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.

she’s a bit older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret, I’ll ensure he’s

eyes shifted

Edwin agree

question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over his

found herself

attire with one hand,

never

a mature allure, a quality that never failed to captivate

sure to listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

Edwin’s hand and shared a

breath

lifted to meet

raised a hand, gently caressing her shoulder and

to get

retort, Mark

stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

with a smirk, “Hearing you

now I

fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep

boy over with a wave, ruffling his hair and planting

Korbyn’s final words carried

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

implication wasn’t lost on

Cecilia, but coercion was off

a trace

“I understand, Dad.”

of discomfort crossed Korbyn’s features, finding Mark’s

You are

response was a

back. Midway,

concerned Cecilia,

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

replying, “No, she’s not here. I haven’t heard from her

Concerned, Mark probed further.

prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

major, just… we had a bit of a

was familiar with their

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

was complex, neither

wouldn’t head home and

was well-known in their circle,

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy with

the call, Mark reached out

her voice came

tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening

at

to check on me, didn’t

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena

hiccup. We’ll smooth things over

place to pry into their

over, Rena ended the call. Vera shot her a questioning

on heading back

a vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of

eyes, Rena’s smile was

at a

glasses with

about the kids?”

dropped to her shimmering

not there, he’ll surely head

roots in the Smith family’s

Rena encountered

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 was something going

fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could have been

the evening concluded with Waylen whisking Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned

could forget all those unpleasant things he said

early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether

his defense was,

control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered her phone

fit of defiance, she

between the couple

from even Vera, too

misconstrue the ordeal as a grand love

it felt far

Waylen, aware of the depth of his affection for her, but she knew love wasn’t an

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena

stairs, her form-fitting, elongated

no mind, requesting

downtown, she switched to a taxi,

It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

only to

observing, cradled her chin

all these years, his love for you hasn’t waned,” she

voice tinged with humor, “Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on

despise this side of him, but she

a male voice drifted in from

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it

exuded an alluring blend

his wife, creating an

observing

She watched, utterly fascinated.

of the

traced

Romance saturated the air.

her purse, announcing,

offer you a ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”