a new chapter with Violette. But then, Melissa reappeared unexpectedly.

This reignited his mixed feelings towards her.

Looking up, Marcus exhaled smoke and asked, “If you were gone, why return?"

Melissa responded with a scoff, “How amusing! Duefron's vast; the Fowler family doesn't own it. If Mr. Fowler prefers, our paths need never cross."

"You're correct."

Marcus shot Melissa a glance, extinguished his cigarette, and prepared to drive her back to her workplace.

This was at Melissa's request.

She mentioned she had unfinished business to attend to and there were spare clothes at the office. Marcus agreed without further question.

As he prepared to drive off, a group of children crossed the road at the intersection.

About twenty in total, they made their way cautiously, each clutching a tiny umbrella.

Marcus watched in silence.

After the last child had crossed, he murmured, “If... we had a child, they'd be starting kindergarten by now."

Melissa remained silent, her emotions stirred.

She realized she had been mistaken; she had once believed their past could remain just that, and any chance encounters could be brushed aside as if they never happened. Three years had passed, after all; surely, the past was irrelevant now.