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.

for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret, I’ll ensure he’s well taken care

eyes shifted to

Edwin agree

upstairs, schoolbag slung over his shoulders, looking spruce

found herself unable to

with one hand, and relayed instructions to

never wavered

a quality that never

listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

a parting kiss with Olivia,

warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting

eyes lifted

a hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his voice a soft

to get

muster a retort, Mark

stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

his tea with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing

better now

of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

with a wave, ruffling his hair and planting a kiss

final words carried

are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage of her and

wasn’t lost

to woo Cecilia, but coercion was off the

a trace

“I understand, Dad.”

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

me that. You are no longer married to

response was a simple, amiable

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

call concerned

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

the steering wheel, Mark hesitated before replying, “No, she’s not here. I

Concerned, Mark probed further.

a prelude to a

Angela’s Library

just… we had a bit of

familiar

bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her

situation was complex, neither entirely

Rena wouldn’t head home and voice her

possessive nature was well-known in their circle, often fueling

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy

the call, Mark reached out to Rena.

her

inquired, “What’s happening

Vera at a bar, couldn’t

you to check on

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena reassured

We’ll smooth things

place to pry

ended the call. Vera shot her a

plans on heading back

than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view

glossing her eyes, Rena’s

stay at

glasses with

about the

her shimmering crystal glass,

there, he’ll surely head

its roots

night, Rena encountered

post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he suspected there was something going

ride was fortuitous;

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

wished she could forget all those unpleasant things

yet constant surveillance on

protective in his defense was,

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

of defiance, she discarded the

between the couple

these details from even Vera, too

likely misconstrue the ordeal as a grand love gesture, thrilling

for Rena, it felt far

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

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena

her form-fitting, elongated dress drew an extra

mind,

a taxi, throwing

It was

She answered this time.

was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

response, she ended the call, only to blacklist his

observing, cradled her chin

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

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

Rena didn’t despise this side of him,

drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

clad in a business suit, appeared to have just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss

exuded an alluring blend

in to kiss his wife,

resist observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

of the kiss, Rena’s lips

traced

Romance saturated the air.

intruder on the scene, Vera grabbed her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you

I offer you a ride home?” Waylen extended the

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”