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.

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

shifted

agree

emerged upstairs,

found herself unable to

with one hand, and

gaze never wavered from

exuded a mature allure, a quality that never failed to

to listen to

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

a parting kiss with Olivia, who

out,” Mark murmured, his warm breath grazing

eyes lifted to

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

get some

muster a retort, Mark

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

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

now

Korbyn harbored

ruffling his hair and planting a

Mark departed, Korbyn’s final words carried a laden

remember,

implication wasn’t lost on

Cecilia, but

smile held a

“I understand, Dad.”

crossed Korbyn’s features, finding

that. You are no longer married to

was a simple, amiable

back. Midway, his phone rang; Waylen was

the call concerned Cecilia,

first question caught

“Is Rena with you?”

hesitated before replying, “No, she’s not here. I haven’t

Concerned, Mark probed further.

was a prelude

Angela’s Library

major, just… we had

familiar with

back her social interactions, any hint of her

situation was complex, neither

home and

in their circle, often

embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy with

call, Mark reached out

Mark?” her

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

at a bar, couldn’t help

check on me,

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena reassured

We’ll smooth things over in a day or

place to pry into

call. Vera shot her

on heading

barstool, Rena faced a vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to

glossing her eyes, Rena’s smile was

I’ll stay at

glasses

about the

shimmering crystal glass, her

not there, he’ll surely head home

rift between Waylen and Rena had its roots in the Smith

night, Rena

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 on between Rena and

ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could

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

unpleasant things he said in a

seemingly concluded, lingered. Waylen’s routine altered –late departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or

protective in his

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

defiance, she

between the couple

details from

would likely misconstrue the ordeal as

Rena, it felt far

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

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

Rena decided to step

she descended the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew

paid him no mind, requesting Ross

to a taxi, throwing Waylen off her

vibrated. It

She answered this time.

was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

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

cradled her

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

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

side of him,

drifted in

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

business suit, 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

Waylen exuded an alluring blend of charm

his wife,

resist observing

She watched, utterly fascinated.

in the spell of the kiss,

traced her

Romance saturated the air.

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

you a ride

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”