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.

I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret, I’ll ensure he’s

eyes shifted to

agree

posed the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over his

found herself unable to

attire with one

gaze never wavered from

a mature allure, a quality that never failed to captivate

listen to

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting

murmured, his warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting a

eyes lifted

hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his

to get

muster a retort, Mark

the stairs, they encountered

Mark greeted him politely.

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

better now I

of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection for

ruffling

final words carried a laden

chicken. There are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember,

implication wasn’t lost on

woo Cecilia,

smile held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

Korbyn’s features, finding

that. You are no

was a simple,

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

concerned Cecilia,

first question caught

“Is Rena with you?”

“No, she’s not here. I haven’t heard

Concerned, Mark probed further.

prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

we had

was familiar with

back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling with the opposite

neither

head home and

was well-known in their circle, often fueling

from embarrassed, Waylen wore

out to Rena. She answered

Mark?” her voice

tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening between you and

with Vera at a bar,

sent you to check on me, didn’t

Mark offered no denial.

major,” Rena

We’ll smooth things over

place to pry

over, Rena ended the call. Vera shot her a

plans on

glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view

her eyes, Rena’s smile

I’ll stay at a

glasses

the kids?”

her shimmering crystal glass, her mind seemingly

not there, he’ll surely

had its roots

Rena

like the bigger man and even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he suspected there

ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could

the evening concluded with Waylen whisking Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor, Waylen’s words lacked their

things he said in a fit of

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

in his defense

thin under Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking point when she

fit of defiance,

the

held back these details from even

romantic, would likely misconstrue the ordeal

it felt far

affection for her, but she

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided

stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew an extra

mind, requesting Ross to

a taxi,

phone vibrated. It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

the call, only to blacklist his number

cradled her

his love for you hasn’t waned,”

through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and

him, but she insisted he amend

concluded, a male voice drifted in

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you value me less now that you have

an

kiss his

resist observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the spell of the kiss, Rena’s

fingers traced

Romance saturated the air.

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

you a ride

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”