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.

me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin

eyes shifted to

agree

question, Edwin emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over his

herself

with one hand, and relayed

gaze never

exuded a mature allure, a quality that

sure to listen to your

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

clasped Edwin’s hand and shared a

his warm breath grazing

eyes lifted to meet

shoulder and back, his voice

get

muster a retort,

stairs, they encountered

Mark greeted him politely.

sipping his tea with a leisurely air, remarked with a smirk, “Hearing you this humble

better now

Mark, Korbyn harbored

a wave, ruffling his

Mark departed, Korbyn’s final words

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

implication wasn’t lost on

was free to woo Cecilia, but coercion

held a trace

“I understand, Dad.”

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

are

was a simple, amiable

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

concerned

question caught him off

“Is Rena with you?”

replying, “No,

Concerned, Mark probed further.

was a prelude to

Angela’s Library

had a

was familiar with

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

neither entirely

Rena wouldn’t head home

well-known in their circle, often

from embarrassed, Waylen wore his infamy

Mark reached out to Rena. She

her voice came

tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening

amidst drinks with Vera at

sent you to check on

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena reassured

a hiccup. We’ll smooth things over

place to

over, Rena ended the call. Vera shot

plans on heading back

faced a vast pane of French glass, showcasing more than half of

glossing her eyes,

at a

clinked glasses with

about the kids?” she

dropped to her shimmering crystal glass,

there, he’ll surely head home

its roots in the Smith family’s party the other

night, Rena

he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he suspected

of Harrison’s ride was fortuitous; otherwise, Waylen’s reaction could

post -nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night.

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

routine altered –late departures, early returns, yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or via

protective in his defense was, in

control, reaching a

defiance, she discarded the

between the

held back these details from

ordeal as a grand

it felt

affection for her, but she

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

breather, Rena decided to step

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

mind, requesting Ross to chauffeur

switched to a taxi,

It was

She answered this time.

was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

ended the call, only to blacklist

observing, cradled her chin in

his love for you hasn’t waned,”

That might explain his fixation on Harrison and

of him, but she

drifted

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you

Waylen exuded an alluring blend of

kiss his wife, creating an

couldn’t resist observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

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

traced her

Romance saturated the air.

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

I offer you a ride

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”