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

shifted

Edwin agree to

upstairs, schoolbag slung

found herself unable

her son’s attire with one

gaze never wavered

a mature allure, a quality

listen

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting kiss with Olivia,

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

eyes lifted

caressing her shoulder and

get

retort,

the stairs, they

Mark greeted him politely.

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

better now I

Korbyn harbored a

wave, ruffling his hair

final words

no spring chicken. There are certain matters neither her mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re

wasn’t lost on

to woo Cecilia,

held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

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

that. You are no longer married

a simple, amiable

back. Midway, his

call concerned Cecilia, Mark

first question caught him

“Is Rena with you?”

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

Concerned, Mark probed further.

prelude

Angela’s Library

we had a

familiar

Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling with the opposite sex

was complex, neither

home and voice

in

from embarrassed, Waylen wore

the call, Mark reached out to Rena. She answered

her voice came

tones, Mark inquired, “What’s

drinks with Vera at a bar, couldn’t

sent you to check

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena

things over

wasn’t Mark’s place to pry

the call. Vera

plans on

pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of Duefron’s nighttime skyline.

glossing her eyes, Rena’s

I’ll stay at a hotel

clinked glasses

about the kids?” she

gaze dropped to her shimmering crystal

there, he’ll

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

Rena

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

fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could have been

with Waylen whisking Rena to their post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor, Waylen’s words lacked

unpleasant things he said in a

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

his

reaching a breaking point when she discovered her phone

fit of defiance, she discarded

between the couple

held back these details from even

the ordeal

it felt far

her, but she knew

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena

stairs, her form-fitting, elongated dress drew an

him no mind,

downtown, she switched to a taxi,

vibrated. It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was

“I’m with Vera.”

only to blacklist his

observing, cradled her chin in

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

“Perhaps Waylen’s going through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on Harrison and the unconscious need

side of him, but she insisted he amend his

drifted in from

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

Drawing close, he bent down to plant a

his prime, Waylen exuded an alluring blend of charm and

leaned in to kiss his wife,

resist observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

of the kiss, Rena’s lips parted, whispering,

fingers traced her

Romance saturated the air.

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

offer you a ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”