A Second Chance With My Billionaire Love

For a moment, Cecilia just watched them in silence. Then, notifying Mark of her intention, she ascended the stairs.

Mark’s attention remained fixed on Olivia.

Edwin observed Mark, a thought brewing in his mind.

After a moment, he ventured, “Mom’s not with Mr. Smith anymore. Dad… does that make you happy?”

Mark hesitated.

The complexities of adult relationships weren’t something easily distilled into simple words.

Yet, Mark understood the crux of what Edwin sought.

Turning to him, Mark responded gently, “Your mom’s having a tough time. Try to be there more for her and help look after your sister, okay?”

Edwin nestled up to Mark, pressing his lips together in thought.

The question hanging in the air was whether Edwin would like to spend a few more days with him. Though the boy yearned to stay with his father, he couldn’t bear the thought of parting from his sister, his goodnight kiss to her a cherished ritual.

After wrestling with the idea, Edwin inquired, “Can I bring Olivia along?”

Mark shared the wish to have Olivia over, but her tender age made it impractical. She needed her mother’s presence.

Edwin’s desire to remain with his father was palpable.

Sitting close, he ran his fingers through his sister’s brown locks, his tone mature beyond his years.

“Olivia, I’ll be away for a week.

I’ll come back next week, I promise.”

Bottle in hand, Olivia paused to gaze at her brother with her bright, black eyes.

Overcome with affection, Edwin leaned in for a kiss.

He whispered, “So adorable.”

After Olivia’s feeding, Mark spent some time playing with her before ascending the stairs to hand her over to Cecilia.

Cecilia was propped against the sofa, script in hand.

Beside her stood a treadmill. Mark set Olivia down, allowing her some space to play.

“What’s up?” Cecilia lifted her gaze to inquire.

Taking a seat opposite her, Mark studied Cecilia’s eyes, noticing the slight redness.

He couldn’t tell if it was from lack of sleep or the melancholy of parting ways with Thomas. Although he yearned to know, it wasn’t his place to ask. After a pause, he ventured, “You and he…”

“Wie broke up,” interjected Cecilia, her tone casual.

She then strolled over to the window, reaching for her coffee cup.

Mark’s eyes followed her, noting a touch of solitude in her posture.

She was still in her early 30s, he thought, surely she yearned for companionship. He’d encountered Thomas a few times, and the man seemed to mesh well with Cecilia. Love aside, Mark believed they could have had a fulfilling life post-marriage.

His emotions were a tangle.

It was a blend of relief and self-reproach.

Olivia, in her playful zest, scampered toward Mark, intending to Leap into his embrace, but the treadmill stood in her path.

She stamped her little feet, craning her neck to look up at him.

In response, Mark scooped her up.

Olivia’s arms found their way around Mark’s neck. Admiring how handsome her father was, she planted kisses on his face, leaving a trail of drool on his chin.

Mark didn’t mind.

He ambled slowly behind Cecilia, Olivia secure in his hold.

After what felt like an eternity, he managed to ask, “Did you care for him?”

Eyes downcast, Cecilia offered a smile.

“If I admit I did, would you cease to appear before me, or stop visiting my house?”

A pang of pain shot through Mark’s heart.

They were both acutely aware of her split with Thomas.

Yet, Mark couldn’t make that promise.

He accepted his own selfishness, understanding that when someone craves something deeply, they might just do anything to obtain it.

Cecilia’s demeanor remained even.

“Mark, there’s no hidden message here. I’m simply stating that Edwin and Olivia hold more space in my heart than anyone else… It’s not about you.”

Her words, stark and grounded in reality, stung.

But they were Mark’s to bear.

He grasped her intent. She was signaling her rejection, not just of his advances but of any romantic entanglement.

Though she’d ended things with Thomas, she still didn’t envision a future with Mark.

Mark nodded in acquiescence.

“I understand.”

“What do you understand?”

Cecilia spun around, tears brimming in her eyes, a hint of anger in her voice.

Yet, there Mark stood, Olivia in his arms, the little one busily smearing her saliva on his chin with a look of innocent delight.

Beneath it all, Mark’s gaze held a profound depth.

And in that moment, his allure remained undiminished, even amidst the domestic chaos.

Cecilia held back her rising irritation.

Mark, ever perceptive, sensed it. He playfully tapped Olivia’s backside, remarking, “Your cute little devil.”

Oblivious, Olivia merely wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and planted a kiss on him.

Mark didn’t beat around the bush.

He handed Olivia to Cecilia, his hand lingering on the child’s soft cheek for a moment.

bit older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with

eyes shifted to

Edwin agree to

Edwin emerged upstairs,

found herself unable to

attire with one hand, and relayed instructions

never wavered

allure, a quality that never failed to

sure to listen to

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

a

his warm breath

lifted

shoulder and back, his

to get

could muster a retort, Mark had

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels odd.

now I

a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

with a wave, ruffling his hair

Korbyn’s final words carried a

nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage

implication wasn’t

was free to woo Cecilia, but coercion was off

a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

flicker of discomfort crossed Korbyn’s features, finding Mark’s familiarity brazen. He

call me that. You are

response was a simple,

in tow, Mark headed back. Midway, his phone rang; Waylen

call concerned

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

“No, she’s not

Concerned, Mark probed further.

a prelude to

Angela’s Library

we had

familiar with

a stable relationship, marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling with the opposite sex would set

neither entirely positive

Rena wouldn’t head home and voice

nature was well-known in their circle, often fueling

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy with

reached out to Rena.

her

inquired, “What’s

with Vera at a bar,

to check

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena

a hiccup. We’ll smooth things over in a day

place to pry

the call. Vera shot her

plans on heading

vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of

glossing her eyes, Rena’s

at a

glasses

the

shimmering

not there, he’ll surely

had its roots in the Smith family’s party

night, Rena encountered

man and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he

of Harrison’s ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could have

where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor, Waylen’s words lacked their usual

wished she could forget all those unpleasant things he said in a

Waylen’s routine altered –late departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal

appeared protective in his defense was, in

reaching a breaking point

of defiance,

the couple

back these details from even Vera, too

the ordeal as a grand love gesture, thrilling and

for Rena, it

her, but she knew love wasn’t an excuse for treating her

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided

form-fitting, elongated dress drew an

paid him no mind, requesting Ross

switched to a

vibrated. It

She answered this time.

tone was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

only

cradled her chin

these years, his love

replied, her voice tinged with humor, “Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the unconscious need to measure up

side of him, but she insisted

concluded, a male voice drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

down to plant a kiss on her lips,

an alluring blend of

in to kiss his wife,

resist observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

of the kiss, Rena’s lips

traced

Romance saturated the air.

the scene, Vera grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Have

a ride home?” Waylen

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”