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.

after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin

eyes shifted

agree

the question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag

found herself unable

out her son’s attire with one hand, and relayed instructions to

never

a mature allure, a quality that never

listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

Edwin’s hand and shared a parting kiss with Olivia, who eagerly

murmured, his warm breath grazing Cecilia’s ear, eliciting

lifted

caressing her shoulder

to get

a retort, Mark

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels

now I

not a fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a

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

departed, Korbyn’s final words carried a

But just remember, as long as

wasn’t lost

Cecilia, but coercion was off the

held a

“I understand, Dad.”

flicker of discomfort crossed Korbyn’s features, finding

call me that. You are no longer married

was a

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

concerned

Waylen’s first question

“Is Rena with you?”

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

Concerned, Mark probed further.

cough was a prelude

Angela’s Library

just… we had

familiar with

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

was complex, neither entirely positive nor

home and voice

well-known in their circle, often

Waylen wore his infamy

Mark reached out to Rena. She

Mark?” her

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

Vera at a bar, couldn’t help but

to check on me, didn’t

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena

smooth things over

to pry into their

Rena ended the call.

plans on

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

glossing her eyes,

at a

glasses

the

dropped to her shimmering crystal glass,

not there, he’ll surely

had its roots in the Smith family’s

night, Rena encountered

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 on

ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could have

Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their

things he said in a fit of angry

yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or via a

protective in his defense was,

control, reaching a breaking point when

defiance,

the

details from even Vera, too

the ordeal as a grand love gesture, thrilling

it felt far

but she knew love wasn’t an excuse for treating

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena decided to step

elongated

paid him no mind, requesting Ross to chauffeur

a taxi, throwing Waylen off

vibrated. It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

the call, only

observing, cradled her

these years, his love

her voice tinged with humor, “Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the unconscious need to measure up

didn’t despise this side of him, but she insisted he amend his

concluded, a male voice drifted in from the private room’s

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

just left a formal engagement. Drawing close, he bent down to plant a

exuded an

in to kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly

observing the intimate

She watched, utterly fascinated.

the spell of the

fingers traced her

Romance saturated the air.

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

ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”