Mark grasped his phone, which remained on silent, its screen flashing incessantly.
Instead of immediately answering, he glanced towards the study's door, through which Cecilia had disappeared. A lump formed in Mark's throat.
He then pressed the answer button and Laura's voice cthrough.
The young girl sounded a bit uneasy.
Mark lit a cigarette and held it delicately between his fingers.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe asked softly, "It's late.
Why aren't you asleep?" Laura replied quietly, "I'm scared.
Mark felt a surge of sympathy for the child.
Cathy had given birth to Laura and entrusted her care to a babysitter.
Now, she found herself in an unfamiliar environment, a harsh situation for a child.
After offering scomforting words to Laura, Mark requested that she pass the phone to Paul's parents where he talked with them for a while.
Only then did Paul's parents learn that Laura was having trouble falling asleep at night.
They assured Mark that they would take good care of her.
As Laura bid Mark good night, a sense of sorrow weighed heavily on her.
She had been deprived of a family's warmth since childhood and now couldn't often see Mark, who gave her comfort.
Mark hung up the phone, feeling a surge of mixed emotions.
But he knew that Cecilia felt even worse.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe extinguished his cigarette and returned to the bedroom.
Sure enough, Cecilia was still awake.
Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, making her look striking as she leaned against the headboard. Mark placed his phone on the nightstand.
He leaned in to ki*s her tenderly on the lips, noting that they felt slightly dry.
He asked softly, "Don't you have work tomorrow morning? If you don't get ssleep how will you manage during the day?"
Cecilia didn't resist, and instead, nestled closer to him, resting hem chi e head on his chest. They stayed that way for a long tuntil his shirt becdamp and uncomfortable.