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.

bit older, let me look after her for some time. I’m taking Edwin back with me today. Don’t fret,

shifted to

agree to

question, Edwin emerged upstairs,

found herself unable

with one hand,

gaze never wavered from

exuded a mature allure, a quality that

listen to your grandma…

Edwin nodded in affirmation.

hand and shared a parting

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

lifted to

a hand, gently caressing her shoulder and back, his voice

to get

retort, Mark

the stairs,

Mark greeted him politely.

smirk, “Hearing you this humble feels odd.

better now

fan of Mark, Korbyn harbored a deep

with a wave, ruffling

Mark departed, Korbyn’s final

mother nor I need fret over. But just remember, as long as we’re here, no one’s going to take advantage of

implication wasn’t

woo Cecilia, but

held a trace of

“I understand, Dad.”

features, finding

call me that. You are no longer married

was a simple, amiable

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

call concerned Cecilia,

Waylen’s first question

“Is Rena with you?”

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

Concerned, Mark probed further.

was a prelude

Angela’s Library

major, just… we had a bit of

familiar with

by Waylen’s bouts of possessiveness. Despite Rena scaling back her social interactions, any hint of her mingling with the opposite sex would set Waylen’s

situation was complex, neither entirely

head home and

in

wore his infamy with

out to Rena.

her

tones, Mark inquired, “What’s happening between

with Vera at a

sent you to check on

Mark offered no denial.

nothing major,” Rena

hiccup. We’ll smooth things

wasn’t Mark’s place to pry

call. Vera shot

on

more than half of Duefron’s nighttime

her eyes,

at a hotel

clinked glasses with

about the

gaze dropped to her shimmering crystal

not there, he’ll surely head home

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

night, Rena encountered

post-celebration, he arrived uncharacteristically early to fetch Rena, almost like he

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

-nuptial villa, where passion reigned through the night. Amidst their fervor, Waylen’s

forget all those unpleasant things

yet constant surveillance on Rena, whether through personal tracking or

in his

control, reaching a breaking point when she discovered

fit of defiance, she

the

from even Vera, too embarrassed

likely misconstrue the ordeal as a grand love gesture, thrilling and

for Rena, it

of the depth of his affection for her, but she knew love wasn’t an excuse for treating her like a

Nobody enjoyed feeling watched.

a breather, Rena decided to

form-fitting, elongated dress

mind,

to a taxi, throwing Waylen off

phone vibrated. It was

She answered this time.

tone was soft,

“I’m with Vera.”

ended the call, only to blacklist his number

her chin in

his love for you

through a midlife crisis.” That might explain his fixation on

of him, but she

a male voice drifted in from the

Angela’s Library

“Midlife crisis, am I?”

Rena swiveled.

down to plant a kiss on her lips,

an alluring blend

leaned in to kiss his wife, creating an

observing the

She watched, utterly fascinated.

of the

fingers traced

Romance saturated the air.

announcing, “I’ll leave you two to it, then. Have a good

ride home?” Waylen extended

“No, I’ll manage, thanks.”