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.

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

eyes shifted

Edwin agree

emerged upstairs, schoolbag slung over his shoulders, looking spruce

found herself unable

with one hand, and relayed instructions

gaze never wavered from

mature allure, a quality

to listen to

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

a parting kiss with Olivia,

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

eyes lifted

hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his

to get

muster a retort,

the stairs, they

Mark greeted him politely.

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

now I

fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep affection

ruffling his hair and planting a

Korbyn’s final words

fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage of her and get

wasn’t lost on

free to woo Cecilia, but coercion was

held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

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

You are

response was a simple, amiable

headed back. Midway,

concerned Cecilia, Mark

Waylen’s first question

“Is Rena with you?”

replying, “No, she’s not

Concerned, Mark probed further.

prelude to a tensed

Angela’s Library

we had a bit of a

familiar with their

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

situation was complex, neither entirely positive

home and voice

in their

Waylen wore his infamy

the call, Mark reached out to Rena. She answered

her

hushed tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening

amidst drinks with Vera at a bar, couldn’t help

sent you to check

Mark offered no denial.

major,”

We’ll smooth things over in a day or

to pry into

ended the call. Vera shot her a

plans on heading

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

eyes, Rena’s smile

at a hotel

clinked glasses with

the kids?”

gaze dropped to her shimmering crystal

he’ll surely head

Waylen and Rena had its roots in the Smith

Rena encountered

he arrived uncharacteristically early to

Harrison’s ride was fortuitous; otherwise,

to their post -nuptial villa, where

all those unpleasant things he said in a fit

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

in his defense was, in truth,

Waylen’s intense control, reaching a breaking point when

a fit of defiance, she

the couple

these details from

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

it felt

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

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided to

descended the stairs, her form-fitting, elongated

paid him no mind, requesting Ross to chauffeur

she switched to a taxi, throwing Waylen off

It was Waylen,

She answered this time.

was soft, yet

“I’m with Vera.”

only

cradled her

all these years, his love for

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

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

drifted

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

down to plant a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “Mrs. Fowler, it seems you value me less now that you

an alluring blend of charm

leaned in to kiss his wife, creating an enchantingly beautiful

resist observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

spell of the kiss, Rena’s

fingers traced

Romance saturated the air.

her purse, announcing, “I’ll leave you

a ride

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”