Cecilia appeared visibly taken aback.

She wished to decline but the Evans family and the Fowler family were related through her brother and Rena's marriage...

Mark didn't press her any further.

He had chanced upon her today, without any ulterior motives. He merely wanted to talk to her...

It had been a long time since he had an uncomplicated conversation with someone. There were no hidden agendas, just a man and a woman.

Cecilia hurriedly left.

As she reached her car and opened the door, she suddenly paused.

On the other side, the back window of Mark's car slid down, revealing a mature and stunning woman seated inside.

Cecilia recognized her instantly.

Cathy Wilson, one of Mark's subordinates and also his girlfriend.

Cathy nodded at Cecilia.

Cecilia's expression contorted into a sneer. She found Mark's behavior utterly incredulous— taking his female subordinate on a business trip with inappropriate intimacy while still seeking affection from his old flame.

In her mind, Mark was nothing but an insufferable jerk.

Downstairs, Mark trailed after Cecilia and noticed the car window open.

He furrowed his brow and approached Cecilia, stating, "I brought her here for business.”

Unperturbed, Cecilia responded calmly, "Mr. Evans, there's no need to explain anything to me. Besides... Can you honestly claim that you've never been intimate with her?"

Mark fell silent.

It was true, they had a one-night stand in the past but now they were nothing more than ordinary colleagues.

Cecilia said nothing further. She got into her car, fastened her seatbelt, and accelerated away.

As the red sports car zoomed past him, Mark glimpsed what seemed like teardrops gently tracing down her cheeks...

Was Cecilia crying?

Mark pursed his lips, gazing at the exhaust fumes from her car.