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.

let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t

eyes shifted to

Edwin agree to

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

found herself unable

son’s attire with

never wavered from

a quality that never failed to

listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting kiss with Olivia, who eagerly

Mark murmured, his warm breath grazing

eyes lifted to meet

her shoulder

to get some

could muster a retort,

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 near-daily

better now

not a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

ruffling his hair

departed, Korbyn’s final words

I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage of her

wasn’t

free to woo Cecilia, but coercion was off the

smile held a

“I understand, Dad.”

features, finding Mark’s familiarity brazen.

You are no longer married

a simple,

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

call concerned

Waylen’s first question

“Is Rena with you?”

wheel, Mark hesitated before replying, “No, she’s not

Concerned, Mark probed further.

was a prelude

Angela’s Library

major, just… we had a

familiar with

marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions,

situation was complex, neither entirely positive nor

Rena wouldn’t head home and voice

in their circle, often fueling

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy with

Mark reached out

Mark?” her voice came

Mark inquired, “What’s happening between you

with Vera at a

sent you to check on me, didn’t

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena reassured

a hiccup. We’ll smooth things over in

place to pry into their

ended the call.

plans on heading

French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view was Exceed Group’s illuminated tower,

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile was

I’ll stay at

clinked glasses with

about the

dropped to her shimmering crystal glass,

I’m not there, he’ll surely head

roots in the Smith family’s party the other

night, Rena

even asked Harrison to take care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to

fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s

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

unpleasant things he said in

altered –late departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena,

in his defense

Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered her

a fit of defiance,

the couple

details from

a hopeless romantic, would likely misconstrue the ordeal as a grand love gesture,

for Rena, it felt far

affection for her, but

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena decided to step

stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress

no mind, requesting Ross to chauffeur

a taxi, throwing

vibrated. It

She answered this time.

was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

response, she ended the call, only to blacklist his number when he tried

observing, cradled her chin

love

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

despise this side of him,

drifted in from the private

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

appeared to have just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you value me

prime, Waylen exuded an alluring blend of charm and

kiss his wife, creating

observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

in the spell of the kiss, Rena’s lips

fingers traced her

Romance saturated the air.

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

a ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”