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

eyes shifted to

Edwin agree to

posed the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung

found herself unable

with one hand, and relayed instructions to

never wavered

a mature allure, a quality that never failed to

to listen

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

clasped Edwin’s hand and shared a parting

warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting a

eyes lifted to meet

hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his

get

a retort, Mark had whisked Edwin

stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels

now I

a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

boy over with a wave, ruffling his hair and planting a kiss

Mark departed, Korbyn’s final words

I need fret over. But just remember,

wasn’t

to woo Cecilia, but

smile held a trace

“I understand, Dad.”

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

me that. You are no longer

was a simple, amiable

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

the call concerned Cecilia, Mark

first question caught him

“Is Rena with you?”

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

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

had a

was familiar with their

Rena maintained a stable relationship, marred only by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling

neither entirely

home and voice her

was well-known in their circle, often fueling

Waylen wore

out

Mark?” her

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

at a bar, couldn’t

check on me,

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,”

smooth things over in a

wasn’t Mark’s place to pry into

the call. Vera shot

on heading back

barstool, Rena faced a vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline. Central to the view was Exceed Group’s illuminated tower, blazing like a

her eyes, Rena’s

stay at a hotel

clinked glasses

about the kids?” she

shimmering crystal glass,

he’ll surely

rift between Waylen and Rena had its roots in the Smith family’s party the

Rena encountered

care of Rena for him. Yet, post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he suspected there was something going on

Harrison’s ride was fortuitous;

to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the

wished she could forget all those unpleasant things he said in a

departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through

protective in his defense was,

reaching a breaking point when she discovered her phone

of defiance,

the

held back these details from even Vera, too

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

Rena, it

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

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena

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

paid him no mind, requesting Ross

to a taxi, throwing Waylen off

vibrated. It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

tone was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

she ended the call, only to blacklist his number

her chin

all these years, his love for you hasn’t

That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the unconscious need to measure up

despise this side of him, but she insisted

male voice drifted in from

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 on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems

an

leaned in to kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly

observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the spell of the kiss, Rena’s

fingers traced

Romance saturated the air.

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

a ride home?” Waylen

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”